Diverticulitis Diet

Diverticulitis is a condition in the body that happens when your colon or large intestine develop small pouches. The small pouches are called diverticula. The reason why this is a problem is because food can get trapped into the small pouches, and it can cause internal bleeding and infection. Many people have to even go into the hospital because of it. It is important that once a person is diagnosed with diverticulitis that a diverticulitis diet is put in place so the condition will not worsen. There are many foods to avoid and to add into your diverticulitis diet.

Avoid

There are many types of food that you should avoid if you have diverticulitis. The reasons to avoid them are that these types of food do not break down in your stomach. Since they do not break down when they are caught in the pouches they just linger there causing irritation. They are what cause the bleeding and infection to occur. So it is helpful that if you have diverticulitis that you completely eliminate popcorn, nuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and caraway seeds from your diet.

Fiber

Fiber is really important to someone who has been diagnosed with diverticulitis. It is believed that eating a low-fiber diet is one of the reasons why someone develops diverticulitis. So it is important that a person with diverticulitis starts eating a high fiber diet on a normal basis. There are several ways to do this. You can either add fiber supplements to your diet, or start eating fresh foods that are high in fiber.

Fiber Supplements

Some people find it easier to add fiber supplements to their daily diet. For example, there is a product called Metamucil on the market that contains fiber. Another example is Citrucel that gives you extra fiber when taken. Fiber supplements can come in a powder, tablet, or liquid form.

Whole Grains

A great way to boost up your fiber each day is to switch your diet to whole grains. Stop eating white bread, and switch to whole wheat bread. Eat whole grain cereals. For example, Fiber One is a great whole grain cereal to add more fiber into your diet. Always try to add a whole grain into your daily diet.

Beans

Beans are a great source of fiber. For example, kidney beans. Another example is navy beans. These are great in soups. Also add some beans into your salsa for a nice tasty treat. They are great for your diverticulitis diet.

Fruits

A nice way to add extra fiber into your diet is to snack on certain fruits. The old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" is true in this case. Apples eaten with their skins on are high in fiber. A small bowel of raspberries makes a wonderful high fiber snack. Pears eaten with their skins on make a good high fiber choice.

Vegetables

Certain vegetables are a great source of high fiber. Spinach is a great way to add fiber to your diet. You can add it in your salad for lunch, or make creamed spinach for dinner. Potatoes are great for fiber. You can eat either sweet potatoes or regular ones, but make sure you keep their skins on for more fiber. Cauliflower, squash, and peas are great vegetables to add to your diverticulitis diet.