A Possible Diet Plan for Those with Diverticulitis

By CH Woods

Diverticulitis typically develops when the pouches in your large intestine become swollen. Nutritional changes can help the colon recover. Diverticulosis is a problem by which little protruding pockets known as diverticula form within the lower part of the intestinal tract, generally in the colon. 

Constipation and forcing in the course of bowel movements can aggravate the condition. A diet full of fiber might help soften stools and protect against swelling. Dietary fiber is a vital part of a diet for sufferers of diverticulosis. Eating fiber daily will help you to pass stool quickly with ease.

The Best Diet for Diverticulosis: If you have diverticulosis then you need to add more fiber to your diet. As said, fiber helps to soften stool which prevents constipation. Additionally, it might help lower the pressure in your colon and help reduce flare-ups of diverticulitis symptoms.

Foods that you should add to your diet include:

• Whole Grain Cereals
• Beans
• Corn
• Apples
• Whole Wheat Bread
• Bran
• Bananas
• Whole Wheat Pasta
• Legumes
• Broccoli
• Brown Rice
• Squash
• Carrots

If you presently do not have a diet plan full of fiber, you need to include fiber gradually to your diet. If you add fiber to your diet too fast then problems such as abdominal discomfort and bloating may develop.

Healthy Foods for Diverticulitis: If you have symptoms of diverticulitis, stick to a liquid diet until the problems stop. Your physician will tell you when you should move on to solids and eventually back to your regular diet.

A liquid diet means absolutely no solid foods.

Fruit juices should not even have any pulp at all. 

You should only consume:

• Beet Juice
• Cranberry Juice
• Celery Juice
• Popsicles
• Slippery Elm Tea
• Apple Juice
• Lettuce Juice
• Carrot Juice
• Broth
• Water
• Grape Juice

After you can consume solid foods once again, only eat foods low in fiber at first, which can include:

• Canned fruit with no skin or seeds like melon and applesauce
• White rice
• Ground or tender meat
• Eggs
• White bread
• Pasta
• Seedless and skinless canned vegetables
• Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese
• Cereal low in fiber

After your problems get better, which generally takes about two to four days, you can include around ten grams of fiber back into your daily diet. 

Only eat a fiber-rich diet after all of your symptoms have cleared up.

Many medical professionals suggest staying away from nuts and seeds when on a diverticulitis diet, however there isn't any definite medical information proving this, though if you think that seeds may result in diverticulitis then it is best to simply avoid them.

A diverticulitis diet is not really required unless you are suffering from symptoms of it. After your symptoms improve you need to slowly increase how much fiber you can eat in order to let your digestive system return to normal.

Additionally, it is crucial that you have a multivitamin when on any kind of diet to make sure you are receiving the right amount of minerals and vitamins on a daily basis. It is important that you absorb the recommended amount of nutrients your body needs every day.

It is said that it is possible to prevent diverticulitis by drinking plenty of water and working out frequently. Doing exercises and drinking fluids both help to sustain healthy bowel performance which helps you to reduce the development of diverticulitis.

More fiber will also help prevent problems like diverticulitis. Common high fiber foods include several vegetable sources and fiber supplements which you can ask your doctor or dietitian about.

Medical: Your diet has an important role on your overall health and wellbeing, therefore it is important that you be sure that you have professional medical advice before you make any changes to your lifestyle and how you eat. 

If you notice any symptoms of diverticulitis or diverticulosis

then seek medical care as soon as possible.

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CH Woods is the Executive Director of Organic and Environmental Products.
We provide organic and natural products with informative articles on health and environmental solutions

Alkaline Foods to Include in Your Diet

By CH Woods 

Alkaline foods are very important for maintaining a good chemical balance in your body. Alkaline is essential for making sure that your body does not become too acidic. If your body is considered too acidic, then this means that your cells are not getting sufficient levels of oxygen. When this occurs, it reduces the energy of the cells. Eventually health problems such as diabetes, indigestion, weight gain, and even cancer can develop is left untreated for a long period of time. 


An acidic body ensures that your natural immune system is vulnerable, in addition to your body’s overall ability to function normally. This problem is very common in modern society. In fact, more people are considered acidic than alkaline! The reason for that is our poor eating habit such as reliance on fast food and pre-packaged snacks. When your body is weakened due to acidity, the chance of any type of disease increases significantly. Additionally, your strength and energy will be reduced as well. 

 About Your pH Level 
The two letter abbreviation that most of us have heard before, pH, is short for "potential hydrogen." Your pH level can be anywhere from 0 to 14, though you never want to be close to either end. When your blood pH drops below 7, then this indicates that your body is acidic, which means it will be much more vulnerable to illness and disease. When your pH level is above 7 then you are considered alkaline which is best for optimal health. Preferably, you should stay at a pH of around 7.3. Though this number is only a bit greater than the middle, it is viewed as well-balanced. 

 Factors Behind Acidity in Food
One of the main reasons for being overly acidic in most people is due to their daily intake of food. Most people do not get enough alkaline-based foods like dark green vegetables; instead they eat meats and junk food which are both loaded with acid content. Acidic foods such as eggs, dairy, and meats are consumed on a regular basis by the majority of people. Along with these foods, most people also take in large amounts of other acidic products such as white grains, coffee, alcohol, sugar, artificial sweeteners, soda, and white flour. 

Symptoms of High Acidity
The symptoms below may be the result of a pH imbalance in your body, so watch out for:

• Irritability
• Joint Inflammation
• Herpes - a viral infection causing small painful blisters and inflammation, most commonly at the junction of skin and mucous membrane in the mouth or nose or in the genitals.
• Headaches
• Heart Disease
• Appendicitis
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Cancer
• Nervousness
• Osteoporosis
• Leg Cramps
• Excessive Sweating
• Mucous Buildup
• Asthma
• Weakened Muscles
• Rheumatism
• Fatigue
• Blurred Vision

Alkaline Foods to Eat Well before participating in a pH diet, you should understand that the foods that we eat have their very own pH levels before they are consumed, but as they are digested their pH level may be the exact opposite of what they were originally. One primary example of such a food is the lemon, which is loaded with acid before you eat it. Nevertheless, after it is consumed and digested, it causes your urine to become alkaline. 

Many alkaline foods that you should add to your diet include:

• Ginger
• Carrots
• Onions
• Tomatoes
• Raisins
• Mangoes
• Celery
• Almonds
• Garlic
• Chili Peppers
• Broccoli
• Cantaloupes
• 100% Fruit Juices
• Peaches
• Oranges
• Cabbage
• Watermelon
• Lemons
• Pineapples
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Cucumbers
• Beets
• Tangerines
• Garlic
• Chestnuts
• Limes
• Cinnamon
• Figs

The minerals below are also considered alkaline and can be taken in supplement form:

• Sodium
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Calcium

Everything mentioned above are great to add to your diet, but only after advice from your doctor or dietitian just to make sure your dietary changes do not cause any unexpected problems.

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CH Woods is the Executive Director of Organic and Environmental Products. We provide organic and natural products with informative articles on health and environmental solutions.