Diverticulitis Liquid Diet

If someone has been diagnosed with diverticulitis, their physician may begin them on the diverticulitis liquid diet. This condition occurs when the inner lining of the large intestine or colon develops a bulge. It is not uncommon for older adults to have diverticulitis because the colon weakens with age. Increasing the fluids such as you would on the diverticulitis liquid diet can relieve the symptoms of bloating, cramps and constipation.

A full diverticulitis liquid diet may be prescribed by your physician for this problem. The doctor could have you begin with a clear liquid diet before moving on to the full liquid diet. Eventually, you should be able to resume eating a regular diet. This type of diverticulitis liquid diet is not uncommon after abdominal surgery. This liquid diet has the necessary vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that your body needs.

If your doctor is going to have you on the liquid diet for a longer period of time, you may need to take supplements such as iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and thiamine. Generally, this type of diet gives a person enough calcium so that those supplements are not necessary.

A diverticulitis liquid diet can include milk, milk shakes, ice cream, custard pudding or eggnog. All vegetable juices would be acceptable in the full diverticulitis liquid diet as well as fruit juice and nectars. Beverages that are acceptable for the liquid diet for diverticulitis would include clear and all other beverages. Soups could be strained cream soups, bouillon or clear broth. Meats, whole grains and fats or oils would not be on the diverticulitis liquid diet.

Items on the menu for breakfast could include a cup of fruit juice, eight ounce glass of eggnog, eight ounce glass of whole milk and hot tea. Lunch and dinner would include strained cream soups, a cup of juice, half a cup of ice cream, eight ounce glass of whole milk, half cup of pudding and hot tea. Your doctor should help you put together the proper liquid diet for your symptoms, so consult with them before you begin this diet on your own.

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