What should you eat after a diverticulitis flare?
Ask the doctor
Q. I am recovering from a diverticulitis attack. Are there any particular fruits or vegetables I should not eat?
A. In diverticulosis, small pouches develop and bulge out through weak spots in the walls of the colon. These balloon-like pouches are called diverticula. If they become inflamed or infected, the condition is called diverticulitis.
People with a severe case of diverticulitis may require hospitalization for treatment with intravenous antibiotics and fluids. Doctors will usually order that the patient not eat or drink for the first 24 hours, or just take sips of clear liquids.
Most cases of acute diverticulitis can be treated at home. In the past, doctors routinely prescribed oral antibiotics. Today, if symptoms are mild, the person may not need antibiotics right away.
I advise people to stick with clear liquids for the first 24 hours. Then they can start having milk, fruit juice, yogurt, and low-fiber foods. I recommend that they stay on a low-fiber diet for about one week.
Once the diverticulitis subsides, most experts recommend a high-fiber diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and staying well hydrated. There are no particular fruits or vegetables you need to avoid.
Image: © Maryna Terletska/Getty Images
About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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