The Best Foods to Help With Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis AKA the inflammation of the diverticulum which causes pain and disturbance of bowel function, is  often called one of the most painful experiences someone can have. However, diets made up of doctor-approved best diverticulitis foods can be an important part of a patient’s health plan.

Some of these foods are meant to be eaten as part of an overall diverticulitis diet that’s designed to prevent diverticulitis attacks, while other are part of emergency diets meant to be eaten by those in the throes of a painful bout of diverticulitis.

Peanuts:

For years, diverticulitis patients were told to avoid foods like peanuts because they may get lodged in the diverticula and cause inflammation and more complications. However, according to the National Library of Medicine, “There is no truth to the long-held belief that these foods increase the risk of complications.”

Wheat Bran:

Wheat bran, and similar foods, have been found by several studies to “decrease pressure in the colon and help prevent flare-ups of diverticulitis.” Bran can also help soften stool, in-turn fighting the constipation that often accompanies diverticulitis.

Vegetables:

According to the USDA’s 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, vegetables including “artichokes, broccoli, green peas, potatoes, squash, and parsnips” are key part of a diverticulitis diet meant to avoid onset of attacks.

Fruit:

According to the Cleveland Clinic, some fruits are integral to a diverticulitis diet. However, the institution explains that not all fruits are created equal. They wrote:

“Use caution since fruits have lots of fiber. Good options include canned fruits such as peaches or pears, applesauce, ripe bananas, and soft, ripe cantaloupe and honeydew. “It’s not a lot of fiber because you’re not eating the skin. The skins are the source of insoluble fiber, which can irritate inflamed polyps.”

Brazil Nuts:

Similar to peanuts, Brazil nuts were long considered a food to avoid for those prone to diverticulitis attacks thanks to the idea that they could get stuck in diverticula. Since that theory has been proven untrue, many doctors have actually suggested nuts as a smart addition to a diet constructed to avoid diverticulitis.

Oats:

According to LiveStrong when discussing oatmeal:

“Fiber will not only assist in keeping the stool soft and helping prevent constipation, but it will also decrease colon pressure which lessens the chances of a diverticulitis flare-up. Vegetables and fruits can be added initially with gradual advancement to beans, brown rice and whole grains. A whole grain that is beneficial for colon health is oatmeal. Additionally, oatmeal is known to provide benefits in heart health, in helping to control blood glucose levels and in possibly reducing certain types of cancer.”

Water:

According to WebMD, those recovering from diverticulitis should drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily to prevent constipation. Furthermore, it’s recommended that they should drink anywhere from eleven (for men) to thirteen (for women) glasses each day normally going forward.

Popcorn:

Similar to the nuts we’ve discussed, doctors long-warned diverticulitis patients to avoid popcorn, due to fears that kernels or kernel shells could get stuck in the diverticulum and cause inflammation.  However, since such myths have been debunked, many doctors have come around to calling popcorn an important part of a diverticulitis diet.

Cereal:

PatientPop lays out how important cereal can be to a diverticulitis recovery diet, as long as the mix is correct.

“Mix a small amount of high-fiber cereal, such as raisin bran or oatmeal, into a lower- fiber cereal, such as corn flakes or rice puffs. Slowly increase the proportion of high- fiber cereal every few days.”

Eggs:

According to the Mayo Clinic, eggs are essential part of a diverticulitis diet. Specifically, low fiber foods like eggs are some of the first solids given to a patient suffering from a diverticulitis attack after they’ve been deemed healthy enough to move past an all-liquid diet.

If you’re suffering from an attack or simply think you’re a potential patient, these are best diverticulitis foods to add to your diet. Just get your doctor’s approval first.