Mild cases of diverticulitis are usually treated with antibiotics and a low-fiber diet, or treatment may start with a period of rest where you eat nothing by mouth, then start with clear liquids and then move to a low-fiber diet until your condition improves. More-severe cases typically require hospitalization.
In about 95 out of 100 people, uncomplicated diverticulitis goes away on its own within a week. In about 5 out of 100 people, the symptoms stay and treatment is needed.
When diverticulitis resolves, the recommendation is a balanced, high-fiber diet.” Exercise is another way to reduce your risk for developing diverticulitis, as movement promotes normal bowel function and reduces the pressure inside the colon.
Complicated/uncomplicated
Most of the time, diverticulitis is uncomplicated, which means that inflammation and possible infection are the extents of the problem. It heals easily with the right treatment.
Diverticulosis: What to Eat. Cater says people with diverticulosis can benefit from eating fiber-rich foods, including: Whole grains, such as quinoa, bulgur, teff, barley, popcorn, oats, shredded wheat or bran cereals, and whole grain breads. Beans and legumes, including black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas and lentils.
They will not cure diverticulosis. Maintaining a healthy balance of good bacteria in the gut may support digestive health and therefore play a part in preventing new diverticula from forming, or indeed could prevent the worsening of existing diverticula.
The probiotic strains Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Saccharomyces boulardii, and bifidobacteria may help maintain the health of the intestines and these strains have been found to be some of the best probiotics for diverticulitis sufferers.
Dairy: “Cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are real winners if you're recovering from a flare-up: They're high in protein, calcium and other nutrients and don't have any fiber. They're also soft, moist and easier to get down if you're not feeling well,” says Taylor.
Plus, probiotics have anti-inflammatory effects, which may help to ease inflammation from diverticulitis. Probiotics are available in supplement form, but they can also be found in certain foods, such as yogurt, kombucha, and fermented vegetables.
Magnesium supplementation can help prevent constipation and reduce cramping and intestinal spasms associated with diverticular disease. Soothing and healing demulcent herbs like slippery elm, aloe vera, marshmallow root, and deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) reduce mucosal damage and inflammation.
Mild cases of diverticulitis are usually treated with antibiotics and a low-fiber diet, or treatment may start with a period of rest where you eat nothing by mouth, then start with clear liquids and then move to a low-fiber diet until your condition improves. More-severe cases typically require hospitalization.
After symptoms improve, usually within two to four days, you may add 5 to 15 grams of fiber a day back into your diet. Resume your high fiber diet when you no longer have symptoms.
If symptoms are severe and not treated, problems such as an abscess or fistula may happen. Surgery often is needed to treat these. It is common to have lower belly pain after recovering from an attack of diverticulitis. But this pain doesn't always mean it's returned.
Once treated, most people start feeling better within a few days. Approximately 20% of patients will have another flare-up, or recurrence. This usually happens within 5 years.
The diverticulitis flare will usually go away after four to six weeks, Doerfler says. At that point, you can start eating higher-fiber foods like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats like nuts, seeds, avocado, and olive oil.
Stay with liquids or a bland diet (plain rice, bananas, dry toast or crackers, applesauce) until you are feeling better.
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.
Bulk-forming laxatives such as Metamucil or Citrucel may be recommended after the diverticulitis flare-up has resolved. These types of supplements can help add fiber to the diet while treating either constipation or diarrhea.
Home remedies used for diverticulitis are more often used to improve symptoms over some time and prevent future attacks. Examples include getting more fiber, avoiding red meat, exercising, and trying supplements like garlic, ginger, and vitamin D. American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
Omega-3 fatty acids , such as those found in fish oil, may help fight inflammation. (On the other hand, some omega-6 fatty acids, found in meats and dairy products, tend to increase inflammation.) If you have diverticulitis, eat a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, or take a supplement (1,000 mg, 1 to 2 times per day).
Tea: Green tea has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antibacterial properties- all of which would be helpful for Diverticulitis treatment.