DIVERTICULITIS
What is Diverticulits?
Small pouches formed on on the intestine wall, usually in the colon.  they are caused by the strain of the intestine to move the stool that is dryer and firmer than normal.  This is usually caused by a diet lacking sufficient fiber and/or moisture.  These small pouches, called Diverticula, are attached to the intestine and protrude outside of the intestine.  To have the Diverticula is called "Diverticulosis", if the Diverticula get infected it is called "Diverticulitis."

Most people have them when they get older.  The normal course of action is not to get rid of them but stopping them from getting bigger or becoming infected.  tis is accomplished mainly with diet.

Dietary Considerations
There is a lot conflicting information about what foods you should or should not eat when you have Diverticulitis or Diverticulosis.

The conflicting information is due to the fact that each person reacts differently to eah same foods.  Because of this, you should always be cautious when adding new foods to your diet.  Always start with small quantities with very little or no seasoning.  naturally, any food that causes "You" a problem should be avoided.

Keeping a list may prevent you from experiencing the discomfort of eating the wrong food just because you forgot.  it also comes in handy for the family when they are meal planning.

Many Diverticulitis patients, at least mentally if not pn paper classify all foods into three groups.  they are "Safe Foods", "Risky Foods", and "Dangerous Foods."

High fiber is the key to your diet but, don't forget that high fiber diets require plenty of liquids, especially water.  you should also be careful with seasonings.  use herbs instead of regular seasonings.  this will reduce the probability of a flare up.

Starting with normal and common foods is the safest way to start a diet.  Save the exotic foods for after you have your diet under control.  Chicken and fish are among the animal products that patients find were least likely to cause a flare.  Vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots normally don't cause a problem however some people find removing the skins make them even less likely to cause problems.

Fruits that are "Safe" include: bananas, apples, and peaches.  These too are less likely to cause problems when the skin is removed.

Pasta, rice, peas, and green beans are amoung the better choices for teh same reason.  Tea is better than coffee, eggs are fine, and herbs for seasoning (not spices) are good.  And, a good desert is yogurt.

Avoid nuts, seeds, and anything that is hard to digest or needs more water to digest that it has in it.  hard to digest foods include: ............. and foods that use more water than they have include: oranges, ...........

Quantity is another factor to consider.  you may find that some foods give your a problem when normal or large quantities are consumed but when small amounts are consumed you have no problem.

Recommended Supplements
As you can reasonably conclude, the Diverticulitis diet is limiting in many areas which should cause concern about vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  It is important that you find a compatible source to supplement your diet.

we recommend a complete vitamin supplement regimine for your sex and age.  if youare under 20 years of age ........women include iron......senior supplements include calcium.   Etc.  Etc.  Etc..