Diverticulitis: Can certain foods trigger an attack?

Answer Section

No specific foods are known to trigger bouts of diverticulitis symptoms, also called attacks. And no special diet has been proved to prevent attacks.

With diverticulitis, irregular bulging pouches in the wall of the large intestine become inflamed. That can cause symptoms such as pain in the stomach area, fever and changes in stool.

The pouches involved in the condition are called diverticula. When the diverticula aren't inflamed, they usually don't cause symptoms.

In the past, people with diverticula were told not to eat nuts, seeds and popcorn. It was thought that these foods could lodge in diverticula and inflame them, causing diverticulitis. But there's no proof that these foods cause diverticulitis.

If you have diverticula, focus on eating a healthy diet that's high in fiber. High-fiber foods include:

• Fruits and vegetables.
• Whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, barley and quinoa.
• Legumes such as beans, peas and lentils.
• Nuts.

High-fiber foods soften stool and help it pass more quickly through the large intestine. This eases pressure within the digestive tract, the organs that digest food and absorb nutrients from it. Less pressure on the digestive tract may help lower the risk of diverticula forming and becoming inflamed.

If you think that you're having a diverticulitis attack, call a member of your healthcare team.

Your healthcare professional may suggest that you follow a clear liquid diet for a few days. The diet limits you to clear foods and drinks that are easy to digest. Examples include water, broth and plain gelatin.

Eating this way for a few days lets the digestive tract rest and heal. Ask your healthcare professional how to ease back to your regular diet.