When a person suffers from diverticulitis there are certain foods which cannot be eaten. This is because a low residue diet is the preferred nutrition therapy as it provides for optimal healing of the colon. A low reside diet allows for the colon to rest since very few food particles or "residues" are left in the colon. It is the residues which can become stuck in the diverticula and lead to infection and inflammation reports the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Pulps, Skins and Spices
Foods which contain pulps, skins and spice cannot be eaten with diverticulitis because they all include tiny particles which are good at becoming stuck in already inflamed diverticula. This includes juices and fruits with pulp, dried fruits, potatoes with skins, sweet potatoes with skins, pineapple, all fresh fruit with skins, prune juice and anything with flecks of spice.
Beans and Lentils
Beans and lentils are quite fibrous and should be avoided during diverticulitis flare ups until symptoms resolve. Until then, sufferers cannot eat adzuki beans, black-eyed peas, lima beans, black beans, kidney beans, chick peas, edamame' and all types of lentils. Beans and lentils prolong stomach emptying time according to Medline Plus which certainly would not allow for gut healing.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are typically ideal and healthy for your diet, but should be left for the diverticulosis stage when symptoms are not present. Nuts which should be avoided include peanuts, almonds, walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans and cashews to name a few. Seeds which cannot be eaten include sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and seeds found in fruit and vegetables.
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