High-fibre diet for diverticulitis

My husband suffers from the digestive disorder diverticulitis and although he’s aware he can control the symptoms with diet, he’s not sure how…

AS A RULE, patients with the digestive condition Diet For Diverticulitis need to eat a high-fibre diet to keep the stools soft and prevent more diverticula (bulges that stick out of the side of the large intestine) forming. High-fibre foods include wholegrain cereals, fruit, veg, wholewheat pasta, brown rice, beans and pulses.

If your husband’s current diet is low in fibre, he should gradually increase the amount of fibre he eats (introducing more too quickly may cause bloating). During a flare-up his appetite is likely to reduce. This is when he needs to reduce his fibre intake, opting instead for low-fibre foods, to prevent further irritation of the large intestine.

In extreme cases, doctors may advise sticking to a clear fluid diet of water, broth and clear soup, and herbal teas until the symptoms settle.