What Foods Should You Avoid If You Have Diverticulosis? (2024)

FAQs

What Foods Should You Avoid If You Have Diverticulosis? ›

But high-fiber foods are harder to digest, and avoiding these foods during a flare-up can help get your symptoms under control. Some high-fiber foods to stay away from during this time include: Fresh fruit, especially apples, pears, and raspberries. Vegetables (other than canned), especially green peas and broccoli.

But high-fiber foods are harder to digest, and avoiding these foods during a flare-up can help get your symptoms under control. Some high-fiber foods to stay away from during this time include: Fresh fruit, especially apples, pears, and raspberries. Vegetables (other than canned), especially green peas and broccoli.

You can add vegetables to the foods that you are eating or have soup, salad or cooked vegetables on the side; Increasing your fiber intake slowly; And taking in enough fluids along with the high fiber foods. Go for water, seltzer, club soda, and herbal teas.

Your healthcare provider may advise a liquid diet. This gives your bowel a chance to rest so that it can recover. Include these foods: flake cereal, mashed potatoes, pancakes, waffles, pasta, white bread, rice, applesauce, bananas, eggs, fish, poultry, tofu, and well-cooked vegetables.

Eggs. If you were sticking to a clear liquid diet during a flare-up, your diet likely lacked protein during this time. Eggs are protein-rich and easy to digest. And they won't irritate your diverticula.

In the past, people with diverticula were told not to eat nuts, seeds and popcorn. It was thought that these foods could lodge in diverticula and inflame them, causing diverticulitis. But there's no proof that these foods cause diverticulitis.

Diet for diverticulosis

It also can help decrease pressure in the colon and help prevent flare-ups of diverticulitis. High-fiber foods include: Beans and legumes. Bran, whole wheat bread and whole grain cereals such as oatmeal.

There are no specific foods you need to avoid. You do not need to avoid any foods such as nuts, seeds, corn, popcorn or tomatoes if you have diverticular disease. These foods do not make diverticular disease worse. These foods may even help prevent it because they are high fibre choices.

Can you eat spaghetti with diverticulitis? A low-fiber diet is recommended to manage diverticulitis symptoms. While meatballs and meaty spaghetti sauces are not advised, plain, white pasta is allowed.

Can you eat cheese with diverticulosis? ›

Dairy. If you tolerate dairy, add non-fat or low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese to your diet. (Even if you aren't lactose intolerant, full-fat dairy may be harder to digest.) When you're experiencing a flare-up, especially if you have diarrhea, you may prefer to avoid dairy until you're feeling better.

Symptoms of Diverticulosis

When diverticulosis is far advanced, the lower colon may become very fixed, distorted, and even narrowed. When this occurs, there may be thin or pellet-shaped stools, constipation, and an occasional rush of diarrhea.

Mild cases of diverticulitis are usually treated with antibiotics and a low-fiber diet, or treatment may start with a period of rest where you eat nothing by mouth, then start with clear liquids and then move to a low-fiber diet until your condition improves. More-severe cases typically require hospitalization.

The formation of pouches or sacs on the intestinal lining is called diverticulosis. It is found in more than half of Americans over age 60. However, no one knows exactly what causes the pouches to form. Eating a low-fiber diet mostly made up of processed foods may be a cause.

Lifestyle remains the major culprit behind diverticulitis flare-ups. A high-fat, low-fiber diet commonly followed in Western countries can exacerbate diverticulitis symptoms. Lack of fiber in the diet can cause constipation and strain the bowel.

But people experiencing a flare-up may be better off avoiding high fiber foods. Limiting red and processed meat may also reduce risk and symptoms. Replacing them with poultry, fish, and plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes may be a sensible approach.