Diverticulitis is a digestive condition characterized by small, inflamed pouches in the digestive system. These pouches may develop anywhere along your digestive tract but most commonly occur in the large intestine, specifically the colon. The symptoms of diverticulitis usually occur as flareups that alternate with periods of remission. During flareups, your doctor may recommend certain medical diets to alleviate pressure on your digestive system and allow your colon to heal.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of diverticulitis include severe pain in the lower left side of the abdomen, fever, tenderness in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, bloating and changes in bowel habits. Although it is less common, some people may also notice rectal bleeding.
Liquid Diet
When symptoms first appear, your doctor may recommend a full liquid diet. When following a full liquid diet, you may consume all beverages, such as coffee, tea, soda and water. You may also consume soft foods, such as baby cereal and cream of wheat, and pureed foods, such as potatoes and oatmeal. Foods that are liquid at room temperature, such as ice cream, popsicles and gelatin are also permitted on a liquid diet.
Because a liquid diet restricts so many types of foods, it does not supply the recommended daily allowance, or RDAs, of all of the nutrients. You should stay on a liquid diet for a few days, just until your symptoms cease. If you follow a liquid diet for an extended period of time, you may be at an increased risk of developing nutritional deficiencies.
Soft Diet
Before you return to your regular diet, your doctor may recommend that you follow a soft food diet to allow the colon to heal completely. The soft diet limits foods that are difficult to chew and swallow as well as foods that cause your digestive system to work extra hard. You may eat tender beef, chicken and fish as well as all smooth low-fat dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and cheese. All cooked or canned fruit is permitted, but you must avoid raw fruit. You may also eat cooked or canned vegetables, with the exception of gas-forming vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Cooked and refined grains are allowed, but whole grains and breads or cereals that contain seeds are not. You must also avoid spicy seasonings, such as garlic, horseradish, barbecue sauce and chili powder. Unlike the liquid diet, the soft diet meets the RDAs for all nutrients, so you can follow it for a long time without risk of developing any nutritional deficiencies.
Considerations
While the general guidelines for a liquid diet and a food diet are the same for all individuals, each person reacts differently to certain foods. Some people with diverticulitis may be able to tolerate certain foods on the soft diet, while others experience discomfort from these same foods. If your doctor recommends a soft food diet, enlist the help of a dietitian who can help outline a specific dietary plan for you.
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