Add fiber gradually to avoid
gas cramps, diarrhea, or bloating
Fiber absorbs large amounts of
water. You must increase your intake of water (at
least 8 glasses/day). Metamucil is a prepared
fiber supplement that demands increased water intake.
Without enough water, the preparation can harden and
act adversely.
The highest fiber containing foods
are prunes, "all bran" type cereals, and beans
(particularly navy, pinto, baked and
kidney)
Read labels on foods to determine
their fiber content. Many cereals have no fiber at
all. Some "natural' grain cereals have a minimal
amount of fiber (less than 1-2 gm of fiber per ounce).
Cereals with the highest amount of fiber per ounce are
some of the artificially created bran cereals that may
have as many as 10 gm of fiber per ounce. Normal bran
cereals may have between 3-6 gm per ounce (prunes have
6 gm/ounce).
Salads: Most salads do not
contain much fiber. Iceberg lettuce, tomato, and
celery contain mostly water. Slaw (cabbage) is the
exception to salad with higher fiber.
Beans: Excellent sources of fiber
include kidney beans, baked beans, pinto , lima,
garbanzo and navy beans.
Raw fruits and vegetables contain
some fiber but often contain mainly water. Whole
grains used in cereal and breads are much better than
their refined counterparts.
A high fiber diet is good to
prevent recurrent problems with diverticulitis.
However, certain foods that are also higher in fiber
should be avoided. Those foods to avoid include nuts,
seeds, kernels, and foods that contain them such as
berries, popcorn, corn, chunky peanut butter, figs,
jams, preserves, and foods with poppy, sesame, or
caraway seeds.
Breakfast:
Eat 6-8 prunes along with a bowl of "all bran" cereal.
Lunch: Sandwich on
whole wheat bread with black bean soup.
Dinner: Cabbage (
or Cole slaw), brown rice with peas,
Snacks: oatmeal
cookies, chunky peanut butter on whole grain
toast
Beverages: Drink
plenty of water, iced tea, milk, or juice