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Q: What should people with diverticulosis eat? I've heard that vegetables are good, but that tomatoes and strawberries should be avoided.
A: About half of all Americans age 60 to 80 have diverticulosis, which means that small pouches bulge out from the colon at certain weak spots. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), diverticulosis is almost always the result of a low-fiber diet, which leads to constipation and pressure in the colon, forcing these pouches to develop.
To prevent diverticulosis, or to prevent worsening of an existing problem, eat a high-fiber diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
Until recently, many doctors suggested avoiding foods with small seeds, like tomatoes and berries, because they believed that particles could lodge in the diverticula (pouches) and cause inflammation. According to the NIH, this is now a controversial point and no evidence supports such a recommendation.
If diverticula become infected or inflamed - a condition known as diverticulitis, causing fever or abdominal pain - medical treatment is necessary to prevent complications. During this time, bowel rest is needed, which often requires a liquid diet. However, after the doctor is sure the inflammation has cleared, a high-fiber diet is again recommended.
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(Karen Collins is a nutritionist with the Washington, D.C.-based American Institute for Cancer Research)
(Distributed by the New York Times Syndicate)
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