Diverticulitis Diet: What are The Foods and Drugs to Avoid?

What is diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis is a type of diverticular disease. It’s a serious medical condition that causes inflamed pouches in the lining of your intestine. These pouches are called diverticula. They develop when weak spots in the intestinal wall give way under pressure, causing sections to bulge out. In most cases, the pouches occur in the large intestine, which is also called your colon.

With diverticulitis, these diverticula are inflamed or infected, or they may tear. Diverticulitis may lead to serious health problems or complications, including:

• nausea
• fever
• severe abdominal pain
• bloody bowel movements
• abscess (an inflamed pocket of tissue)
• fistula

What Causes Diverticula in Diverticulosis?

Diverticulosis is the formation of numerous tiny pockets, or diverticula, in the lining of the bowel. Diverticula, which can range from pea-size to much larger, are formed by increased pressure on weakened spots of the intestinal walls by gas, waste, or liquid. Diverticula can form while straining during a bowel movement, such as with constipation. They are most common in the lower portion of the large intestine (called the sigmoid colon).

Diverticulosis is very common and occurs in 10% of people over age 40 and in 50% of people over age 60. Most people will have no or few symptoms from diverticula.

Complications can occur in about 20% of people with diverticulosis. One of these complications is rectal bleeding, called diverticular bleeding, and another is diverticular infection, called diverticulitis

Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis Diet

Since Diverticula can form while straining during a bowel movement, such as with constipation, then it is just right that we start to avoid those foods that can cause constipation.

What causes constipation? Well, the obvious culprits include a low fiber diet, repeatedly ignoring the urge to go, not drinking enough water, or a lack of exercise. But constipation also has other, less-well-known causes, including certain medications and supplements, as well as potentially serious medical conditions.

Drugs To Avoid When You Have Diverticulitis

Constipation is a common problem where people find it difficult to have bowel movements. Bowel movements may be too hard, difficult to pass, or infrequent. The medical definition of constipation is having fewer than three bowel movements per week, and severe constipation is defined as fewer than one bowel movement per week

According to News Medical Life Sciences, the following medications may or can cause constipation:
There are several medications that may cause or aggravate constipation. Prescription drugs that cause constipation include pain relievers like opiates etc.

Agents that cause constipation especially among the elderly include:

• Opoid pain relievers like Morphine, Codeine etc.
• Anti-cholinergic agents like Atropine, Trihexiphenidyl
• Antispasmodics like dicyclomine
• Tricyclic antidepressants like amytriptyline
• Calcium channel blockers used in arrhythmias and high blood pressure such as verapamil
• Anti-Parkinsonian drugs – Parkinson’s disease itself may cause constipation and the drugs used for this condition including Levodopa cause constipation as well
• Sympathomimetics like ephedrine and terbutaline. Terbutaline is commonly used on bronchial asthma
• Antipsychotics like clozapine, thioridazine, chlorpromazine used for psychiatric disorders
• Diuretics for heart failure like furosemide
• High blood pressure lowering agents like methyldopa, clonidine, propranolol etc.
• Antihistamines like diphenhydramine
• Antacids especially calcium and aluminium containing
• Calcium supplements
• Iron supplements
• Antidiarrheal agents (loperamide, attapulgite)
• Anticonvulsants e.g. phenytoin, clonazepam
• Pain relievers or NSAIDs (Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen, aspirin etc.
• Miscellaneous compounds including Octreotide, polystyrene resins, cholestyramine (for lowering high blood cholesterol) and oral contraceptives

Foods To Avoid if you have Diverticulitis because it causes Constipation

1. Bananas 

Bananas are a conundrum when it comes to constipation foods to avoid. It's a matter of timing: Unripe bananas can cause constipation; ripe bananas can help relieve constipation.

Unripe or under-ripe green bananas cause constipation because they still have a lot of starch, which can be hard for the body to digest.
Bananas also contain fiber (pectin), which draws water from the intestines toward the stool.

2. Chewing gum

It’s not true that if you swallow a piece of gum it takes seven years to digest.

However, it is true that if you swallow many pieces of gum in a short time, or if you swallow several pieces of gum with other indigestible foods such as seeds, this can create a mass that in rare cases, blocks the digestive tract. This blockage can cause constipation.


3. Caffeine and Gluten

Caffeine is a stimulant that can make a person have more bowel movements or in excess, diarrhea.

If a person is dehydrated, the caffeine in coffee, black tea, colas, and chocolate can make the constipation worse.

Gluten doesn’t cause constipation in everyone but it can be problematic for some people who have sensitivity or allergies to it, or who have an autoimmune disorder called celiac disease.

4. White rice and persimmon

White rice

There is a big difference between white rice and brown rice.

White rice can lead to constipation because the husk, bran, and germ have been removed. That's where all the fiber and nutrients are!
Brown rice can help relieve constipation because the husk, bran, and germ have not been removed.

Brown rice is a good source of whole grains and contains about 3.5 g fiber and 5 grams of protein in 1 cup.

Persimmon

Persimmon is a fruit popular in Asia, though not as commonly known in the U.S.

Sweet persimmons are usually ok, but more astringent persimmons contain high amounts of tannin acid concentration, which can slow the movement of food through the intestines, and aggravate constipation.


5. Red meat

There are plenty of reasons to avoid red meat. Red meat can make a person constipated, and it can cause constipation for several reasons.

Red meat:

Is high in fat, so it takes longer for the digestive tract to process it has tough protein fibers that can be difficult for the stomach to digest.
Is rich in iron, which can be constipating

Limit intake of red meat to avoid constipation.

6. White bread

While whole grain breads may help relieve constipation, white breads can cause or worsen it. This also applies to other products with a lot of white flour such as bagels, crackers and pretzels. Unlike whole grains, white flour has no fiber. These foods are heavy on starch, and can back you up. Remember to choose whole grains.

7. Alcohol

Similar to caffeine, alcohol also can contribute to constipation. For example, alcohol is dehydrating, and it can slow digestion and irritate the bowel, which can worsen constipation symptoms.

8. Chocolate

Chocolate is a no-no, especially for people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

It is thought that the large amount of fat in chocolate can slow the digestion process.

It is believed this happens by slowing down muscle contractions (peristalsis) and thus slowing foods moving through the bowel.

In one study, researchers in Germany asked people who had constipation to name the foods they thought caused it. Chocolate was mentioned most frequently.

9. Dairy products

In large quantities, dairy products, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream, can cause many people to become constipated. It could be due to the dairy itself or a combination of things.

One study of Iranian children, ages 1 to 13, found that dairy products could be the cause of their constipation. Almost all the children (80%) who eliminated cow's milk and milk products from their diet had more regular bowel movements.

10. Fast food

All those burgers and fries are high in fat, and low in fiber. This contributes to constipation. Not to mention fast foods often don't have much nutritional value on top of it.

11. Processed foods

Along with fast foods, processed foods contain little nutrition and usually a lot of fat. Many contain a lot of salt as well. Examples of foods to avoid include white bread, pastries, frozen meals, chips, and hot dogs.

All of these foods can cause constipation by slowing down the digestive system. Try snacking on fruits and veggies and foods in their whole natural form, and make sure to drink enough water to help keep the digestive system working normally.


Relative Readings:
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20452199,00.html#a-common-problem-0
https://www.medicinenet.com/top_foods_that_cause_constipation/article.htm
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Drugs-that-Cause-Constipation.aspx