Take the Tummy Trouble Quiz Digestive Disease Myths Slideshow Pictures Heartburn? Foods to Eat, Foods to Avoid Slideshow

Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Medical Editor:

Bhupinder Anand, MD

Diverticulitis Diet

A high-fiber diet is the mainstay of diverticulosis and diverticulitis prevention.

• Starting a high-fiber diet may not make the diverticula a person has go away, but it will decrease the risk of complications and the accompanying symptoms.
  
  
• Foods high in fiber include whole-grain cereals and breads, fruits (apples, berries, peaches, pears), vegetables (squash, broccoli, cabbage, and spinach), and dried beans, peas, and lentils.
  
  
• Drinking plenty of fluids will also help the stool stay soft and pass quickly, decreasing the risk for diverticulosis.

There has been debate over whether those with diverticulosis or diverticulitis should be advised to avoid foods such as nuts, corn, and popcorn. A 2008 study published in the The Journal of the American Medical Association found these foods may actually lower risk of the condition because of their high fiber content. Consult a health care practitioner for the dietary recommendations.