Diverticulitis Diet Plan

These Simple Steps Will Help You Create Your Diverticulitis Diet Plan ..... 

When looking at adopting a diverticulitis diet plan we need to consider the effects of low fibre diets, in particular refined white flour products, and the role they play in the development of diverticular disease.

In the developed western world diverticulitis is seen much more frequently, due in large part to a common diet that is low in fibre and the consumption of plant products. An over emphasis on animal products coupled with a low intake of unprocessed grains and plant fibre leads to a proliferation of constipation which is more often than not the primary causative factor in the development of diverticulosis and then diverticulitis.

The specific diverticulitis diet plan needs to consider what stage of the condition someone is in before creating and putting into action such a plan.

If a patient is in the acute active inflammatory stage of diverticulitis then a low fibre diet supplemented with large amounts of not irritating bland fluid is the regime that is called for. The reason for this is obvious. When the condition is acute you want as little action happening in the bowel as possible to prevent further irritation to an already inflamed and infected area.

When the patient has recovered the diverticulitis diet plan aims at prevention of recurrent acute attacks. The aim here is to eat large amounts of high fibre foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains. In addition to a high fibre diet the patient should drink large amounts of water to help in the prevention of constipation.

Most sources quote a daily recommended fibre intake of 30-40 grams. In the case of many who suffer from diverticular disease, this amount of fibre would create problems if not introduced slowly into the diverticulitis diet plan. A gradual slow increase in the amount of fibre is more appropriate and will have a better chance of the patient actually implementing the diet plan and sticking to it ,rather than start with excessively high amounts of fibre from the outset.

If the fibre intake is too sudden and excessive symptoms such as abdominal distension and bloating, flatulence and abdominal cramps can occur. While these are not major health threats they can be quite uncomfortable and more than enough reason for someone who is not used to eating high fibre foods to stop before the habit is established and the benefits gained.

Here then in point form is a diverticulitis diet plan to help you in the treatment of and the prevention of diverticular disease.

1) Reduce refined foods generally and especially white floor food products. Begin introducing whole grain cereals and grains into your diet as replacements.

2) Reduce animal products and fats and replace them with high fibre protein sources such as beans and peas, legumes and lentils.

3) Reduce the intake of excessively spicy food. Hot spicy food can irritate the bowel and can have a drying effect in the bowel. The irritation in the bowel can also lead to diarrhoea causing further irritation and inflammation.

4) A relatively easy way to introduce fibre into your diet is to use bran as a morning breakfast cereal.
If you find that you cannot take in enough fibre from the food you are eating try a fibre supplement. Psyllium husks are a good source of fibre and are soothing to the bowel. Commercially Metameucil can be used.

5) Make sure to have an adequate intake of water each day. Get into the habit of drinking water rather than tea or coffee or even fruit juice. 2-3 litres a day would be ideal.

6) Increase your daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Particularly the high fibre varieties such as apples ,pears and bananas. Dried fruits such as prunes and dates can also be added to your diverticulitis diet plan. Similarly choose a wide variety of high fibre veggies such as broccoli, spinach and carrots.

7) In regard to seeds and nuts there are arguments for and against having these as part of your daily diverticulitis diet plan. Some will argue that because of their small size and relative hardness that seeds and nuts must be avoided lest they get trapped in the diverticula and lead to inflammation and infection.

Others argue that food of any kind can potentially get lodged in diverticula and lead to problems. While that maybe true the foods typically prescribed as part of a diverticulitis diet plan are more conducive to a smooth and easy bowel movement with less transit time and less chance of foodstuffs and faecal matter finding its way into the diverticula.

It would seem logical and safer to exclude these foods from your eating plan. As good as they may be for your overall health, they are probably not worth the risk for someone with a history of diverticular disease.