Diverticulitis Diet Plan – Overview
Diverticulitis is uncomfortable and painful, but it is treatable with natural methods. Other treatment options for diverticulitis are available, including medication, for individuals looking for an instant solution.
However, suppose you want a long-term cure for the sickness. In that case, you must concentrate on receiving adequate sunlight, engaging in regular physical activity, and, most importantly, eating a nutritious diverticulitis diet.
You should get medical assistance if you experience any complications from diverticulitis, even though all of these options can help alleviate the painful and uncomfortable symptoms.
What Is Diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis Diet Plan – What Is Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is a type of colitis, which is an inflammatory bowel disease. If not treated promptly, diverticulitis can progress to require surgery.
Small pouch-like abnormalities known as diverticula occur in the digestive tract, resulting in the development of this illness.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, they become diverticulosis and can become infected or inflammatory when they occur in this area.
Diverticulitis disease causes intense discomfort in the lower left abdomen, which is the most prevalent symptom and relates to the placement of the sigmoid colon in the body.
In addition, some people also experience discomfort on the right side of the abdomen because of the illness.
Diverticulitis discomfort might manifest quickly and severely, or it can gradually worsen for days or even weeks.
Its intensity can also shift from time to time. According to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the intensity of your diverticulitis illness and its migration to other parts of the body determines the level of discomfort you will experience during a flare-up.
Other symptoms include:
- Abdominal tenderness
- Bloating
- Change in bowel habits
- Chills
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Frequent urination
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rectal bleeding
Although some of these symptoms are similar to those of other gastrointestinal illnesses, such as peptic ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome, you should see your physician if you are experiencing any of these indications and any adverse outcomes.
Causes and Risk Factors of Diverticulitis
Diverticula occur most frequently in areas of the intestine where the intestine muscles are weakest, such as the sigmoid colon.
Although it is unclear why diverticula arise, various studies have found that they are associated with the following factors:
- Obesity-defined as having a body mass index of 30 or higher
- Consuming an Excessive Amount of Red Meat According to Harvard Health Publishing, there is no set amount of red meat considered excessive. However, dieticians generally advise choosing leaner meat (such as fish, turkey, and boneless, skinless chicken) wherever available, rather than red meat.
- Not Engaging in Regular Physical Activity According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you should target 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.
What Can You Eat When You Have Diverticulitis?
What Can You Eat When You Have Diverticulitis
A clear liquid and low-residue diet are essential for a few days during acute diverticulitis flare-ups to enable the gut to relax and recuperate.
The only clear drinks that patients should consume are juice, broth, and herbal tea like chamomile or linden. They can also consume Jell-O and Popsicles.
Eat a low-fiber or gastrointestinal soft diet if you have moderate diverticulitis. Based on the intensity of the flare-up, a low-fiber diet restricts fiber consumption to 8-12 grams per day.
Grains: low fiber grain options include white bread, white spaghetti, and white crackers, among others.
Low-fiber starches: You can enjoy roast, baked, or mashed potatoes without their peel. Corn flakes and puffed rice cereal, two low-fiber options, also score high marks.
Proteins: Eggs and egg whites, tofu, and meat or seafood are all excellent protein sources. Chicken, lean ground beef, and soft baked fish perform best since they are tender.
Fruits: when consuming fruits, you should do so with caution because they are high in fiber content. Choose from ripe bananas, soft cantaloupe and honeydew, as well as canned peaches or pears.
Dairy: Cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are genuine winners in a flare-up. They are high in protein, calcium and other minerals and have no fiber.
Probiotics and Vitamin D supplements: Diverticulitis is more common in those who live in places with poor sunlight exposure and low vitamin D levels. Therefore, revamp your diet with vitamin D and probiotic supplements.
What You Should Avoid
What You Should Avoid
During a diverticulitis flare-up, it is best to consume low-fat diet. Because vegetarian diets have higher fiber content, they appear to be more protective.
Exclude the following foods from your diverticulitis diet plan because they contain high FODMAP content.
