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The diet during a crisis of diverticulitis should initially be made only with clear and easily digestible liquids, such as chicken broths, fruit juices, coconut water and gelatin. At first, it is important to carry out this type of feeding because it is necessary to calm the intestine, keep it at rest and prevent or decrease the formation of feces.
The diverticulitis crisis arise when the colon diverticula, which correspond to abnormal bags that are formed in the intestine wall that can become inflamed or infected, leading to the appearance of some symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and constipation. Therefore, the foods to be consumed must be easy to digest and low in fiber.
As diverticulitis attacks improve, the diet must also be adapted, changing from liquid to a puree-type diet, until it is possible to consume solid foods. From there it is important to increase the consumption of foods rich in fiber and water, preventing the appearance of another crisis.
What to eat during the crisis
At first, the diverticulitis diet should be low in fiber and contain only easily digestible foods. To observe tolerance by mouth, it is recommended to start the diet with clear liquids, which must include strained fruit juices, in addition to being able to consume apples, pears and peaches. In addition, chicken broth and chamomile or linden tea are also indicated. This type of food should be maintained for about 24 hours.
Once the crisis has been alleviated, a change to a liquid diet is made, which includes strained fruit juice, strained soup with vegetables (pumpkin, celery, yam), cooked vegetables (zucchini or eggplant) and chicken or turkey . In addition, rice cream without milk, natural yogurt, sugar-free gelatin and chamomile or linden teas can also be consumed. In general, this diet should be maintained for about 24 hours.
As the pain subsides and the intestine starts to work better, the diet should progress to having foods such as well-cooked white rice, mashed potatoes, pasta, white bread and non-fiber, filling-free cookies. At this stage, eggs, fish and dairy products can also be introduced, always observing digestion and whether or not gas production increases. Once the crisis is resolved, you can go back to a complete diet that includes fiber and fluid intake.
What should not be consumed
During the crisis, unpeeled fruits, raw vegetables, red meats, foods that cause gas, milk, eggs, soft drinks, ready-made foods, frozen foods and beans should be avoided.
In addition, the diet should be low in fat, avoiding the consumption of fried foods, sausages, sauces and yellow cheeses. See more about what not to eat in diverticulitis.
How should the food be after the crisis
After the diverticulitis crisis, it is important to include foods rich in fiber progressively on a daily basis with the aim of causing gas or abdominal pain, and should start with the consumption of a portion of raw fruit and vegetables a day and then progressing to the consumption of flour and whole grains. In addition, you should increase your water consumption and drink for at least 2 L per day.
Including fiber and drinking adequate amounts of water is important for people who have diverticulitis because it prevents constipation, improving intestinal transit and making stools softer. When feces are compacted in the intestine and take too long to escape, it can cause diverticula to inflame or become infected, giving rise to other crises.
Menu during the diverticulitis crisis
The following table indicates an example menu of 3 days with foods that allow you to calm the intestine during a crisis of diverticulitis.
Meal | Day 1 (clear liquids) | Day 2 (liquefied) | Day 3 (white) | Day 4 (complete) |
Breakfast | Strained apple juice | Cream of rice + 1 glass of apple juice | Cornstarch porridge + 1 glass of peach juice | 1 glass of skim milk + white bread with ricotta cheese + 1 glass of orange juice |
Morning snack | Pear juice + 1 cup of tea | 1 cup unsweetened gelatin | 1 cooked pear with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon | Salt and water cracker |
Lunch dinner | Shredded chicken soup | Strained vegetable soup | 90 grams of shredded chicken + 4 tablespoons of pumpkin puree + cooked spinach + 1 cooked apple | 90 grams of grilled fish + 4 tablespoons of rice + broccoli salad with carrots + 1 tablespoon of olive oil + 1 banana |
Afternoon snack | 1 cup of unsweetened gelatin + 1 unsweetened chamomile tea | 1 cup of chamomile tea + 1 glass of peach juice | 1 plain yogurt | 1 apple of cascara |
The amounts included in the menu vary according to age, gender, physical activity and if you have any associated disease or not, so the ideal is to seek guidance from a nutritionist so that a complete assessment is made and a nutritional plan is prepared according to your needs.
It is also important to remember that, in some cases, the diverticulitis crisis leads to hospitalization, where the diet will be prescribed by the nutritionist, and the patient may need 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 diverticulitis: