Strate coauthored two recent human studies related to vitamin D and diverticulitis risk. Results of both studies suggest having adequate vitamin D levels might help reduce risk of diverticulitis. Your doctor can test your blood levels of vitamin D. Top food sources of vitamin D include salmon, fortified milk and eggs.
Diet for Diverticulitis
Gradually you can ease back into a regular diet. Your doctor may advise you to start with low-fiber foods (white bread, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products) before introducing high-fiber foods. Fiber softens and adds bulk to stools, helping them pass more easily through the colon.
The association was strongest for unprocessed red meat like steak. However, the risk for developing diverticulitis was 20% lower when people in the study substituted poultry or fish for a serving of unprocessed red meat each day.
5 (typically safe) foods to eat
Lean protein: Eggs and tender cuts of meat (think shredded chicken, baked fish, and ground beef) are usually easy to digest. Cooked fruits and vegetables: You may need to remove the skin if it causes irritation.
Stay with liquids or a bland diet (plain rice, bananas, dry toast or crackers, applesauce) until you are feeling better. Then you can return to regular foods and slowly increase the amount of fibre in your diet. Use a heating pad set on low on your belly to relieve mild cramps and pain.
Low fiber foods to consider eating if you have symptoms of diverticulitis include: white rice, white bread, or white pasta (but avoid foods that contain gluten if you're intolerant)
Mild diverticulitis infection may be treated with bed rest, stool softeners, a liquid diet, antibiotics to fight the infection, and possibly antispasmodic drugs.
So, if you have diverticulitis, it may be a good idea to limit your intake of red meat, processed foods, and sweets and increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.
According to research, a low FODMAP diet may help prevent high pressure in the colon, thus preventing or correcting diverticulitis. You should avoid the following foods: certain fruits, such as pears, apples and plums. dairy foods, such as milk, yogurt, and ice cream.
The diverticulitis flare will usually go away after four to six weeks, Doerfler says. At that point, you can start eating higher-fiber foods like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats like nuts, seeds, avocado, and olive oil.
How is uncomplicated diverticulitis treated? In about 95 out of 100 people, uncomplicated diverticulitis goes away on its own within a week. In about 5 out of 100 people, the symptoms stay and treatment is needed. Surgery is only rarely necessary.
The fiber you get by consuming a tuna sandwich or eating fiber-rich side dishes with tuna steaks is important for your digestive system health. Fiber regulates your bowel movements, which helps prevent diarrhea and constipation. It also may prevent diverticulitis, a condition marked by inflamed pouches on the colon.
Actually, no specific foods are known to trigger diverticulitis attacks. And no special diet has been proved to prevent attacks. In the past, people with small pouches (diverticula) in the lining of the colon were told to avoid nuts, seeds and popcorn.
If you have diverticulosis, it's OK to have pizza occasionally, as long as it doesn't cause any symptoms. Research shows that people who eat a Western-style diet (pizza, fast food, and sweets) tend to have more bouts of diverticulitis.
If certain foods high in roughage (insoluble fiber) give you twinges of discomfort-like corn, salads, nuts, very seedy foods-then you may find foods rich in soluble fiber to be more comfortable. Try foods like oatmeal, squashes, carrots, beets, mango, papaya and melon to boost your soluble fiber intake.
The over-the-counter painkiller paracetamol is recommended to help relieve your symptoms. Painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are not recommended because they may upset your stomach and increase your risk of internal bleeding.
Once your recovery is further along, you can start to work more fat into your diet. Avocados are a standout choice. “Avocados contain healthy fats, which promote overall health,” Ehsani says. These fats support heart health and can even help your body absorb vitamins from other foods.
Diverticulitis can usually be treated at home with antibiotics prescribed by a GP. You can take paracetamol to help relieve any pain. Talk to a GP if paracetamol alone is not working. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, as they can cause stomach upsets.
It's also OK to eat small fruits with seeds, such as strawberries and blueberries. Research has found that these foods are not associated with an increased diverticulitis risk. If you're struggling with digestive problems, talk to your doctor or find a gastroenterologist near you.
What Foods should you avoid if you have diverticulitis? Avoid High FODMAP foods that are not digested/fermented well in your gut. These foods include apples, figs, plums, garlic, onions, cruciferous vegetables, beans and legumes, simple carbohydrates, and alcohol.