Diverticulosis is a condition in which small pockets or pouches, called diverticula, develop in the walls of the large intestine. This condition can lead to rectal bleeding or develop into diverticulitis, a painful and potentially dangerous illness caused by inflammation and infection of a diverticular pouch. Diet plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of diverticular disease. Fiber, from whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts and beans, increases the rate at which food moves through your digestive tract and helps decrease pressure inside the colon. A high-fiber diet may reduce and prevent the formation of diverticular pouches.
Breads, Pastas and Cereals
Increase your fiber intake by choosing breads, pastas and cereals made from whole grains rather than refined grains, whenever possible. Brown rice, popcorn, bran muffins and oatmeal are all good sources of fiber. Whenever you purchase prepared products like boxed meals and frozen dinners, check the nutrition labels for the fiber content. Ideally, products should have 5 grams of fiber per serving, advises FamilyDoctor.org.
Vegetables and Fruits
Vegetables and fruits add flavor and color to your diet and are a major source of fiber. Good vegetable sources include artichoke, with 10.3 grams of fiber per serving; peas with 8.8 grams; broccoli, 5.1 grams, sweet corn, 4.2 grams; baked potato with skin, 2.9 grams; and carrots, 1.7 grams. Other good choices include green beans, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes and leafy greens such as spinach and romaine. Fruit is also rich in fiber. Raspberries, with 8 grams per serving, are a particularly good source. Oranges, bananas, strawberries, pears and apples all contain between 3 and 5 grams of fiber per serving. Much of the fiber in fruits, like apples and pears, is in the skin, so wash fruit well and eat it whole for the maximum fiber benefit.
Legumes, Nuts and Seeds
Besides being excellent sources of fiber, legumes, nuts and seeds offer you numerous other health benefits, as they are also rich in protein and vitamins. Cooked split peas, lentils, black beans and canned baked beans all contain between 10 and 16 grams of fiber per serving. Nuts make an excellent high-fiber snack -- try almonds, which have 3.5 grams of fiber in 1 ounce; pistachios, 2.9 grams; or pecans, 2.7 grams. Seeds, such as sunflower seed kernels, with 3.9 grams of fiber in 1/4 cup, also provide a healthful, satisfying snack.
Foods to Avoid
Many doctors used to recommend avoiding nuts or foods with seeds and hulls, for fear that these foods might cause complications. No medical research supports this. The authors of a large, 18-year study documented in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" concluded eating these foods is not associated with increased risk of diverticular bleeding and diverticulitis and may offer protection against inflammation.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis; July 2008
- FamilyDoctor.org; Fiber: How to Increase the Amount in Your Diet; February 1995
- MayoClinic.com; High-Fiber Foods; November 2009
- "Journal of the American Medical Association'; Nut, Corn, and Popcorn Consumption and the Incidence of Diverticular Disease; Lisa L. Strate, et al.; August 2008
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