- Wheat
- Onions
- Garlic
- Apples
- Peaches
- Pears
- Asparagus
- Brussels sprouts
- Cauliflower
- Dairy foods
- Legumes
- Beans
- Red meat
- Fried foods
- Canned foods
- Sauces
Simple 7-day Diverticulitis diet plan
Day 1
Breakfast: Rice porridge with 1 cup of peach juice
Morning Snack: Plain cracker
Lunch: Shredded chicken with pumpkin puree, boiled spinach, and 1 cooked apple
Afternoon Snack: 10 almonds/pecans/walnuts or 20 macadamias
Dinner: Baked salmon with sliced lime and chili on top, served with steamed zucchini, squash, and boiled white rice
Day 2
Breakfast: Rice porridge and 1 cup of apple juice
Morning Snack: Strained pear juice with 1 cup of linden tea
Lunch: Baked or pan-fried chicken with low FODMAP roasted veggies
Afternoon Snack: 1 apple
Dinner: Grilled fish with white rice, broccoli and carrot salad, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and 1 banana
Day 3
Breakfast: 1 cup of skimmed milk with white bread, ricotta cheese, and 1 cup of orange juice
Morning Snack: 1 cup of sugar-free gelatin
Lunch: Low FODMAP Minestrone
Afternoon Snack: Low FODMAP Blueberry Bar
Dinner: Grilled Vegetable Quesadilla with low-fat Italian seasoning
Day 4
Breakfast: Gluten-free bread topped with cottage cheese and smoked salmon
Morning Snack: 2 rice cakes topped with peanut butter and 1/2 banana
Lunch: Low FODMAP tomato and leek frittata
Afternoon Snack: 1 cup of chamomile tea or 1 cup of peach juice
Dinner: Chicken/beef/fish with 1 tbsp ketchup/BBQ sauce/mustard, 2 small boiled potatoes, and ½ cup broccoli
Day 5
Breakfast: Quinoa Porridge with Berries and Cinnamon
Morning Snack: Granola bar
Lunch: Shredded chicken soup
Afternoon Snack: Carrot sticks with cottage cheese
Dinner: Shrimp, Pasta, and Spinach Salad
Day 6
Diverticulitis Diet Plan
Breakfast: 2 eggs with gluten-free white bread, 1 cup of spinach/arugula/rocket with salt and olive oil drizzle
Morning Snack: 1 orange or 2 small kiwi fruit
Lunch: Tuna salad, baby spinach, tomato, and cucumber, with olive oil and apple cider vinegar dressing
Afternoon Snack: 1 natural yogurt
Dinner: Apple Chicken Pita Pocket with celery stalk, chopped and romaine lettuce leaves.
Day 7
Diverticulitis Diet Plan
Breakfast: Last night’s leftovers
Morning Snack: 1 cooked pear with one teaspoon of cinnamon
Lunch: Strained vegetable soup
Afternoon Snack: 1 cup of sugar-free gelatin and 1 cup of chamomile tea
Dinner: Tempeh stir fry with veggies (carrot/broccoli heads/Asian greens/veggies working well in stir-fries)
Final Thoughts
Diverticulosis sufferers are familiar with the excruciating discomfort and inconvenience that the condition may bring.
Rest and a change in diet can effectively treat mild diverticulitis. According to research, following a low FODMAP diet may be the best approach to prevent reoccurring diverticulitis.
FODMAPs are a group of chemicals found in many foods we consume. Some people have trouble absorbing these chemicals, causing intestinal issues.
Diverticulitis sufferers should also seek medical advice before changing their diet.
Printable Diverticulitis Diet Plan (PDF)
| Day | Breakfast | Morning Snack | Lunch | Afternoon Snack | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rice porridge with 1 cup of peach juice | Plain cracker | Shredded chicken with pumpkin puree, boiled spinach, and 1 cooked apple | 10 almonds/pecans/walnuts or 20 macadamias | Baked salmon with sliced lime and chilli on top, served with steamed zucchini, squash, and boiled white rice |
| 2 | Rice porridge and 1 cup of apple juice | Strained pear juice with 1 cup of linden tea | Baked or pan-fried chicken with low FODMAP roasted veggies | 1 apple | Grilled fish with white rice, broccoli and carrot salad, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and 1 banana |
| 3 | 1 cup of skimmed milk with white bread, ricotta cheese, and 1 cup of orange juice | 1 cup of sugar-free gelatin | Low FODMAP minestrone | Low FODMAP blueberry bar | Grilled Vegetable Quesadilla with low-fat Italian seasoning |
| 4 | Gluten-free bread topped with cottage cheese and smoked salmon | 2 Rice cakes topped with peanut butter and 1/2 banana | Low FODMAP tomato and leek frittata | 1 cup of chamomile tea or 1 cup of peach juice | Chicken/beef/fish with 1 tbsp ketchup/BBQ sauce/mustard, 2 small boiled potatoes, and ½ cup broccoli |
| 5 | Quinoa Porridge with Berries and Cinnamon | Granola bar | Shredded chicken soup | Carrot sticks with cottage cheese | Shrimp, Pasta, and Spinach Salad |
| 6 | 2 Eggs with gluten-free white bread, 1 cup of spinach/arugula/rocket with salt and olive oil drizzle | 1 Orange or 2 small kiwi fruit | Tuna salad, baby spinach, tomato, and cucumber, with olive oil and apple cider vinegar dressing | 1 Natural yogurt | Apple Chicken Pita Pocket with celery stalk, chopped and romaine lettuce leaves. |
| 7 | Last night’s leftovers | 1 Cooked pear with one teaspoon of cinnamon | Strained vegetable soup | 1 Cup of sugar-free gelatin and 1 cup of chamomile tea | Tempeh stir fry with veggies (carrot/broccoli heads/Asian greens/veggies working well in stir-fries) |
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