Diverticulitis

What not to Eat with Diverticulitis

Nidhi Nangia
By Nidhi Nangia. Updated: September 5, 2024
What not to Eat with Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a serious medical condition that occurs when bulging pouches called diverticula in your digestive system become infected due to weak spots in your intestinal wall. Mild cases of the condition can be treated with the help of antibiotics, but you will need to follow a diverticulitis diet as well. Although this diet cannot prevent or treat the condition, its purpose is to give some rest to your digestive tract. If you have been diagnosed with diverticulitis, your doctor will give you a long list of foods that you should avoid. In this oneHOWTO article, we are going to tell you what not to eat with diverticulitis.

Contents
  1. Certain fruits and vegetables
  2. Seeds and nuts
  3. Grain foods
  4. Cheese and milk
  5. Other foods to avoid with diverticulitis

Certain fruits and vegetables

Avoid fruits and vegetables that contain seeds with tiny particles, as they may lodge in your diverticula and trigger inflammation. Such fruits and vegetables include kiwi, tomatoes, cucumber, blackberries, strawberries, okra, eggplant, red and green peppers etc.

Avoid vegetables belonging to the cruciferous family, like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, swiss chard, kale and cabbage. Also avoid veggies like carrots, potatoes, iceberg lettuce, beets, squash, zucchini and celery.

What not to Eat with Diverticulitis - Certain fruits and vegetables

Seeds and nuts

Seeds and nuts may cause irritation in your colon and lead to pain, which is why you should not eat them with diverticulitis. Try to avoid them as much as possible. Some nuts include peanuts, pistachios, cashews and almonds, as well as seeds such as those of sunflower, pumpkin, caraway and sesame. Dried fruits like berries and raisins should also be avoided, as they are difficult to digest, cause pain and can create the feeling of food stuck in your throat.

What not to Eat with Diverticulitis - Seeds and nuts

Grain foods

Grains have residues that may keep lingering in your stomach and cause inflammation. So, it is best to avoid any grains and related products like pastas and breads.

What not to Eat with Diverticulitis - Grain foods

Cheese and milk

Whipped cream, non-dairy coffee creamers and whole milk are some of the foods to avoid with diverticulitis. Whipped cream may contain palm oil or coconut oil which is not good for your digestive system. Instead, you can use low fat yogurt and skimmed milk. Also try to limit using cheddar cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese, butter, margarine etc. Patients with diverticulitis digest and tolerate most dairy products easily, but it is better to discuss their consumption with your doctor.

What not to Eat with Diverticulitis - Cheese and milk

Other foods to avoid with diverticulitis

In addition to these, here is a list of some other foods to avoid with diverticulitis:

  • Avoid sodas and sugary foods, as they may cause bloating and gas and aggravate the symptoms of diverticulitis.
  • Do not eat highly acidic foods, as they may make the condition worse, such as citrus fruits like lemon and tomatoes.
  • Refined foods shuld be avoided, like all-purpose flour, pastries, ice cream, pizza, puffs, pretzels, sponge cake, doughnuts, canned juice, chocoolates, artificial sweeteners, muffins, white sugar, cream pies, etc.
  • Avoid fatty and fried foods like fast foods, French fries, fried tacos, fried chicken and processed foods. Instead, go for deep fried, boiled and sauted foods.
  • Alcohol may cause colon irritation, so you should keep it in limits. Smoking may irritate your gastic mucosa, so it is better to avoid it too.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to What not to Eat with Diverticulitis, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.

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4 comments
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Judith Rodriguez
quiero me envie la dieta recomendable para un paciente con diverticulos
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Vicki
I agree with Lisa and find information conflicting. Even in your own article you state avoid grain foods instead consume refined bread then at the bottom of the article you state to avoid refined flour. For me personally, I feel that the refined flour may be a trigger. A very high fiber diet is helpful for me with lots of water. Avoiding all the foods you list is unrealistic at best.
Colleen Excell
What food not to eat with diverticulitis. As my dad has I want to help him.
OneHowTo Editor
Hi Colleen

If suffering from Diverticulitis you should avoid:

- Seeds and nuts.
- Vegetables belonging to the cruciferous family.
- Grain Foods.
- Cheese & Milk.

For a more detailed explanation, please feel free to look at our article on: ´What not to eat with Diverticulitis.´
Jerry Mazur
what foods & veg. not to eat with diverticulitis.
Lisa
I’ve read so many conflicting articles on what to eat when diagnosed with diverticulitis? For me, it’s been more or less trial and error. I think everyone is different. Can’t just follow specific diet.
OneHowTo Editor
Hi Lisa,

It can be very difficult, we're sorry to hear of your frustration. This article is a guideline, but of course listening to your own body's responses will tell a lot.
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What not to Eat with Diverticulitis