Are there trigger foods I should avoid to prevent diverticulitis attacks?
Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
Actually, no specific foods are known to trigger diverticulitis attacks. And no special diet has been proved to prevent attacks.
In the past, people with small pouches (diverticula) in the lining of the colon were told to avoid nuts, seeds and popcorn. It was thought that these foods could lodge in diverticula and cause inflammation (diverticulitis). But there's no evidence that these foods cause diverticulitis.
If you have diverticula, focus on eating a healthy diet that's high in fiber. High-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, soften waste and help it pass more quickly through your colon. This reduces pressure within your digestive tract, which may help reduce the risk of diverticula forming and becoming inflamed.
If you think that you're having a diverticulitis attack, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may suggest that you follow a clear liquid diet for a few days to let your digestive tract rest and heal.
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.
To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.
Nov. 30, 2021
- AskMayoExpert. Diverticulitis. Mayo Clinic; 2021.
- Definitions and facts for diverticular disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diverticulosis-diverticulitis/definition-facts. Accessed Nov. 15, 2021.
- Diverticular conditions. Nutrition Care Manual. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. http://nutritioncaremanual.org. Accessed Nov. 15, 2021.
- Pemberton JH. Acute colonic diverticulitis: Medical management. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 15, 2021.
Products and Services
See also
- Butter vs. margarine
- Caffeine content
- Clear liquid diet
- DASH diet
- DASH diet: Recommended servings
- Sample DASH menus
- Diverticulitis diet
- Eggs and cholesterol
- Enlarged prostate: Does diet play a role?
- Fasting diet: Can it improve my heart health?
- Gluten sensitivity and psoriasis: What's the connection?
- Gluten-free diet
- Gout diet: What's allowed, what's not
- Intermittent fasting
- Low-fiber diet
- Low-glycemic index diet
- Mediterranean diet
- Paleo diet
- Picnic Problems: High Sodium
- Nutrition and pain
- Vegetarian diet
- Water after meals
.
