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Diverticulitis risk increases with individuals who consume a low-fiber diet.

Diverticulitis treatment includes a diet that will reduce the symptoms of diverticulitis and the related stomach pain and digestive problems. In severe instances, this diverticulitis diet could include liquids such as water, fruit juices, broth and ice pops. With juices, they should not be acidic, as they may disrupt the digestive system.

Reducing Diverticulitis with Dieting

Diverticulitis risk increases with individuals who consume a low-fiber diet. There are a handful of diverticulitis related symptoms, including abdominal pain, chills, fever, nausea, vomiting and weight loss. Complications from diverticulitis include rectal bleeding, an abscess in the colon wall and intestinal obstructions. In some cases, when diverticulitis is extreme, it may need to be treated with surgery or antibiotics.

Severe Diverticulitis and Liquids

Diverticulitis treatment includes a diet that will reduce the symptoms of diverticulitis and the related stomach pain and digestive problems. In severe instances, this diverticulitis diet could include liquids such as water, fruit juices, broth and ice pops. With juices, they should not be acidic, as they may disrupt the digestive system.

The Importance of Fiber and a Diverticulitis Diet

Eventually, you can return to a regular diet, though it is advisable to begin with low fiber foods. Fiber is the part of foods that the body is unable to digest. There are two types of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and turns into a soft jelly like substance as it passes through the digestive system. Insoluble fiber remains relatively the same as it passes through the intestines. Both types of fiber aid digestion and inhibit constipation.

Recommended Fiber Consumption with a Diverticulitis Diet

The American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily, which includes 6-8 grams of soluble fiber. The build up of fiber in your diet should be gradual, as a brisk increase could result in gas, diarrhea and bloating. Drinking water with a diverticulitis diet is important because the fiber is better digested with fluids.

Recommended Foods for a Diverticulitis Diet

Whole wheat breads, grains, pastas and cereals as well as brown rice, wheat germ and oatmeal are recommended foods. Vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, green pepper, Brussels sprouts, spinach, squash and turnips are also advisable for a diverticulitis diet. Doctors suggest eating fruits such as apple, banana, blackberries, fig pineapple, cherries, blueberries, dates, apricot, grapefruit and nectarine. Two to three servings of dairy is suggested as well as two to three servings of meat or meat substitutes. Meat substitutes include beans such as aduki, black beans, kidney beans and fava beans as well as peanut butter and other smooth, nut based butters.

Diverticulitis is a painful disorder that affects millions of people. Fortunately, with proper diet, its symptoms can be greatly reduced. The important thing to remember is that consistency is key. As Diverticulitis will continue to persist, remember to maintain a healthy diverticulitis to avoid any of the painful consequences.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/diverticulitis-diet-what-foods-to-eat-to-reduce-pain-and-symptoms-4573907.html

About the Author

Frank Olev is the webmaster for a blog about the digestive disorder diverticulitis. The blog features information about Diverticulitis Treatment, Diverticulitis Diet, symptoms and more.

Diverticulitis is a condition where pockets within the colon become trapped behind food material or stool and start an infection which can lead to bleeding or rupture of the diverticulum (pocket) and a serious disease. While there are medical ways to treat diverticulitis, natural ways to manage the disease are possible, especially when the disease is caught early and the patient hasn’t already developed severe bleeding and rupture of the diverticulum.

Conventional ways to treat diverticulitis include antispasmodic drugs to treat the abdominal cramping. These include medications such as Bentyl (dicyclomine), Librax (chlordiazepoxide), Donnatol and Levsin (hyoscyamine). These take down the spasms of the colon and control the pain of the disease.

Along with antispasmodics, doctors often use antibiotics to clear up the infection of diverticulitis. Natural antibiotics are probably not strong enough in severe cases of diverticulitis. Commonly prescribed antibiotics include Cipro (ciprofloxacin), Flagyl (metronidazole), Keflex (cephalexin) and Vibramycin (doxycycline). They kill the bacteria behind the blockage of the diverticulum and prevent the diverticulum from rupturing if caught early enough.

When it comes to diverticulitis, natural cures are often not enough. If, however, you catch the disease in the earliest stages, you can begin a diet of clear liquids such as clear sodas (7-Up and Sprite), tea without milk, coffee without milk, popsicles, juice without pulp, juice pops, water, crushed ice and clear broth (chicken, vegetable or beef).This allows the bowel to rest and can possibly reverse the condition before it becomes severe.

When the diverticulitis is partially treated you can treat the diverticulitis with natural ways involving the food you eat. You can eat low residue foods that do not stress the colon out very much. Some of these foods involve white rice, cereals like Special K, Rice Krispies, Cream of wheat or Cream of Rice, mashed potatoes, well cooked vegetables without skins, well cooked fruit without skins and well cooked meats in small quantities. If you feel worse, you need to go back to a clear liquid diet until the diverticulosis settles down.

Besides diverticulitis, natural cures for diverticulosis abound. You need to avoid nuts, corn and seeds as much as possible as these can block the diverticuli. High fiber foods can prevent diverticulitis by allowing the food to pass quickly through the colon. Such high fiber foods include brown rice, high fiber cereals like Grape Nuts, whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, oatmeal, brown rice, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables. All of these allow for regular bowel movements and less of a reason to have stool or food particles become trapped in the colon diverticuli.

While, when it comes to diverticulitis, natural cures often do not work but there can be more serious ways to manage the disease, particularly when the diverticulum has ruptured. This is a serious complication. If there is excessive bleeding, blood transfusions might become necessary. If the rupture has resulted in an abdominal abscess (collection of pus in the abdomen), surgery might be recommended to clear out the abscess and allow the antibiotics to work better. Surgery carries its own risks, especially when you are already very sick.

Diverticulitis natural cures do not really exist except for a clear liquid diet, which can be used along with antispasmodic drugs, pain killers and antibiotics. The combination cures almost all cases of diverticulitis so that there may be no reason to resort to surgery or blood transfusions.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/diverticulitis-natural-ways-to-combat-it-1237115.html

About the Author

Christine Traxler, M.D., holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and a Medical Doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Traxler,_M.D.