Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches in the colon, known as diverticula, become infected and inflamed. Management of a diverticulitis attack usually includes eating a bland, low-fiber diet so that your digestive tract can rest while your doctor treats the diverticulitis. Depending on the severity of the attack, your doctor may prescribe a clear liquid diet until the attack subsides. As the infection starts to heal, you can gradually add other foods to your diet.
Liquids
If your diverticulitis attack is causing pain and discomfort, your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic to clear up the infection and restrict you to a clear liquid diet while the infection heals. A clear liquid diet, according to the Mayo Clinic, consists of clear broth, fruit juices with no pulp, water, clear soda, plain gelatin, ice pops and ice chips. As you begin to feel better, you may add milk, creamy soup and fruit juices with a little pulp.
Fruits And Vegetables
When your diverticulitis attack subsides, you can gradually add low-fiber foods to your diet. Raw fruits that you may eat include ripe apricots, cantaloupe, bananas, honeydew melon, watermelon, peaches, papayas, plums and nectarines. You may also eat canned fruits and canned sauces such as applesauce. Raw vegetables that are on a diverticulitis diet include lettuce, onions, cucumbers and zucchini. Well-cooked or canned vegetables that you may eat include yellow squash with no seeds, pumpkin, spinach, green beans, eggplant, wax beans, carrots, asparagus, beets and potatoes without skin.
Dairy Products
In addition to milk, you may have yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, pudding, butter, margarine and whipped cream. You may have small amounts of hard cheese.
Other Foods
Other foods that are low in fiber and recommended for a diverticulitis diet include smooth peanut butter, white rice, plain pasta, refined white bread and low-fiber cereals. You may also have soft-cooked meats, fish, poultry, crackers, oils, smooth dressings and condiments, mayonnaise, hard candies, pies and plain cookies and cakes.
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