The foods you eat may contribute to the development of diverticulitis.
Healthcare providers generally recommend avoiding high-fiber foods during an episode of diverticulitis.
Specific diet recommendations depend on your symptoms or if you are trying to prevent adiverticulitisflare.
Illustration by Tara Anand for Verywell Health
Once the diverticulitis is resolved, a high-fiber diet may help prevent future episodes.
Diverticulosis is the name of the condition when you have diverticula.
Diverticulosis may not cause any symptoms.
However, “diverticulitis” is the name of the condition when the pouches become inflamed.
Initially, this will likely be foods that are low in fiber to reduce pressure on the GI tract.
A low-fiber diet helps to reduce strain on the colon and reduce how much you poop.
Probiotics help maintain the normal balance of microorganisms in your digestive tract and are beneficial to people with diverticulitis.
Fried foods and potato chips are examples of high-fat foods.
High-sugar foods include cakes, muffins, candy, and cookies.
Preventing Diverticulitis
No specific foods are known to trigger diverticulitis.
Fiber can help soften stools, so constipation is less likely.
It may also lessen pressure in the colon, preventing diverticulitis flare-ups.
How Much Fiber Should You Get?
Current dietary guidelines suggest consuming 14 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories.
If you follow a 2,000-calorie diet, that would add up to 28 grams of fiber a day.
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