Ideal Diet for Diverticulitis

By Natalia Real, Contributing Columnist, updated by Susan 

Callahan, Associate Editor

Diet For Diverticulitis are tiny pouches or bulges in the lining of your 

intestines. These tiny diverticula become more numerous as we

age, so that by the time we are 40, about 10% of us have them

and by the time we are aged 60, over  50% of all people in the 

US and the Western world have  these pouches in our 

intestines. The mere presence of these Diet For Diverticulitis pouches is 

called "diverticulosis".  

Diverticulitis is a different matter altogether. It's a complication 

of diverticulosis.  Although the words sound similar, they 

describe very different conditions.  If you merely have the 

pouches, even if they're causing you no trouble, that's 

"diverticulosis". If the pouches become inflamed and infected, 

then you have "Diet For Diverticulitis", which is a serious disease.  About 

1 to 2% of the population develops the inflammatory condition

of diverticulitis.  What causes diverticulitis? Are there foods or 

other natural remedies for diverticulitis or diverticulosis?

The interesting thing about these diverticula pouches in your 

intestines is that they have only started to appear in any 

significant numbers in the last 70 to 100 years.  Prior to that 

time they did not even exist in the medical literature. According

to a 1971 article in the British Medical Journal by Dr. Neil 

Painter and Dr. Denis Burkitt, "This dramatic increase in 

incidence occurred in only 70 years and cannot be explained on

a genetic basis... We believe that there is another possibility 

and that the colon's environment has changed and that 

Diet For Diverticulitis are caused by the diet of so-called 'civilized' 

countries".

Typical symptoms include severe and sudden (or mild and 

gradually worsening) pain in the lower left side of the 

abdomen, abdominal tenderness, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills 

and constipation or diarrhea.   

Ever hear the saying “you are what you eat”? Well, it’s true! 

Diet For Diverticulitis is thought to be caused, simply, by a lousy diet. 

That means processed foods, meat, and little fiber—which 

explains why diverticular disease is so prevalent in countries 

like the US, England, and Australia, and rare among Asian and 

African nations.   

The reason is that low-fiber diets make stools hard and difficult

to pass. The intestines and colon must strain, causing increased

pressure in the colon, which, in turn, can cause diverticula. 

Pressure can also cause the Diet For Diverticulitis to become infected. 

Apart from an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise is a suspected 

cause.  Your mission is, therefore, to increase your fiber intake 

to prevent and treat diverticulitis (its mild form, as serious 

cases require surgery) and other like conditions.  

What is the ideal diet for diverticultis? What should you eat to 

prevent diverticulitis? And what should you eat if you already 

have diverticulitis?

The Perfect Diet for Diverticulitis

The perfect diet for diverticulitis is a balanced vegetarian diet 

with plenty of fiber from fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals, 

grains, beans, and so on. (Read more about foods rich in fiber.)

Bear in mind that this applies if the case is mild enough. If the 

diverticula are so numerous or inflamed that fecal matter has 

not been able to pass, then you need immediate medical care 

and eating fiber is not recommended until after you have 

surgery. At that point, no diet will substitute for the surgery 

that you will need.

But, assuming that you don't have severe Diet For Diverticulitis, and no 

fever that would indicate a bad infection, adding fiber to your 

diet will help.  But do it slowly.

As your digestive system will need time to adapt, increase your

fiber intake gradually over the course of 6-8 weeks. If you 

experience gas or bloating, know that for most people, it 

passes after the first few weeks. 

And, make sure that as you add fiber, that you also drink plenty

of water and have some good oil ---extra virgin olive oil, canola 

--in your diet as well. Sufficient water and good oil will help 

you to avoid getting constipated and creating more diverticula 

by straining when you go to the bathroom. 

Whether you’re ready to make the transition or not, here are 

some hearty meal ideas:

Diverticulitis Breakfast

For breakfast, you can “cheat” by making a smoothie and 

consuming several excellent sources of fiber at once: try 

orange juice, a banana, strawberries, and a peach.

Or try soy milk, nut butter (peanut, sesame, almond, etc.), 

banana, raw honey, and tofu (try the silken variety)—this 

provides a fantastic amount of fiber, plus protein and many 

vitamins and minerals.

Adding tofu and nut butter makes a meal out of your 

smoothies, leaving you feeling satisfied. Ground seeds (flax, 

sesame, sunflower, etc.) are great too.

And if you eat cereals or bread, always stick to whole grain. My

favorite breakfast for a long time was whole grain toast with 

soy cheese slices, hummus or guacamole, and slices of tomato.  

But good old-fashioned oatmeal works just as well, with a 

sprinkle of walnuts and cinnamon, for blood sugar control.  

Add a teaspoon of honey or stevia cubes if you like it sweet.

Diet For Diverticulitis Lunch and Dinner

Basically, you want to include as many raw foods as you can—

salad is your friend! Feel free to sprinkle them with seeds, nuts, 

and dried fruits (e.g. raisins).

Love pizza? Substitute dairy cheese for soy or rice “cheese” 

(hello fiber!) and load it with vegetables like broccoli, snow 

peas, tomatoes, peppers, and onions. Buy veggie burgers, 

burritos, hot dogs, sausages, bacon, nuggets, and so on.

Try seitan and Boca’s grilled veggie burgers for a meaty texture.

Eat whole grain pastas and add different types of beans to the 

sauce.

Make an epic stew with fiber-loaded grains like quinoa or 

barley and add beans, seeds, and vegetables. 

Try couscous with falafel, hummus, and a cucumber-tomato-

lettuce salad.  

Snacks and Desserts Diet For Diverticulitis

Grab some fruit, dip crunchy raw vegetables in hummus and 

guacamole or salsa, a handful of dried fruits and nuts, a 

smoothie, vegetable and fruit juices, cereal bars, top your 

sorbet and low-fat ice cream or yogurt with nuts and berries 

(even better if you sub the dairy for soy), and so on.

Cake? Sure. A moderate slice with a decent side of fresh fruit.  

Want more ideas? Check out fiber-rich recipes in vegetarian 

cookbooks and websites everywhere.  And before you scoff at 

me, try it. You’ll see how delicious healthy eating can be—and 

how much better you’ll feel!    

Add Almonds to Combat Diet For Diverticulitis

Think almonds. You may have heard that eating nuts is not 

recommended for diverticulitis sufferers.