One in every 10 Americans over the age of 40 has diverticulosis, a chronic disorder that produces small bulging pouches along the inner lining of the colon, or large intestine, notes the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. When those pouches become inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. Your doctor will recommend specific diets for you to follow, depending upon the stage of your diverticular disorder.
Features
If you have diverticulosis, you may experience intermittent abdominal cramps, pain, bloating, gas or constipation. Some people with diverticulosis have no symptoms. Diverticulitis, on the other hand, is an acute condition that typically causes significant tenderness and pain in the lower left part of your abdomen, cramping, nausea, vomiting, a change in bowel habits, fever and chills. Learn to recognize these symptoms so you can make smart dietary choices.
Treatment
During the times when your diverticular disease is under good control, your health care provider will advise you to eat a high-fiber diet to reduce symptoms. Once you develop signs and symptoms of diverticulitis, you'll be told to change to a clear liquid diet for two to three days. You can start gradually adding low-fiber foods back into your diet once your diverticulitis symptoms start to go away. You can choose appropriate types of vegetables for each stage of your disease.
Purpose
When you have to strain to have a bowel movement, the pressure rises inside your colon and your diverticular pouches are irritated. A high-fiber diet along with plenty of liquids allows you to produce soft stools that move easily through your intestines. Once you've developed diverticulitis, the clear liquid diet gives your inflamed colon a chance to rest. By slowly introducing low-fiber foods into your diet, you continue the healing process.
Identification
A clear liquid diet includes beverages you can see through, as well as foods that melt at room temperature to form clear liquids. You can safely enjoy clear vegetable broth, bouillon or consomme while you're on a clear liquid diet, as long as there are no solid pieces of vegetables in the liquid. Avoid creamy vegetable soups, which leave a milky residue in your colon. Once you've advanced to a low-fiber diet, select well-cooked or canned vegetables that are free of peels or seeds. You can also drink vegetable juice while on a low-fiber diet. Wait until you're back on your high-fiber diet before eating raw vegetables or gas-producing vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. Once your diverticulitis is completely resolved, you can eat tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, squash and other vegetables with seeds or peels. Legumes, like beans, peas and lentils, are also healthy, high-fiber vegetables.
Warnings
Abdominal pain, fever, chills and other diverticulitis symptoms should improve within two to three days, states MayoClinic.com. If your pain persists or you can't drink enough fluids to keep hydrated, call your doctor. You may need a brief hospital stay for IV fluids and antibiotics.
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