People with diverticular disease experience two phases of their disorder. Diverticulosis is a chronic intestinal problem that creates small bulging pouches along the inner lining of the colon, or large intestine. When these pouches become inflamed, the acute phase is known as diverticulitis. Your doctor will recommend specific food restrictions for each phase of your diverticular disease.
Features
Some individuals with diverticulosis report no symptoms at all, while others complain of intermittent abdominal cramps, pain, bloating or constipation. When diverticulitis develops, however, you may experience a change in your bowel habits, marked tenderness or pain in your lower left abdomen, nausea, vomiting, chills and fever. When you notice those symptoms, it's time to modify your diet, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK.
Prevention/Solution
During the chronic diverticulosis phase of your disorder, your doctor will recommend a high-fiber diet that helps produce soft, formed stools that pass easily through your intestine, says the Cleveland Clinic. When you have a diverticulitis flareup, however, it's time to switch to a clear liquid diet to give your inflamed colon a rest, says NIDDK. When you begin to feel better in two to three days, you can gradually introduce low-fiber foods into your meals, says the Mayo Clinic.
Identification
A high-fiber diet for diverticulosis incorporates whole-grain bread breads and cereals, brown or wild rice, vegetables, fruits and legumes, including lentils and dried beans. Although some physicians tell their patients with diverticulosis to avoid nuts, popcorn and seeds, NIDDK says it's not necessary to eliminate any specific foods for chronic diverticulosis. A clear liquid diet for early diverticulitis allows beverages you can see through, along with foods that melt to form clear liquids at room temperature. Beverages or frozen treats that contain milk are restricted on a clear-liquid diet, as are those that contain pulp or seeds from fruits or vegetables. When it's time to gradually re-introduce low-fiber foods, you can drink beverages and eat frozen treats made with milk. Choose soft foods such as eggs, mashed potatoes, plain pasta and tender meat or poultry, but avoid whole-grain products, raw vegetables, raw fruits with skins or membranes, nuts, seeds and popcorn.
Considerations
Drink plenty of liquids during all phases of your diverticular disorder to stay hydrated. Your body needs both fiber and fluid to form soft stools that pass easily through your bowels. If your stools are hard, you'll have to bear down to pass them from your body. The increased pressure from bearing down increases the inflammation in the pouches along the colon lining and can make your symptoms worse.
Warnings
Once you start your clear liquid diet for diverticulitis, expect the abdominal pain and other symptoms to improve within two to three days, according to the Mayo Clinic. Contact your doctor if your pain gets worse, your symptoms don't improve, you can't keep enough fluids down to stay hydrated or you develop a fever. You may need a short hospital stay for more intensive treatment.
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