One in 10 Americans has diverticulosis, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that creates small bulging pouches in the lining of the large intestine or colon. When these pouches become irritated and inflamed, this more acute condition is called diverticulitis. Your doctor may limit foods high in residue during attacks of diverticulitis, says the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK.
Identification
The fiber in your diet comes from undigested portions of the fruits, grains and vegetables that you eat. Fiber and waste products from your intestines combine to create your stools, or bowel movements. Low-fiber foods leave less residue in the bowels than those higher in fiber.
Allowed Foods
Low-residue foods include white rice, plain pasta, white bread, low-fiber cereals and tender meat, poultry or fish. You can also eat raw fruit and canned fruits that don't include skins, seeds or membranes. Milk, cheese, yogurt and eggs are good choices to minimize residue in your intestines, as are vegetable and fruit juices containing little or no pulp.
Forbidden Foods
To reduce the residue in your colon, stay away from high-fiber foods such as whole-grain cereals, breads and pastas. Avoid brown or wild rice, raw fruit that has skins or membranes, dried peas or beans, popcorn, coconut and processed meats or cheese containing seeds.
Prevention/Solution
The NIDDK recommends a high-fiber diet for long-term control of diverticulosis and prevention of diverticulitis. Once you experience diverticulitis symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, chills and fever, it's time to switch to a clear liquid diet that leaves no residue in your gut. If those symptoms resolve in two to three days, you can slowly begin introducing low-fiber foods into your diet, says MayoClinic.com.
Effects
A clear liquid diet eliminates residue from your intestines and gives them a chance to heal. By gradually adding small amounts of fiber into your meals, you promote the production of soft stools that pass easily through the colon and allow the healing process to continue.
Tips
Avoid constipation by drinking plenty of fluids to combine with fiber residue in your bowels. If your diverticulitis symptoms get worse when you start eating low-fiber foods, notify your doctor. You may need to be admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics and fluids, says Drugs.com.
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