These days, pockets are very trendy, but pockets in your colon can be very bad for you. One such problem is diverticulitis, which is a painful medical condition that happens when these small pockets, called diverticula, get inflamed or infected.
To be clear, a lot of Americans, especially those over 40, get these small pouches in the wall of their colon. This is called diverticulosis or diverticular disease, and it’s usually not a big deal. You can have diverticula and never get an infection or inflammation. In fact, most people who have diverticulosis will never have any problems. But if you do, you have diverticulitis. These sudden attacks, also called flare-ups, are painful and can be dangerous if you don’t treat them.
The most important thing you can do to control your condition and keep flare-ups from happening is to figure out what causes yours. However, you may not know what your triggers are yet. Here are some foods that are generally thought to be safe and unsafe to eat, along with other ways to deal with your diverticulitis.
Can You Eat Ground Beef with Diverticulitis? A Diet Guide for Managing Symptoms
Diverticulitis can be an uncomfortable and painful condition, with abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and changes in bowel habits often occurring during flare-ups. Many people with diverticulitis wonder if they can eat ground beef and other favorite foods. The good news is that with the right dietary adjustments, most people with diverticulitis can enjoy a varied, nutrition-packed diet.
What is Diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis happens when small pouches in the colon called diverticula get infected or swollen. There are many people who have diverticulitis without any problems, but between 10% and 25% of those with diverticulitis will develop painful diverticulitis at some point. Diverticulitis can range from mild to severe. Typical symptoms include:
- Left lower abdominal pain
- Bloating and abdominal tenderness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever
- Constipation or diarrhea
Infected diverticula may be more likely to happen if you eat certain foods, don’t exercise, smoke, or take certain drugs, like steroids. A diet low in fiber and being overweight have also been linked to a higher risk of diverticulitis.
Can You Eat Ground Beef with Diverticulitis?
Many people assume they need to avoid all red meats with diverticulitis. However, the latest research indicates eliminating specific foods like red meat across the board is not necessary for everyone with diverticulitis. Monitoring your personal tolerance levels is key. Here are some tips on consuming ground beef with diverticulitis
- Cook ground beef thoroughly to aid digestion. Undercooked beef is more likely to aggravate diverticulitis symptoms.
- Start with small portion sizes after a flare-up subsides to see how your body responds.
- Choose extra lean varieties of ground beef to reduce fat content.
- Avoid beef immediately during an active flare. Stick to clear liquids like broth until symptoms improve.
- Some find eliminating beef for 2-3 days between consumption prevents irritation.
- Opt for ground turkey or chicken if red meats consistently worsen your symptoms.
- Focus on chewing beef thoroughly to prevent larger pieces from getting lodged in diverticula.
Lean ground beef is generally fine for people with mild to moderate diverticulitis in small amounts, as long as it is cooked all the way through and served with other gut-friendly foods. Pay attention to your own tolerance levels. People who have severe or frequent flare-ups may need to stay away from red meat while they are sick.
Diverticulitis Diet Tips
Since food sensitivities vary from person to person, maintaining a food journal can help identify triggers. Here are some other diet tips for keeping diverticulitis symptoms at bay:
Stay Hydrated
Drink fluids regularly, aiming for 8-10 glasses of water daily. Proper hydration keeps stools soft and prevents constipation associated with diverticulitis flares.
Add Fiber Gradually
Fiber promotes bowel regularity but increase high-fiber foods slowly after a flare-up. Sudden increases can backfire by producing gas or discomfort. Focus on soluble fiber from foods like oats, beans, fruits and vegetables.
Avoid Triggers
Track your symptoms to pinpoint problem foods. Common culprits include popcorn, nuts, seeds, corn and red meat. But sensitivities differ so pay attention to your own experiences.
Manage Portions
Large meals place extra pressure on the colon. Eating smaller, more frequent meals prevents overfilling your digestive tract.
Chew Thoroughly
Breaking down food fully through chewing helps prevent undigested pieces from getting trapped in diverticula.
Stay Active
Exercise like brisk walking for 30 minutes daily aids digestion and prevents constipation.
Consider Probiotics
Probiotic supplements may reduce inflammation and prevent diverticulitis episodes. Talk to your doctor.
Avoid Constipation
Preventing constipation is key to reducing diverticulitis flares. Stay hydrated, exercise and eat 20-35 grams of fiber daily.
Foods to Eat with Diverticulitis
A nourishing diverticulitis diet should include a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. Here are some great options:
Fruits
Fruits offer antioxidants and fiber. Stick to soft, seedless varieties like bananas, melons, applesauce and berry purees. Avoid dried fruits if they cause issues.
Non-Leafy Vegetables
Cook vegetables like carrots, asparagus tips, eggplant, squash and potatoes until soft. Raw veggies can be irritating.
Grains
Opt for whole grain bread, rice, pasta and oats. Reduce gluten if it triggers symptoms.
Lean Proteins
Include poultry, eggs, tofu, fish, whey protein and low-fat dairy like yogurt or cottage cheese.
