Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet may reduce symptoms of diverticulosis and prevent complications such as diverticulitis. Fiber keeps stool soft and lowers pressure inside the colon so that bowel contents can move through easily. The American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day.
The doctor may also recommend drinking a fiber product such as Citrucel or Metamucil once a day. These products are mixed with water and provide about 4 to 6 grams of fiber for an 8-ounce glass.
Until recently, many doctors suggested avoiding foods with small seeds such as tomatoes or strawberries because they believed that particles could lodge in the diverticula and cause inflammation. However, this is now a controversial point and no evidence supports this recommendation.
Amount of Fiber in Some Foods
| Fruits | ||
| raspberries | 1 cup | 6 grams of fiber |
| apple | 1 cup | 3 grams |
| tangerine | 1 cup | 2 grams |
| peach | 1 cup | 1 gram |
| Vegetables | ||
| acorn squash | 3/4 cup |
4 grams |
| brussels sprouts | 1/2 cup | 3 grams |
| cabbage | 1/2 cup | 2 grams |
| carrot | 1 cup | 2 grams |
| potato, peeled | 1 cup | 2 grams |
| tomato | 1 cup | 2 grams |
| asparagus | 1/2 cup | 1 gram |
| broccoli | 1/2 cup | 1 gram |
| cauliflower | 1/2 cup | 1 gram |
| romaine lettuce | 1 cup | 1 gram |
| spinach | 1/2 cup | 1 gram |
| zucchini | 1 cup | 1 gram |
| Starchy Vegetables | ||
| black-eyed peas | 1/2 cup | 4 grams |
| lima beans | 1/2 cup | 4 grams |
| kidney beans | 1/2 cup | 3 grams |
| Grains | ||
| brown rice | 1 cup | 3 grams |
| oatmeal | 2/3 cup | 3 grams |
| whole-wheat cereal | 1 cup | 3 grams |
| whole-wheat bread | 1 slice | 2 grams |
| white rice | 1 cup | 1 gram |
Reprinted with permission from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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