Diverticulitis Diets

Answer 1

Diverticulitis is a fairly rare gastro-intestinal condition. It occurs much more often in the elderly, and is characterized by bulging pockets in the lining of the intestines. The current train of thought is that one of the main causes of this disease is a lack of fiber. There are several changes that you can make to your diet to reduce the severity of symptoms.

Preventative measures

As a lack of fiber can cause the disease, it is not surprising that fiber can also lessen the symptoms of diverticulitis. Fiber is beneficial to a healthy digestive track and strong colon. It is also known to prevent constipation, and facilitate the process of excreting stool from the body. A good number to aim for is 30 grams of fiber per day. The average American does not consume their daily recommended dose of fiber and for this reason, diverticulitis is more prominent in this region than in other parts of the world.

Try to incorporate more fiber into your daily diet. Try a diet that consists of mostly liquids

Many doctors recommend reducing the consumption of solid foods if you have moderate to severe diverticulitis symptoms. You can eventually ease yourself back into a normal diet, but you should follow a strict diet until your symptoms are manageable. Try sticking to liquid based foods. Some examples are soup, fruit nectar or juice and popsicles.

Reduce the intake of solid foods if you have sever symptoms. Avoid problem foods

Some foods cause problems and flare-ups. As such, it is a good idea to avoid them if you have diverticulitis. If a particular food is hard to digest, it is a good idea to avoid it. Some beans, vegetables and nuts prove particularly challenging for the body to digest, and could complicate your condition. It is also a good idea to avoid seeds, as they can get trapped in the pockets of your intestines. Avoid these products all together.

Restrain from eating foods that are hard to digest.

Many struggle with diverticulitis on a daily basis, but with a few dietary changes, the symptoms are easily manageable. By eating the right types of healthy foods and avoiding problem foods, you can reduce the symptoms of your condition.

Answer 2

Diverticulitis is a digestive disease that results when small pouches within the colon called diverticula become inflamed. The inflammation of the diverticula occurs when small pieces of feces get lodged within the pouches, and the pouches become infected. Development of diverticula within people over the age of 40 is somewhat common. However, only about 20% of those with diverticula suffer from diverticulitis.

The symptoms of diverticulitis may range from uncomfortable constipation to fever, chills, nausea, and a trip to the hospital. Diverticulitis should be diagnosed and treated professionally by a medical or naturopathic physician. Many times the symptoms may be treated at home with simple dietary changes and additional rest. Common dietary treatments suggested by physicians after a bout of diverticulitis include a liquid diet for a couple of days; gradual addition of nutritional, high fiber solid foods; and adequate amounts of water. Severe diverticulitis symptoms may require dietary changes, extended bed rest, antibiotic treatment, or even surgery. Colon surgery is usually required when diverticulitis has caused an infection that has spread over large parts of the colon. When the infection caused by diverticulitis has damaged parts of the colon, many physicians advise their patients to have surgery to remove the diseased parts of the colon.

Consuming a high fiber diet is one way to alleviate the symptoms and keep the disease under control. A common problem with treating diverticulitis and other digestive diseases is that the definition of a high fiber diet is murky. Many envision grains, wheat bread, and psyllium fiber capsules as the best contributors of a high fiber diet. However, the high fiber diet that best treats digestive diseases such as diveticulitis is one that includes plenty of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. The fiber found in the fresh fruits and vegetables is called roughage. While psyllium fiber is widely used in colon cleanse products, it has no real nutritional value. Psyllium husk fiber also absorbs valuable water needed to properly flush the colon of waste matter. By consuming fresh fruits and vegetables to treat diverticulitis, a person is able to obtain the fiber needed for a healthy colon as well as the antioxidants needed to fight the inflammation caused by diverticulitis within the colon.