Legumes
Well-cooked lentils, beans, hummus and split peas are great fiber sources if tolerated.
Clear Liquids
Broths, herbal tea, water, gelatin and pulp-free juices are ideal during symptom flares.
Healthy Fats
Incorporate olive oil, avocados, nuts, nut butters and seeds. Pay attention to tolerance.
Seasonings
Flavor foods with herbs, spices, garlic, onions, lemon juice, vinegars and other low-FODMAP options.
A Sample Diverticulitis Meal Plan
Here is a day of diverticulitis-friendly meal ideas:
Breakfast: Oatmeal made with low-fat milk, topped with banana slices and cinnamon. Greek yogurt with blueberries and almonds.
Lunch: Tuna salad sandwich on whole wheat bread. Baby carrots and red bell pepper strips with hummus.
Dinner: Broiled salmon with roasted potatoes and steamed asparagus. Berry sorbet for dessert.
Snacks: Hard boiled egg. Apple slices with almond butter.
Beverages: Herbal tea, water with lemon.
The Bottom Line on Ground Beef and Diverticulitis
With diverticulitis, ground beef and other red meats are not universally off limits. Paying attention to your individual tolerance, cooking meats thoroughly, starting with smaller amounts and limiting intake during flare-ups are smart strategies. A balanced diverticulitis diet should focus on gut-friendly whole foods and hydration. Keeping a food journal helps identify your unique trigger foods to avoid. With the right dietary adjustments tailored to your needs, living well with diverticulitis is absolutely possible.
Taking vitamins or supplements
Fiber supplements are powerful for managing symptoms of diverticulitis, largely because it keeps stool moving through the colon. “If you keep your stools soft, you can keep the diverticula from getting clogged,” says Ashkan Farhadi, MD, a gastroenterologist at California’s MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center. “In general, if you can manage to avoid constipation, it may prevent flare-ups. ” A high-fiber diet—as long as it includes high-fiber foods that don’t irritate your system—can also be beneficial.
He also suggests taking magnesium, which can strengthen the intestinal muscles and keep stools soft and regular. It’s been shown, says Dr. Farhadi, that foods high in magnesium can stop diverticulosis from getting worse. But keep in mind that some of these foods are nuts, so you might not be able to eat them as often if they make your symptoms worse.
As far as other vitamins, some patients with diverticulitis wonder about vitamin D. Some studies have shown that people with higher vitamin D levels are less likely to develop diverticulitis. However, there’s not much research here, and a 2020 controlled trial looking at the link found no difference among diverticulitis hospitalizations between people who supplemented with vitamin D and those who didn’t.
In more moderate to severe cases, your physician may prescribe an antibiotic to clear the infection. Some patients are also prescribed these antibiotics at the start of a flare, to prevent worsening of symptoms.
Whether this is the right choice for you is between you and your healthcare provider. Many doctors will give you medicine like ciprofloxacin or amoxicillin-clavulanic. But no matter what medicine they give you, make sure you tell them about any other medicines you’re taking so they can avoid any interactions.
Diet for diverticulitis flare-ups
Doctor suggests that people who are having an acute diverticulitis attack and want to help their bowel heal faster should stick to a clear liquid diet for one to two days. Boling. This means you can drink any clear liquid, like Gatorade, water or ice chips, chicken broth, no-pulp juice, herbal tea, or even Jell-O (because it’s digested as a liquid).
In other words, if you can see through it, you can eat or drink it, says Dr. Boling—and this kind of short-term diet can help you recover from an acute attack, stop an attack before it happens (when you start to feel symptoms), or even take antibiotics with them if your doctor prescribes them.
Symptoms of a diverticulitis flare-up include:
- Pain, often on your lower left side
- Nausea and vomiting
- Cramping and bloating
- Fever
- Diarrhea or constipation
Once the flare is under control, you can return to normal eating habits.
Can you eat red meat with diverticulitis?
FAQ
Does ground beef aggravate diverticulitis?
Can I eat scrambled eggs with diverticulitis?
Can you eat meat if you have diverticulitis?
Meat and poultry are low-fiber foods that are among the safe ones to eat when you are dealing with a diverticulitis flare-up. However, a high red meat diet might not be good if you don’t already have diverticulitis and don’t want to develop it. What Is Diverticulitis?
What foods should I eat if I have diverticulitis?
If you have diverticulitis, you should eat lean protein such as eggs and tender cuts of meat (like shredded chicken, baked fish, and ground beef), which are usually easy to digest. Cooked fruits and vegetables are also recommended, but you may need to remove the skin if it has caused irritation in the past.
Should I eat a low-fiber diet if I have diverticulosis?
For individuals with diverticulosis but no current flare-ups, a high-fiber diet may help prevent diverticulitis. However, if you are experiencing a diverticulitis flare-up, a low-fiber diet is often recommended.
Does a healthy diet reduce risk of diverticulitis?
In one 2017 study on men, researchers suggested that a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains has an association with a decreased risk of diverticulitis. A 2021 review linked a diet high in fiber with a lower risk of diverticulitis or hospitalization from diverticular disease.