Diverticulitis – nutrition

Diverticulitis: distribution and frequency

In Asia and Africa, diverticula are much rarer than in Europe and the US, but a western diet is also increasing the rate of diverticula among Asians and Africans. In contrast, diverticulitis and diverticula are generally very rare in vegetarian diets. Today, it is known that it is mainly fiber that normalizes the pressure in the intestines and thus prevents diverticula in the intestine from forming and igniting.

Diverticulitis: nutrition in the acute stage

The exact diet of diverticulitis depends on the stage of the disease. At a acute diverticulitis – so painfully inflamed diverticula – it is first of all important to relieve the intestine as much as possible. In most cases it makes sense to abstain from solid food for a few days in parallel to the antibiotic therapy. In the hospital, the affected person is then fed artificially; For ambulatory uncomplicated diverticulitis, liquid nutrition and light diet are the main topics. Be sure to discuss your particular “diverticulitis diet” with your doctor!

If the inflammation stops, you can gradually with the food intake For example, with tea and rusks, mild soups and baby porridge. You should definitely refrain from sharp, high-fat and flatulent foods at this stage of the diverticulitis diet. Gradually you can add more and more foods to your diet.

After diverticulitis: change diet slowly

After the acute phase of diverticulitis is over, doctors recommend one high-fiber and high-fiber dietto prevent relapses. It is important that the stool in the large intestine becomes bulkier and softer so that no new diverticula form and the existing protuberances do not re-ignite. It is important that you drink a lot – otherwise the chair can become even firmer due to the fiber.

In the long term, the following tips are helpful for a diet for diverticulitis and diverticulosis:

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These foods are rich in vegetable fiber and have a high water content – making them ideal for the diverticulitis diet. Incidentally, they provide your body with important vitamins and phytochemicals.
• Especially in the beginning, grab more readily digestible varieties such as tomatoes, carrots and zucchini than bulky cabbage vegetables (exception: broccoli). Also watch how your body reacts to onions, beans and lentils – these foods are actually very healthy. However, if you feel bloated, it is better to limit the triggers; Gases in the gut may favor diverticulum development.
• Wholegrain bread, wholemeal pasta and brown rice are more suitable for the diverticulitis diet than their white counterparts because the fiber content is significantly higher. They contain all the natural components of the grain, while white flour consists only of the inner kernel of the grain.
• However, with existing diverticulosis – that is, a series of diverticula in the gut – it is also important to pay attention to hard, pointed and hard to digest food components. Coarsely ground cereals, nuts and kernels can injure the diverticula in the intestine. More suitable is finely ground whole wheat flour. Also, be sure to chew each bite thoroughly while eating and not to ingest kernels of apples, pears, or melons.
• Some people find it hard to eat the required amount of fiber for the diverticulitis diet by eating alone. Then you can also use wheat or oat bran as well as ground flaxseed. It is important to always take these “digestive aids” with plenty of water to avoid constipation.
• In your diverticulitis diet, restrict foods such as black tea, chocolate, cocoa, bananas, and white flour products (such as toast and white bread rolls) to prevent constipation.
• Do you drink much! Fiber is only helpful if you drink at least two liters of water or herbal tea in parallel.

Give yourself time to switch to a fiber-rich, balanced diet. It makes sense to increase the fiber content gradually. Do not look at your diet as a restriction or “diverticulitis diet” – in the context of a full and high-fiber diet, you can not only cook many delicious dishes and enjoy, but do next to your gut and heart and vessels something good. Ask your doctor or nutritionist for more information on the ideal Diverticulitis diet.