Diverticulosis is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that causes tiny bulging pockets on the inner lining of your large intestine, or colon. If those pouches become inflamed, this acute condition is known as diverticulitis. Your health care provider will identify specific diets for each phase of your diverticular disease and will forbid certain vegetables during bouts of diverticulitis.
Solids
When you first notice the abdominal pain and other symptoms associated with acute diverticulitis, your doctor will advise you to stay on a clear liquid diet for two to three days to give your colon a rest. A clear liquid diet consists of most liquids you can see through, as well as solid foods that melt to form clear liquids at room temperature. You can drink vegetable broth, consommé or bouillon while you're on a clear liquid diet, but avoid any solid chunks of vegetables that leave residue in your colon.
Dairy
Avoid cream-based vegetable soups and chowders while you're on a clear liquid diet. Milk and other dairy products contain a significant amount of residue for your colon to digest and interfere with the healing process.
Seeds and Skins
If you feel better after a few days on clear liquids, you can start gradually adding low-fiber vegetables back into your diet. Select cooked or canned vegetables that have no seeds or skins, and stay away from tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, lima beans and squash. You can also safely enjoy most tomato and mixed vegetable juices, but avoid those that have large amounts of visible pulp.
Raw Vegetables
Until your diverticulitis completely resolves and you're back on a high-fiber diet for the chronic phase of your diverticular disease, stay away from all raw vegetables except for chopped lettuce. You can eat up to 1 cup of chopped lettuce a day, as long as it doesn't make your symptoms worse.
Gassy Vegetables
Cruciferous, or gas-producing, vegetables leave large amounts of food residue that irritate the colon, so they're forbidden while you're on a low-fiber diet. Avoid cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli until your diverticulitis is completely resolved and you're back on a high-fiber diet.
Member Comments