Diet for diverticulitis tips and menus Adopting a diet for diverticulitis is important for effective management of the symptoms of this disease. However, for this, it is necessary to know which foods are the right ones to eat and which ones should be avoided.
Next, we will analyze this topic and present the most recommended diet, but first it is necessary to know what is diverticulitis, really?
The diverticulitis It is a condition characterized by inflamed or ruptured diverticula, which are bulging sacs in the lining of the large intestine.
The risk of developing diverticula is usually higher for people over the age of 40. Diverticula themselves do not cause many problems, but once the disease progresses to diverticulitis, when the sacs become inflamed or infected, it can be quite severe and painful, nausea and changes in the intestines.
Mild diverticulitis can be easily treated with a proper diet. However, in cases of recurrent and severe diverticulitis, surgery may be required. Let’s see, below, diet for diverticulitis tips and menus
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diet for diverticulitis
The purpose of a specific diverticulitis diet is to allow the digestive system to rest and promote healing (reduce inflammation of the diverticula).
A diverticulitis diet consists primarily of liquids and soft foods. At first, stick to broths, juices, and water to prevent any further irritation or complications. Eventually, you can level up to eat more solid foods, which should include foods high in fiber. It may be wise to start with low-fiber foods and work your way up to high-fiber foods to see how you feel down the road.
Studies have shown that high-fiber foods can help control symptoms related to diverticulitis. The recommended fiber intake is 25 grams for women under 51 and 38 grams for men. For women and men age 51 and older, the recommended fiber intake is 21 grams and 30 grams per day, respectively.
If you’re not eating enough fiber, your doctor may recommend a fiber supplement to help stimulate you. However, it is important to stay well hydrated when increasing your fiber intake to avoid pain and fatigue. constipation.
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Low/Medium Fiber Meal Plan Model (Start with two weeks, then move to the other model)
Breakfast: Pear juice, whole wheat toast, margarine and honey
Lunch: white bread sandwich, stuffed with chicken and avocadovanilla yogurt
Dinner: Grilled Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Butternut Squash, Ice Cream, and Preserved Peaches
Appetizers: Custard, yogurt, low-fiber fruits (for example, water melon), common biscuit
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High fiber meal plan template
Breakfast: whole grain cereals such as porridge or low-fat muesli, whole grain toast
Lunch: Whole Grain or Whole Grain Sandwich or Chicken Roll and Salad, Apple Yogurt and Fruit
Dinner: grilled steak, potato salad and ice cream
Appetizers: fruit, whole grain crackers or muesli bars
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Foods to Avoid with Diverticulitis
There are a number of foods that are prohibited for diverticulitis (diverticulitis and diverticulosis), since they worsen the symptoms and we detail them here:
Foods with excess fat and fast food: High-fat fried foods stimulate the digestive system and cause inflammation, resulting in acid reflux that can irritate diverticulitis symptoms.
Spicy food Spicy foods can cause intestinal inflammation and lead to vomiting and diarrhea. It is best to avoid these types of foods so that the symptoms of diverticulitis do not worsen.
Popcorn and corn on the cob: Because you tend to eat these foods quickly, rather than taking the time to chew them completely, they are more likely to cause problems.
Red meat: some studies suggest that red meat may contribute to flare-ups of diverticulitis; one from 2018, published in Gut, showed an increase in diverticulitis attacks for men who ate more red meat than other types of protein, such as poultry and fish.
coffee and alcohol It is important to know that coffee is an intestinal stimulant and if you are having a bout of diverticulitis it is best to stay away and rest your intestines. However, once it is overcome, people who have recovered can drink it.
Regarding alcoholic beverages, they cause some irritation in the stomach and intestines, which can worsen the symptoms of diverticulitis and other health conditions and, therefore, it is recommended to avoid them.
These foods, as we have indicated above, can aggravate diverticulitis and prolong the healing period.
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Other ways to maintain good digestive health and prevent diverticulitis
There are also some preventative measures you can try to reduce your risk of diverticulitis.
Regular exercise, in particular, is beneficial in preventing diverticulitis because it helps keep your bowels regular. Exercise also works to reduce pressure on the colon. The added pressure on the colon can lead to the formation of diverticula.
Other ways to maintain good digestive health include minimizing red meat intake, avoiding fatty foods, give up smokingmaintaining a healthy body weight, responding to bowel urges, reducing the use of NSAIDs (which have been linked to bleeding from diverticulitis), and staying well hydrated
Suggestions to help promote healing from diverticulitis include:
- Rest your gut by temporarily switching to an all-liquid diet
- Kill bad bacteria in the gut with oregano oil
- Repopulate the gut with good bacteria by taking probiotics
- Talk to your doctor about multivitamin supplementation
- solve constipation
If you want to know more about the diverticulitis diet, tips and menus, you can ask your questions in the comments section.
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