What to eat when you have diverticulitis

An endoscopic photo of a patient who has two diverticuli, as indicated by the arrows. This condition doesn’t cause any problems unless the diverticuli get infected or inflamed. — Wikimedia Commons

A friend tells me her husband spent the better part of the holidays suffering with a bout of diverticulitis.

I feel his pain; it’s a fairly common condition, especially as we get older.

What to eat when plagued with this intestinal condition depends on where one is in the process.

Let me explain.

For reasons not yet completely understood, little pockets called diverticuli sometimes form in the lining of the digestive tract.

The presence of these pouches is called diverticulosis.

Most people with diverticulosis never have further issues.

It’s a different story, however, if any of these protrusions in the intestines get infected or inflamed.

That is called diverticulitis – a painful condition that often requires medical attention.

How does diverticulosis develop in the first place?

Diet appears to play a major role, according to a 2021 systematic review of this topic in the journal Nutrients.

Recent studies, for example, find that a higher intake of dietary fibre (found only in plant-based foods) is associated with a lower risk for developing diverticulosis and diverticulitis.

How much fibre depends on which stage one is in.

A diet low in dietary fibre is usually advised to help recover from a bout of diverticulitis.

After that, the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) recommends a gradual return to a normal intake of dietary fibre (25 grammes is a good goal for most people).

Good sources of dietary fibre include fruit, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.

A half cup of raspberries, for example, has 4g of fibre.

A cup of cooked broccoli has 5g.

And just half a cup of cooked beans has almost 8g of dietary fibre.

Look too, on the Nutrition Facts label that appears on packaged foods.

It will tell you how much dietary fibre is in each serving.

Hint: Any food that claims to be “high in fibre” must contain at least 5g of fibre per serving.

Other ways to decrease your risk for this disease?

Fluids, fluids, fluids, especially water and other sugar-free beverages.

This is especially important any time we increase our fibre intake.

And if your usual diet is more meat than vegetables, experts say it’s time to reverse that ratio.

Excess meat consumption is another risk factor for diverticular disease.

What about nuts, popcorn, sunflower seeds and the like?

While these are usually restricted when one is recovering from the inflammation and infection of diverticulitis, research now suggests that these foods are not harmful to people with diverticulosis... unless they cause discomfort.

What else?

Physical activity has also been shown to help prevent the distress caused by this condition.

Oh, and if you smoke, it might be a good time to stop – that’s another important way to decrease your risk. – By Barbara Intermill/Tribune News Service

Barbara Intermill is a dietitian nutritionist in the United States.