Canada 
Alberta 
British Columbia 
Manitoba
New Brunswick 
Newfoundland Labrador 
Nova Scotia 
Ontario 
Prince Edward Island 
Quebec 
Saskatchewan 
United States 
Belgium
France 
Italy 
Switzerland
Elsewhere
Elsewhere
×
Elsewhere
Elsewhere
Diet, Nutrition and Diverticular Disease
True or False?
Whether it’s a friend, colleague or family member, everyone has something to say about what to do and what not to do for diverticular disease. Let me clear a few things up.
Nuts and Seeds: to Avoid?
Photo: “Walnuts in the jar”, Kaboompics .com, ©
You might think nuts, corn and the small seeds in berries might become stuck in the diverticula, so you should avoid them… we now know that’s not the case. That means there’s no reason for you to eliminate them from your diet. On the contrary, the fiber contained in these foods will help you during the maintenance period.
No fiber… for Ever!
This one’s easy to guess! You need to avoid fiber, yes, but only during a crisis (diverticulitis phase). The rest of the time, a diet rich in fiber is ideal. Basically, what’s good to do for the short term is the complete opposite of what you need to do for the long term.
Vegetarianism for Prevention?
According to a large study published in 2011 in the British Medical Journal, people who eat a vegetarian diet and suffer from diverticular disease have fewer crises than people who eat meat. This difference is attributed to the amount of fiber in these two types of diet. Indeed, a vegetarian diet contains, as a rule, much more fiber than a carnivorous diet. Take a look at the table below for the fiber content in different sources of vegetarian and animal protein:
| Portion | Fiber content (g) | |
|
Vegetarian Protein Source
|
||
| Legume | 175 mL (¾ cup) | 8-14 |
| Nuts and seeds (almonds, pepitas, walnuts, etc.) | 60 mL (¼ cup) | 3-4 |
| Tofu | 150 g | 1.4 |
| Tempeh | 100 g | 9 |
| Animal Protein Sources | ||
| Meats, poultry, fish and seafood | 75 g | 0 |
In summary, an adapted diet plays an important role in all phases of diverticular disease (diverticulitis and diverticulosis), by:
- Favoring the treatment of diverticulitis
- Preventing diverticulitis and the formation of new diverticula
- Relieving constipation. Constipation can encourage the formation of new diverticula, so you want to relieve it as quickly as possible.
- Optimizing your intestinal flora. A fiber-rich diet feeds the good bacteria in your digestive system. By having healthy bacteria, your overall health is sure to benefit.
Why not let us give you a helping hand by subscribing to the diverticulitis and diverticulosis meal plans?
Author
Member of the Quebec College of Dietitians (ODNQ) and Dietitians of Canada,Jef graduated from McGill University in December 2014. Recently graduated and passionate about culinary arts, Jef poses a simple, effective and practical look at daily meal planning. With this in mind, she works in conjunction with the mission of SOSCuisine...
I was diagnosed in Feb 2018 with Diverticulitis, on Antibiotics, developed abcess, in hospital on IV antibiotics,liquid diet then soft food. Developed anxiety/panic attacks and have lost 35 lbs, I now just have Diverticulosis and have no clue how to start eating healthy, every where I search online says diff things and always cost money, I have not yet returned back to work, till after my colonoscopy. So money is tight for me. I just need free advice on what to eat, to avoid a flare up and not lose anymore weight.
Thank you
Vickie Ware
Hi Vickie, One of the reasons why you may find different advise on different sites is that nutritional science is evolving. It is indeed not easy to go from a low-residue diet (as you need after a flare-up) to a fiber-rich diet (to prevent further problems). Our meal plans are made following the latest evidence-based science, they are easy to follow and are pretty inexpensive.
Dear Vickie
Thank you for your advice, can you please be more specific to the meal plans for diverticulitis
Hi Rose,
Please check our meal plans: https://www.soscuisine.com/meal-plans/diverticulosis-diverticulitis/