What to Eat After Diverticulitis

One in two Americans over the age of 60 has small pockets or outpouchings on the inside of their colon called diverticuli. People with these outpouchings have a condition called diverticulosis. Diverticulosis normally doesn't cause problems until bacteria, usually from the stool, lodge in the pockets and cause infection and inflammation. When this happens, it gives rise to an inflammatory condition called diverticulitis.

The symptoms of diverticulitis aren't pleasant. They include abdominal pain - along with fever, nausea and constipation. Some people with diverticulitis need hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics, and some even require surgery for complications of diverticulitis. Not surprisingly, anyone who's ever had it doesn't want it again - and one of the best ways to prevent future problems after diverticulitis is to change your diet.

What to Eat After Diverticulitis: Up Your Fiber Intake

Eating a low-fiber diet is one of the biggest risk factors for developing diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Fiber helps to move food through the intestines and colon more quickly, which takes pressure off the colon. Diverticulitis is more common in people who eat a processed food diet that's low in fiber. In fact, diverticulitis was far less common before processed food became a dietary staple. Processed foods are usually made with white flour that's been refined and had its fiber removed.

So what should you eat after diverticulitis? After a diverticulitis attack has cleared up, slowly increase the amount of fiber in your diet with the goal of getting at least 25 grams of fiber a day. Lay off the processed foods, and add more fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods to your diet. Eat whole-grain bread and brown rice in place of white bread and rice. Taking these simple steps will reduce the risk of having another painful diverticulitis attack.

Eat More Yogurt after Diverticulitis

Recent research suggests that probiotics, the friendly bacteria in yogurt and fermented foods, may be beneficial to people with diverticulosis and a history of diverticulitis. These "good" bacteria keep unfriendly bacteria that can inflame the diverticuli in the colon in check. More research is needed to confirm this, but it may be beneficial to eat a cup of yogurt with active cultures every day if you have a history of diverticulitis attacks.

The Bottom Line?

Diet plays an important role in how well you do after diverticulitis, and how you eat can influence your chance of having future diverticulitis attacks. Cut back on processed foods, and replace it with fruits, vegetables and whole grains. For dessert? Have a cup of yogurt.

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