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Dietary advice for diverticulitis

Diet for diverticulitis
( 7 Mar 2008)

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Natural Treatment for Diverticulitis

Many individuals have small bags or pouches, called diverticula, in their intestines that protrude out through comparatively weaker spots. When the pouches become infected or inflamed, the disorder is called diverticulitis. Researchers strongly believe that a low-fiber diet is the main cause of diverticular disease.

The American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber every day for a normal person. Any food product containing 3 g of fiber per serving is considered as a good source of fiber.

If you are currently suffering from a mild attack, your physician may recommend a clear liquid diet or a low-fiber diet.

This helps the area of infection to rest & heal faster.

A low-fiber diet can include white bread [enriched, of course], White rice or plain pasta, noodles or macaroni, raw, canned or cooked fruits without skins or seeds, fruit juice with little or no pulp, canned or well-cooked vegetables without seeds, hulls or skins, tender meat, poultry and fish, eggs, peanut butter [smooth], milk, yogurt or cheese, desserts without seeds or nuts.

However, once you have healed, make sure you increase your fiber intake gradually. This will help prevent recurrent episodes.

There is a misconception among people that nuts & seeded food-stuffs like Tomato, Cucumber, Zucchini etc should be avoided for life if you have had even a single episode; but scientific studies show no such evidence. If you avoid such foods, you might probably end up missing out on a lot of important nutrients like Lycopene, Carotene, Potassium etc.

However, if you personally find that some foods trigger your diverticulitis episodes, it is best to avoid them. Remember, decisions about diet should be made based on what works best for you. Maintaining a food diary may help identify specific triggers in one's diet.

Always consult your physician & nutritionist before making any drastic changes in your diet.

answered by S S on 10 Mar 2008, 10:41:59

Dietary advice for diverticulitis

Diet for diverticulitis ( 7 Mar 2008)

Diet for diverticulitis
( 7 Mar 2008)