The Diverticulitis Diet

Will a high-fiber diet prevent diverticulitis?

For those with diverticular disease, preventing painful inflammation of diverticula — small bulges that form along the digestive tract — is of the utmost importance.

While there is no sure-fire way to keep inflammation from occurring, some doctors believe that eating a high-fiber diet may help.

Fiber and Diverticulitis

Many researchers believe that the primary cause of diverticula is too little fiber in the diet. Studies have shown that people in Africa and Asia, where high-fiber diets are common, rarely suffer from diverticular disease.

Fiber, or plant material, serves an important role in the digestive process, softening stool and helping it move more smoothly through the colon. A lack of fiber can cause constipation, which makes stools harder and more difficult to pass, putting stress on the muscles of the colon.

And since diverticula typically form in areas where digestive muscles are strained or weakened, constipation may make the development of diverticula more likely.

Because constipation causes pressure to build up in the colon, it may also lead to inflammation or infection of diverticula that are already present in the colon, causing the painful condition known as diverticulitis.

The Diverticulitis Diet

It should be noted that there have also been studies that suggest eating too much fiber may lead to diverticular disease by causing more frequent bowel movements.

The recommended amount of dietary fiber is 20 to 35 grams per day. There are two kinds of fiber found naturally in the foods you eat:

• Soluble fiber
• Insoluble fiber

Soluble fiber dissolves in water, forming a gel-like material that makes stools softer and larger, allowing them to pass easily through the intestine. Insoluble fiber helps move waste through the digestive system by absorbing water and adding bulk to stools.

Most plant-based foods contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. However, some foods contain more of one kind of fiber than the other.

To ensure you're getting enough of each, consume a wide variety of high-fiber foods, including:

• Cereals: shredded wheat and corn bran
• Grains: bran flakes, whole wheat pasta, pearled barley, oatmeal, brown rice
• Baked goods: bran muffins, whole wheat bread
• Legumes: split peas, lentils, black beans, lima beans
• Vegetables: artichokes, peas, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots
• Fruit: raspberries, blackberries, avocados, pears, and apples (with skin)
• Dried fruit: prunes, raisins
• Nuts and seeds: peanuts, popcorn

Because foods that are high in fiber are typically also high in vitamins and other nutrients, it's best to get the fiber you need from food. \

But if dietary restrictions prevent you from consuming all the fiber you need at meals, your doctor may recommend fiber supplements.

Psyllium, which is present in supplements like Metamucil and Konsyl, is one fiber option. This supplement may be sold as a powder or liquid, in granules, capsules, or as a wafer.

Methylcellulose-based supplements, like Citrucel, are typically sold in powder or granular form.

For many years, doctors advised people with diverticulosis not to eat nuts, seeds, or popcorn, which they believed could block the openings of diverticula and lead to flare-ups of diverticulitis.

However, research has never proven that eating these foods increases the risk of developing diverticulitis, and doctors no longer make this recommendation.

Preventing Diverticular Disease

There are several other ways you can maintain good digestive health and prevent diverticula from forming:

• Avoid overconsumption of red meat
• Avoid fatty foods, which may lead to intestinal blockage and worsen symptoms of diverticulitis
• Exercise regularly
• Quit smoking (smokers are at a higher risk of developing complications from diverticulitis)
• Avoid the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Maintain a healthy body weight
• Respond to bowel urges

NSAIDs such as aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen have been linked to increased instances of diverticular bleeding.

High-fiber diets need water to function properly. If you don't drink enough water, you can put yourself at greater risk of constipation.

Finally, delaying bowel movements can lead to hard stools and increased strain on the muscles of the colon, which may lead to diverticular disease.

Sources

N. Painter & D. Burkitt. "Diverticular Disease of the Colon: A Deficiency Disease of Western Civilization." May 1971. BMJ.

A. Peery, et al. "Constipation and a low-fiber diet are not associated with diverticulosis." December 2013. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Diverticulitis: Lifestyle and home remedies. Mayo Clinic.

Diverticulitis Diet. Mayo Clinic.