Many people have diverticula. An appropriate diet prevents symptoms and can reduce the risk of developing diverticula in the first place.
Diverticula, i.e. small protrusions on the intestinal wall, are common: around 10 percent of people under 50 have them, and 50 percent of people over 70 have them, writes a website from the Federal Ministry of Health. If there are no other symptoms, it is referred to as diverticulosis. If the rinsing leads to complications, it is diverticular disease; if inflammation occurs, it is diverticulitis.
The good news: If you eat a serving of fruit or vegetables five times a day, you can prevent diverticulosis to a certain extent. The magazine Apotheker Umschau (issue B 12/2025) points this out.
The fiber it contains, which is also found in grains, legumes and nuts, ensures loosened stools – this is important because the small sacs in the intestines are promoted, among other things, by the pressure that builds up there.
Fiber also helps with diverticula
The Professional Association of German Internists also recommends on its website a diet rich in fiber, including at least five portions of fruit or vegetables daily. This diet also makes sense if you already have diverticula and symptoms.
Wheat bran, for example, can score points with its very high fiber content. According to the Internists’ Association, half of the fiber consumed every day should come from grain and grain products and half from fresh fruit and vegetables.
Three to five meals a day
What is also part of diverticular prevention behavior is regular eating, writes Pharmacy Umschau. Three to five meals a day would have a positive effect. Unfortunately, many people skip breakfast in the morning due to their stressful everyday lives.
On the other hand, it is outdated that if you have diverticula you should avoid certain foods such as unground grains or popcorn. Pumpkin seeds, kiwis, seeds and nuts, for example, are allowed. They ensure softer stools and do not block the openings of diverticula. On the other hand, the connection between regular consumption of red meat and diverticula and their inflammation has been proven.
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