For a diverticulitis flare-up, focus on low-fiber, easy-to-digest fruits like bananas, applesauce, canned peaches/pears (no skin), and melons (seedless), while avoiding skins, seeds, and tough fibers; once healed, gradually reintroduce high-fiber options like berries and apples with skin for prevention. Always consult your doctor for specific dietary guidance during a flare.
Fruit, especially blackberries and raspberries, but also avocado, blueberries, strawberries, apples and pears (with the skin on), kiwi and oranges. Seeds such as sunflower, pumpkin, flax and chia. Nuts such as almonds, pistachios and pecans.
For managing mild diverticulitis pain or symptoms at home, your healthcare professional may recommend eating only clear foods and clear liquids for a few days. Examples of clear liquids that you can have include: Chicken, beef or vegetable broth. Fruit juices without pulp, such as apple, cranberry and grape juices.
Signs that diverticulitis has become more serious include severe abdominal pain, chills, shaking rigors, weakness, headaches and dizziness. If you feel any of these symptoms, contact your doctor or call 911, as it may be a medical emergency.
Avoid High FODMAP Foods in a Diverticulitis Diet
Diverticulitis is caused by an infection of one or more of the diverticula. It is thought an infection develops when a hard piece of stool or undigested food gets trapped in one of the pouches. This gives bacteria in the stool the chance to multiply and spread, triggering an infection.
Treatment may consist of measures including: Taking painkillers to reduce discomfort. These may be over-the-counter pain medicines such as paracetamol or stronger medicines that require a prescription. Taking Buscopan may help with cramping abdominal pain.
Honestly, recovering from diverticulitis might take up to two weeks. In the initial days of recuperating from straightforward diverticulitis in the comfort of your home, you'll be on a liquid diet, taking it easy, and using the prescribed medications for pain relief.
When diverticulitis leads to sepsis, look out for these specific symptoms:
One large retrospective cohort study reported a 25% increased risk for acute coronary syndrome in patients with a history of diverticulitis.
Follow a low-fiber or liquid diet for a few days to ease the strain on your digestive system and allow your colon to heal. Opt for easily digestible foods such as: Broth. Cooked vegetables.
In that case, the best soups are simple broths, like chicken, beef, or vegetable broth, with no chunks or solid pieces. These are easy on your gut and help it rest while you recover.
Some studies show 5 days of antibiotics can work for mild diverticulitis. For example, a study in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology found similar results for 5-day and longer treatments. These studies focus on patients with: Mild to moderate diverticulitis.
Foods that fit into this eating pattern include: Fruits: canned fruits in 100% juice or water, applesauce, bananas, melons. Limited vegetables (all well-cooked): beets, carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, potatoes (without the skin) Dairy: yogurt, cottage cheese, milk, cheese.
Foods to eat for Diverticulitis:
Increasing fiber intake too quickly can cause increased GI symptoms and discomfort. Below is a list of foods to eat with Diverticulosis. *Apples are generally considered good for diverticulitis.
Brown, wholemeal, wholegrain, granary, multigrain, seeded breads and rolls. Oatcakes, wholegrain rice cakes, Ryvita®, crisp breads, wholegrain crackers, digestive biscuits, popcorn, Hob Nobs, flapjacks, fruit cake, malt loaf. Jacket potato with skin, new potatoes with skin, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice.
Stages of Diverticulitis
Stage III: Abscesses have burst, and pus has been discharged into the abdomen. Stage IV: Abscesses have burst into the peritoneal cavity (a fluid-filled area that houses many of the abdominal organs), resulting in the presence of feces and, subsequently, infection.
Diverticulitis comes from infection and inflammation within small pouches (diverticula) that form in the colon wall, often due to high pressure from straining to pass hard, low-fiber stools, trapping bacteria and food, leading to blockage and infection. Risk factors include a low-fiber diet, constipation, obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, red meat, and age, though doctors don't know the exact cause.
Complications of diverticular disease
Perforation – a weakened pocket of bowel wall may rupture. The contents of the bowel can then seep into the abdominal cavity. Symptoms include pain, high fever and chills. A perforated bowel is a medical emergency.
Recurrent attacks of acute diverticulitis carry the risk of gradual scarring and fibrosis with the sequela of forming a stricture. Diverticular disease rarely causes complete obstruction.
During the acute phase of uncomplicated diverticulitis, “bowel rest” through a clear liquid diet is advised with a goal of patient comfort. If a patient cannot advance their diet after three to five days, a follow-up appointment should be scheduled immediately.
If imaging shows a large abscess or a tear in the colon wall, emergency surgery may be necessary to prevent infection from spreading. That's not meant to scare you—it's simply the medical reality of when diverticulitis needs surgery to protect your health. There's also the matter of repeated episodes.
You can usually treat diverticulitis at home. Your GP may prescribe antibiotics. You can take paracetamol to help relieve any pain. Talk to your GP if paracetamol alone is not working.
have myasthenia gravis – a condition where the muscles become weak and tire easily. have a condition where your bowel is blocked and does not work properly, such as paralytic ileus. are 40 years old or over. are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding.
Mild to moderate cases of diverticulitis are usually treated with oral antibiotics, usually either metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, or co-amoxiclav. Taking a low-fibre diet during the acute episode may help. Once you have improved, you can slowly return to a more normal diet including plenty of high-fibre foods.