diet for patients with diverticulitis

ekstrom · Newbie Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 18

My father was diagnosed with diverticulitis one week ago and I would like to know more about this condition. Is it dangerous? Also, is there some special diet that he can go through to make him feel better?

winders · Newbie Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 21

Diverticulitis is inflammation of the diverticuli and a person with diverticulosis may get diverticulitis when stool gets caught in one or more of these pockets. This way they become inflamed or infected which typically causes fever, pain and tenderness in the abdomen. Bleeding and infection ate the two major signs and symptoms of diverticular disease. This condition usually clears up within a week with antibiotics and a liquid or soft diet. This means that your father should eat more soup, mashed potatoes, cooked or pureed vegetables, bananas, pudding. Basically, he needs to avoid food that requires a lot of chewing. After the acute infection clears up, he should eat a high-fiber diet including nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruits and vegetables and should also drink plenty of fluids and avoid constipation at all costs. Nuts are a good source of fiber and protein and even though nuts contain fat, it is mostly unsaturated. Hard stools or straining will cause more diverticuli to appear or the existing ones to enlarge.

Guest · Guest

I have read that a soft diet should be eaten during Diverticulitis episode, and to go to high fiber when things have calmed down. However, there are differences of opinion on nuts and seeds. Most research articles stress staying away from seeds or nuts that may get lodged in the diverticula sacs. Is your opinion a new approach?
I tried the Master Cleanse on two occasions (in the past 6 mos.) and have, on both occasions, thrown myself into a full blown diverticulitis episode that has required high doses of antibiotics. I believe the problem is not the cleanse as much as the night-time laxative tea. I read, after the fact, that no laxatives are recommended with this disease.
I have had this problem since I was in my late 30's; I am now 59. I have always been a high fiber eater since I was fortunate enough to be in the wholesale produce business. Now that I am retired, I am having more health problems with the disease. Once I start having the symptoms, I just can't seem to overcome the infection without the antibiotic. Any suggestions?
By the way, my mother died of colon cancer so I have been very aware of high fiber in my diet. My father, in his senior years, had serious diverticulitis on several occasions.
I appreciate your feedback.

henlan · Newbie Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

I think people have been "guessing" about seeds and nuts and "guessing" one should avoid them. Prior to my first outbreak I had had an unusually large amount of pistachios. (Maybe two or three handfuls).

But I had also been drinking excessive amounts of caffeine which may have dehydrated me??

I go with science... and here's what the NIH (National Institute of Health) says....

(http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diverticulosis/)

Avoidance of nuts, popcorn, and sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, and sesame seeds has been recommended by physicians out of fear that food particles could enter, block, or irritate the diverticula. However, no scientific data support this treatment measure. Eating a high-fiber diet is the only requirement highly emphasized across the literature and eliminating specific foods is not necessary. The seeds in tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries, and raspberries, as well as poppy seeds, are generally considered harmless. People differ in the amounts and types of foods they can eat. Decisions about diet should be made based on what works best for each person. Keeping a food diary may help identify individual items in one's diet.

diet for patients with diverticulitis

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