The diet during a diverticulitis attack should initially be prepared only with clear, easy-to-digest liquids, such as chicken broths, fruit juices, coconut water and gelatin. First, it is important to make this type of feeding because it is necessary to calm the intestine, keep it at rest and prevent or reduce the formation of stool.
Diverticulitis occurs when the diverticulums of the colon, which correspond to abnormal pockets that form in the intestinal wall, can become inflamed or infected, resulting in certain symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and constipation. Therefore, the foods to be consumed should be easy to digest and low in fiber.
- As diverticulitis attacks improve.
- The diet should also be adapted from a liquid diet to a puree diet until solid foods can be consumed.
- From there.
- It is important to increase the consumption of foods rich in fiber and water.
- Thus avoiding the onset of another crisis.
At first, the diet of diverticulitis should be low in fiber and contain only foods that are easy to digest. To respect oral tolerance, it is recommended to start the diet with clear liquids, which should include filtered fruit juices, in addition to being able to consume apples, pears and peaches. In addition, chicken broth and chamomile or lime tea are also indicated. This type of food should be stored for about 24 hours.
Once the crisis subsides, a liquid diet includes filtered fruit juice, filtered vegetable soup (citrus, celery, yam), cooked vegetables (courgettes or eggplants) and chicken or turkey. . In addition, you can also consume rice cream without milk, natural yogurt, sugar-free gelatin and chamomile or lime teas. In general, this regimen should be maintained for approximately 24 hours.
As the pain subsides and the gut begins to work better, the diet should move to foods such as well-cooked white rice, mashed potatoes, pasta, white bread and cookies without fiber or filling. Eggs, fish and dairy products can also be introduced at this stage, always observing digestion and whether or not gas production increases. Once the crisis is resolved, you can now have a full diet that includes fiber and fluid intake.
During the crisis, unpeeled fruits, raw vegetables, red meats, gas-causing foods, milk, eggs, soft drinks, prepared meals, frozen foods and beans should be avoided.
In addition, the diet should be low in fat, avoiding the consumption of frying, cold cuts, sauces and yellow cheeses. Learn more about what not to eat when there is entertainiculitis.
After the diverticulitis attack, it is important to gradually include fiber-rich foods on a daily basis to cause gas or abdominal pain, and you should start by eating a ration of raw fruits and vegetables a day and then moving toward flour consumption. whole grains. In addition, you should increase your water intake and drink at least 2 L a day.
It is important to include fiber and drinking water in adequate amounts for people with diverticulitis, as this prevents constipation, improves intestinal transit and softens stool. When stools compact in the intestine and take too long to escape, this can cause inflammation or infection of the diverticules, leading to other seizures.
The following table presents an example of a 3-day menu with foods that allow the intestine to calm down during a diverticulitis attack.
The amounts included in the menu vary depending on age, gender, physical activity and whether you have an associated illness or not, ideally seek the advice of a nutritionist for a complete assessment and a nutritional plan to be developed according to your needs.
It is also important to remember that in some cases the attack of diverticulitis leads to hospitalization, where the diet will be prescribed by the nutritionist, and it may be necessary for the patient to feed through the vein, so that the intestine can recover more easily from inflammation.
See what foods to eat and what to avoid in case of diverticulitis: