Foods to Avoid with Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is one disease that can be linked to the diet of the patient. This is the reason why for a person that has this disease; one of the conditions that will be suggested by the doctor is for the patient to make a significant change in his diet. If a person has this problem, one common suggestion is for him to increase his hydration and he should also increase his fiber diet content.
Based on the research that was conducted by the American Dietetic Association, the recommended amount of fiber content for a person should be around 20 to 35 grams every day. There are evidences out there that suggest age and heredity are important factors that will trigger this medical condition. But of all the factors involved, diet and the food that the person eats are the ones that greatly lead to diverticulitis.

So if a person doesn’t get the proper nutritional intake everyday then there is a big chance that this person will have a high risk of developing the disease. And in today’s world of fast food and highly processed food, this disease seems to be growing by the day. So in order to control this condition, people need to look out for the food that they put inside his mouth. If a person has this disease, it is suggested that the patient should adopt a low residue diet as this kind of diet will decrease the bowel volume and also allow for the infection to heal.

At this stage of the disease, the fiber intake should be brought down to around 10 grams per day. And the patient should remember as well that there are certain foods to avoid with diverticulitis. Some of these problematic foods to avoid include nuts, sesame seeds, corn and corn products and chili peppers. Also the patient should remember that the seeds of tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries, raspberries and poppies aren’t allowed as well. A person who has this medical condition should also avoid whole grains and it is suggested as well to avoid the intake and the consumption of raw and dried fruits, raisins and as mentioned, berries should be avoided.

Some vegetables should be avoided as well when the disease is present. Some of the vegetables to avoid include vegetables from the cruciferous family like the broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale and Swiss chard. The patient should keep in mind as well that all nuts and seeds are off-limits and foods that may contain seeds like the yogurt should be avoided. Dairy and dairy products should be consumed responsibly and to be sure, it’s best to consume dairy products as directed by the patient’s healthcare providers. The moment the symptoms of the disease improves then the patient can ease off some parts of the diet and the patient can now gradually add more fiber into his diet. A fiber-rich diet is important for the patient in order to prevent the future attacks of the disease. Together with an increase in fiber intake, fluid intake should be increased as well.