The Diverticulitis Diet Defined

Diverticulitis develops from a condition called diverticulosis. If you are older than 40 years, it is common to have diverticulosis - small, bulging pouches (diverticula) in your digestive tract. In the U.S., over 50 percent of people older than 60 have diverticula. Although diverticula can form anywhere, including in your esophagus, stomach and small intestine, most occur in your large intestine. Because these pouches seldom cause problems, you may never know you have them.

A diet low in fiber is considered the main cause of diverticular problems. First diagnosed in the United States in 1900 and now common throughout developed countries, the emergence of diverticular disease coincided with the introduction of low-fiber processed foods (eg refined flour branless). Even now, the disease is rare in Asia and Africa where people eat high-fiber vegetable diets.

In the past, many doctors recommend that people with diverticulosis avoid seeds and nuts, including foods with small seeds such as tomatoes and strawberries. It was thought that these tiny particles could lodge in diverticula and cause inflammation (diverticulitis). But there is no scientific evidence that seeds and nuts cause diverticulitis. In fact, eating a diet rich in fiber - which may include nuts and seeds - reduces the risk of diverticulitis. It is now believed that only foods that may irritate or get caught in the diverticula cause problems.

A little residue diverticulitis diet is recommended during periods of exacerbation of diverticulitis to decrease bowel volume so that the infection can heal. An intake of less than 10 grams of fiber per day is generally considered a low residue diverticulitis diet. If you've been in a low-residue diet for an extended period of time, your doctor may recommend a daily supplement multi-vitamin/mineral.

Once your symptoms improve, start to add about 5 to 15 grams of fiber a day to allow your digestive system to adapt to the higher intake of fiber.

Although there is much conflicting information, even in the medical world about what constitutes a good diet diverticulitis, the basic principle of healthy eating remain the same. Most people have no symptoms and only know that they have diverticulosis when you had a colonoscopy done. If you fall into this category, the guidelines suggest that you start on a high fiber diet and high fluid as soon as possible. You should also avoid constipation at all costs.

In general, treatment depends on the severity of its signs and symptoms, and if this is your first attack of diverticulitis. If your symptoms are mild, a liquid or low-fiber diet and antibiotics may be all you need. But if you are at risk for complications or recurrent attacks of diverticulitis, you may need more advanced care. A diet high in fiber is very important in preventing future attacks of diverticulitis. As you increase your fiber intake, increase your fluid intake too.

Many people do not realize the damage that a diet low in fiber can do for you, diverticulitis and diet is really a necessity for everyone, not just those with the disease. We must remember to maintain high-fiber healthy diets to allow ourselves the power we need to support our body and allow the proper nutrition. Even if you have diverticulitis, the diverticulitis diet will help you get the nutrients their bodies on the right path and allows you to be healthy again.