| Diverticulitis develops from a condition called | | | | Diverticulitis Diet. If you have been on a low-residue |
| diverticulosis. If you're older than 40, it's common for | | | | diet for an extended period of time, your doctor |
| you to have diverticulosis - small, bulging pouches | | | | may recommend a daily multi-vitamin/mineral |
| (diverticula) in your digestive tract. In the United | | | | supplement. Once your symptoms improve, start to |
| States, more than 50 percent of people older than | | | | add about 5 to 15 grams of fiber a day to allow your |
| 60 have diverticula. Although diverticula can form | | | | digestive system to adjust to the higher fiber intake. |
| anywhere, including in your esophagus, stomach and | | | | Although there is much conflicting information, even in |
| small intestine, most occur in your large intestine. | | | | the medical world, about what constitutes a good |
| Because these pouches seldom cause any problems, | | | | Diverticulitis Diet, the basic principle of healthy eating |
| you may never know you have them. A low-fiber | | | | remains the same. Most people have no symptoms |
| diet is considered to be the main cause of diverticular | | | | and only find out that they have Diverticulosis when |
| problems. First diagnosed in the United States in the | | | | they've had a colonoscopy done. If you fall into this |
| early 1900s, and now common throughout developed | | | | category, the guidelines suggest that you start on a |
| countries, the emergence of diverticular disease | | | | high fiber and high fluids diet as soon as possible. You |
| coincided with the introduction of low-fiber processed | | | | should also avoid constipation at all costs. In general, |
| foods (eg. branless refined flour). Even now, the | | | | treatment depends on the severity of your signs and |
| disease is rare in Asia and Africa, where people eat | | | | symptoms and whether this is your first attack of |
| high-fiber vegetable diets. In the past, many doctors | | | | diverticulitis. If your symptoms are mild, a liquid or |
| recommended that people with diverticulosis avoid | | | | low-fiber diet and antibiotics may be all you need. But |
| seeds and nuts, including foods with small seeds, such | | | | if you're at risk of complications or have recurrent |
| as tomatoes and strawberries. It was thought that | | | | attacks of diverticulitis, you may need more |
| these tiny particles could lodge in the diverticula and | | | | advanced care. A high-fiber diet is very important in |
| cause inflammation (diverticulitis). But there is no | | | | preventing future diverticulitis attacks. As you |
| scientific evidence that seeds and nuts cause | | | | increase your fiber intake, increase your fluid intake |
| diverticulitis. In fact, eating a high-fiber diet - which | | | | as well. Many people don't realize the harm that a low |
| may include nuts and seeds - reduces the risk of | | | | fiber diet can do to you, and the Diverticulitis Diet is |
| diverticulitis. It is now believed that only foods that | | | | really a necessity to everyone, not just those with |
| may irritate or get caught in the diverticula cause | | | | the disease. We must remember to keep high-fiber |
| problems. A low-residue Diverticulitis Diet is | | | | healthy diets to allow ourselves the nutrition we need |
| recommended during the flare-up periods of | | | | to support our bodies and allow for proper nutrition. |
| diverticulitis to decrease bowel volume so that the | | | | Even if you do have diverticulitis, the Diverticulitis Diet |
| infection can heal. An intake of less than 10 grams of | | | | will help you get your bodies nutrients on track and |
| fiber per day is generally considered a low residue | | | | allow you to be healthy again. |