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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.