Foods to Avoid with Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a condition that causes inflammation in the diverticula of the small intestine. Diverticulitis can also be caused by an infection of these small pouches called diverticula. (1) These pouches can form anywhere in the digestive tract, but it is most common to see them formed at the end of the colon or in the first section of the small intestine. 

This can be an acute or chronic condition, and in chronic conditions, the inflammation and or infection may not completely go away. This is where diet comes in and why it is so important to watch what you eat as some foods are known to make diverticulitis worse.

Foods to Avoid with Diverticulitis

Whether you suffer from acute or chronic diverticulitis, your doctor may recommend a diverticulitis diet to support your treatment plan. Your doctor may recommend a diverticulitis diet for a few days until you start to feel better. (2) However, there are also some foods you may want to avoid long-term to help reduce inflammation and prevent flare-ups.

Here is a list of foods to avoid with diverticulitis. 

• High-Fiber Foods: While high-fiber foods are generally viewed as being a healthy part of your overall diet, they may post an issue for those with diverticulitis. This is more so true during a flare-up as the fiber can add bulk to your stool which can cause additional pain when there is excess inflammation going on in your digestive tract. (3) Be sure to speak with your doctor about fiber and how much you should be adding or restricting in your diet.
• Sugar: Sugar is not good for anyone, and for those with diverticulitis, it can certainly cause additional inflammation. Try to eliminate or at least cut back on the amount of sugar you have in your diet.
• Inflammatory Foods: Inflammatory foods like fried and processed food, hydrogenated and trans fats, conventional dairy, red meat, and refined grains can all add to your inflammatory load. Try to eliminate these from your diet to help cut back on inflammation.
• Other Foods: It used to be super common to hear that those with diverticulitis should avoid nuts, seeds, as well as popcorn. However, there is mixed information on this today, so be sure to speak with your doctor about your concerns when it comes to these foods. (4) Everyone and what they can tolerate will be slightly different.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to controlling diverticulitis, it’s important to speak with your doctor about an appropriate diet plan, especially if you are in the midst of a flare-up. There are a number of dietary steps you can take to try to control inflammation and reduce symptoms. So, speak with your doctor about eliminating or at least reducing the foods on this list to see if you can start to better manage your symptoms and control inflammation.

About The Author

Rebecca Jacobs N.C is a Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant, specializing in digestive and women’s health. She doesn’t believe in dieting but rather making lifestyle changes, and believes that healthy eating must be delicious. Rebecca is also a recipe developer and creates healthier alternatives to traditionally unhealthy foods.