Preventing diverticular disease and diverticulitis

Eating a high-fibre diet may help prevent diverticular disease, and should improve your symptoms.Your diet should be balanced and include at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, plus whole grains. Adults should aim to eat 18g (0.6oz) to 30g (1.05oz) of fibre a day, depending on their height and weight. Your GP can provide a more specific target, based on your individual height and weight.It's recommended that you gradually increase your fibre intake over the course of a few weeks. This will help prevent side effects associated with a high-fibre diet, such as bloating and flatulence (wind). Drinking plenty of fluids will also help prevent side effects.If you have established diverticular disease, it may be suggested that you avoideatingnuts, corn and seedsdue tothe possibility thatthey could block the diverticular openings and cause diverticulitis. People usually find out themselves if these foods cause symptoms. Probiotics have also been recommended, but evidence is lacking. Overall, there is a lack of good quality scientific evidence on how to prevent diverticular disease.Sources of fibreGood sources of fibre include fruit vegetables nuts breakfast cerealsbut check fibre content as some are very low starchy foods such as brown bread, rice and pasta Once you have reached your fibre target, stick to it for the rest of your life, if possible. More detailed information on sources of fibre is provided below.Fresh fruitGood sources of fibre in fresh fruit (plus the amount of fibre that is found in typical portions) include: avocado pear a medium-sized avocado pear contains 4.9g of fibre pear (with skin) a medium-sized pear contains 3.7g of fibre orange a medium-sized orange contains 2.7g of fibre apple (with skin) a medium-sized apple contains 2g of fibre raspberries two handfuls of raspberries (80g) contain 2g of fibre banana a medium-sized banana contains 1.7g of fibre tomato juice one small glass of tomato juice (200ml) contains 1.2g of fibre Dried fruitGood sources of fibre in dried fruit (plus the amount of fibre found in typical portions) include: apricots three whole apricots contain 5g of fibre prunes three whole prunes contain 4.6g of fibre VegetablesGood sources of fibre in vegetables (plus the amount of fibre found in typical portions) include: baked beans (in tomato sauce) a half can of baked beans (200g) contains 7.4g of fibre red kidney beans (boiled) three tablespoons of red kidney beans contain 5.4g of fibre peas (boiled) three heaped tablespoons of peas contain 3.6g of fibre French beans (boiled) four heaped tablespoons of French beans contain 3.3g of fibre Brussel sprouts (boiled) eight Brussel sprouts contain 2.5g of fibre potatoes (old, boiled) one medium-sized potato contains 2.4g of fibre spring greens (boiled) four heaped tablespoons of Spring greens contain 2.1g of fibre carrots (boiled, sliced) three heaped tablespoons of carrots contain 2g of fibre NutsGood sources of fibre in nuts (plus the amount of fibre found in typical portions) include: almonds 20 almonds contain 2.4g of fibre peanuts (plain) a tablespoon of peanuts contains 1.6g of fibre mixed nuts a tablespoon of mixed nuts contains 1.5g of fibre Brazil nuts 10 Brazil nuts contain 1.4g of fibre Breakfast cerealsGood sources of fibre in breakfast cereals (plus the amount of fibre found in typical portions) include: All-Bran a medium-sized bowl of All-Bran contains 9.8g of fibre Shredded Wheat two pieces of Shredded wheat contain 4.3g of fibre Bran Flakes one medium-sized bowl of Bran flakes contains 3.9g of fibre Weetabix twoWeetabix contain 3.6g of fibre muesli (no added sugar) one medium-sized bowl of muesli contains 3.4g of fibre porridge (milk or water) one medium-sized bowl of porridge contains 2.3g of fibre Note the "own-brand" equivalents of the cereals mentioned above shouldcontain similar levels of fibre.Starchy foodsGood sources of fibre in starchy food (plus the amount found in typical portions) include: crispbread four crispbreads contain 4.2g of fibre pitta bread (wholemeal) one piece (75g) contains 3.9g of fibre pasta (plain, fresh-cooked) one medium portion of pasta (200g) contains 3.8g of fibre wholemeal bread two slices of wholemeal bread contain 3.5g of fibre naan bread one piece of naan bread contains 3.2g of fibre brown bread two slices of brown bread contain 2.5g of fibre brown rice (boiled) one medium portion of brown rice (200g) contains 1.6g of fibre Fibre supplements usually in the form of sachets of powder you mix with water are also available from pharmacists and health food shops. Some contain sweetener. A tablespoon of fibre supplement contains around 2.5g of fibre.If you require long-term fibre supplements, your GP can prescribe them.