7 Foods to Avoid During a Diverticulitis Flare

Eating certain foods is linked to a higher chance of developing diverticulosis, a condition in which small pouches, called diverticuli, form on the colon. Diverticulitis is a painful medical condition that develops when those small pouches become infected or inflamed. It’s not clear why people develop diverticulosis or diverticulitis. Diet seems to be connected to both. And some foods are linked to a lower risk of developing diverticulitis, if you have diverticulosis.

Let’s take a look at what foods to avoid if you have a diverticulitis flare and how your diet may or may not increase your chances of developing future flares.

Do certain foods cause diverticulitis?

There’s no evidence that certain foods directly cause diverticulitis. And there’s still a lot that scientists don’t understand about diverticular disease, a category that includes diverticulosis and diverticulitis. 

First, it’s not clear why people develop diverticulosis. Diets high in certain foods — like processed meats, red meat, and lower-fiber foods — have been linked to a higher risk of developing diverticulosis. But not all people who eat these foods develop diverticula. 

It’s also not clear why some people with diverticulosis are more prone to developing diverticulitis. Most people with diverticulosis never develop diverticulitis. But those who do develop diverticulosis may experience flares in the future. 

Diverticulitis flares are painful and can lead to serious complications. That’s why it’s important for people with diverticular disease to lower their risk of developing diverticulitis flares.

One way to lower your risk of having diverticulitis flares is to eat diverticular-disease-friendly foods. Diet recommendations for diverticular disease can get confusing. You may be encouraged to eat certain foods if you have diverticulosis, but also be told to avoid those same foods during a diverticulitis flare. 

In general, people with diverticulosis should eat:

• High-fiber fruits and vegetables

• Beans and legumes

• Nuts and seeds

• Whole grains

People with diverticulosis should also limit foods that increase inflammation, such as:

• Alcohol 

• Red meat

• Processed meat

• Ultra-processed food

• Low-fiber foods

None of these foods is known to directly cause diverticulitis. But prioritizing high-fiber foods and limiting these inflammatory foods may lower the chances that you’ll develop diverticulitis.

Why do you need to avoid certain foods with diverticulitis flares?

Some foods that are diverticulosis-friendly can actually worsen your symptoms during a diverticulitis flare. So, you may want to avoid these foods during a diverticulitis flare to keep your symptoms better under control. This includes high-fiber foods. 

High-fiber foods can lower the risk of having a diverticulitis flare in the first place. But if you do have a flare, high-fiber foods are likely to worsen symptoms. That’s why experts recommend eating a low-fiber diet during the early stages of a diverticulitis flare. 

High-fiber foods aren’t the only foods you should avoid during a flare. Here are 7 foods to avoid during a diverticulitis flare to help ease your symptoms.

1. Beans and legumes

Beans, lentils, and peas are very rich in fiber. Experts recommend avoiding beans and legumes during a diverticulitis episode because they can worsen gas, bloating, and pain. 

Examples of beans and legumes include: 

• Black beans

• Black-eyed peas

• Cannellini beans

• Green peas

• Kidney beans

• Lentils

• Lima beans

• Split peas

Instead of eating beans and legumes, try these low-fiber, protein-rich foods during a diverticulitis flare:

• Chicken 

• Fish

• Tofu

• Turkey

• Peanut butter

Once you’ve recovered from your flare, it’s OK to start eating beans and legumes again. You can soak your beans overnight to make them easier to digest. This may make it easier for you to add beans and legumes back to your diet after a diverticulitis episode.

2. Whole grains

Whole grains, including whole-wheat products, have a lot of fiber as well. They might not cause as much bloating and gas as beans during a flare, but they can still increase pain. That’s because they’re harder to digest than simple starches. 

Examples of whole-grain products include: 

• Barley

• Brown rice

• Oatmeal

• Popcorn

• Quinoa

• Whole-wheat spaghetti

Instead of whole grains, try simple starches during a flare, such as:

• White bread

• White pasta

• White rice

• Corn flakes

• Crackers made with refined flour

Once you recover, add whole grains back to your diet. You may need to slowly increase the amount of whole grains you eat over 1 or 2 weeks.

3. High-fiber fruits

You should take a break from high-fiber fruits during a diverticulitis flare. But you don’t have to stop eating fruit altogether. Instead, opt for low-fiber fruits, which are less likely to aggravate symptoms. 

Examples of high-fiber fruits include: 

• Apples with the peel

• Avocado

• Citrus fruits

• Pears

• Raspberries

• Strawberries

Low-fiber fruits to try instead include:

• Canned or cooked fruit without seeds or skins

• Small amounts of ripe banana

• Melon

As you recover, you can start adding high-fiber fruits back into your regular diet.

4. High-fiber vegetables

Vegetables are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. But high-fiber vegetables are harder to digest, which can increase pain during a diverticulitis flare. 

Try avoiding these high-fiber vegetables during a diverticulitis episode: 

• Broccoli

• Brussel sprouts

• Cabbage

• Sweet potatoes

You can try these low-fiber vegetables instead:

• Cooked or canned vegetables without seeds, skins, or stems

• Peeled potatoes

• Vegetable juices

As you recover, you can add high-fiber vegetables back to your diet.

5. Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds are high in fiber, so they can worsen your pain during a flare. Here’s some examples of high-fiber nuts and seeds to avoid:

• Brazil nuts

• Hazelnuts

• Macadamia nuts

• Peanuts

• Pecans

• Walnuts

• Mixed nuts

• Chia seeds

• Flax seeds

• Popcorn

Instead, opt for these low-fiber snacks:

• Crackers

• Pretzels

• Smooth peanut butter

Research is clear that nuts and seeds don’t cause diverticulitis. So, you don’t have to stop eating them if you’ve had diverticulitis in the past. You can add them back to your diet after you recover from your flare.

6. Fried or greasy foods

Fried and greasy foods can trigger symptoms like:

• Abdominal pain

• Bloating

• Nausea

• Vomiting

Foods high in trans fat are also closely linked to inflammation. So, avoiding fried and greasy foods during a flare can make you feel more comfortable. 

Examples of greasy or fried foods to avoid include: 

• Fried chicken and chicken strips

• Hamburgers

• Pizza

• Potato chips

• Baked goods (like croissants and pastries)

• Creamy soups

You should continue to avoid and limit fried and greasy foods after you recover from your diverticulitis flare. Fried and greasy foods are generally low in fiber. And it’s a good idea to prioritize high-fiber foods if you have a history of diverticulitis.

7. Spicy foods

Spicy foods can trigger uncomfortable symptoms, like:

• Abdominal cramping

• Diarrhea

• Nausea

• Vomiting

Diverticulitis causes these symptoms, too. So, eating spicy foods may worsen your diverticulitis symptoms. Avoiding spicy foods may make you more comfortable during a flare.

Try avoiding foods made with:

• Cayenne pepper

• Crushed red pepper

• Ghost peppers

• Habanero peppers

• Horseradish

• Hot sauce

• Jalapenos

• Serrano peppers

• Wasabi

Instead, try these seasonings during a flare:

• Bell peppers

• Cumin

• Garlic

• Italian seasoning

• Mild salsas

It’s safe to reintroduce spicy foods after you recover. There’s no good evidence that eating spicy foods increases the risk of developing diverticulitis flares in the future.

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Written by:

Amy Walsh, MD, MDP

Amy Walsh, MD, MDP, has worked as an emergency physician for 15 years, including care at both rural hospitals and trauma centers. She is the former Global Emergency Medicine fellowship director at Health Partners.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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