ask: Is there a cookbook people can use who have diverticulitis?

Such a great question. Let's see if we can find one for you. I know there's a couple of great books on what foods to stay away from if you've been diagnosed with diverticulitis. Haven't seen a cook book. If there isn't one there should be!!
Would be a great book for someone to write, since so many people suffer from diverticulitis.

We'll be back in touch with you. I need to go look in my library to see which books I can recommend.

Anybody else know of any books?

Be well,

Michelle

Hi, Anon, and thank you for your question! Let's see what we can find for you.

Here's what the Mayo Clinic says about a diverticulitis diet:

"High-fiber foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, soften waste material and help it pass more quickly through your colon. This reduces pressure inside your digestive tract. Aim for 25 to 30 grams of fiber each day. An apple or 1/2 cup of spinach contains 2 to 3 grams of fiber, and 1/2 cup of baked beans contains about 6 grams. Try to substitute fruits, vegetables and grain products for foods high in fat. Be sure to add fiber gradually to avoid bloating, abdominal discomfort and gas. If it's difficult for you to consume 25 to 30 grams of fiber every day, consider using a fiber supplement, such as psyllium (Metamucil, Nature's Way) or methylcellulose (Citrucel). Although commonly recommended, there's little evidence that avoiding eating seeds or nuts prevents recurrent attacks of diverticulitis."

Is this a newly diagnosed case of diverticulitis? Are you keeping a food journal to see which foods cause a flare-up and which do not?

There are some online sites that have recipes for you, and I have to say that some of them sound yummy.

Here are 22 lighter recipes for diverticulitis, ranging from fish to pasta to baked french toast to salad. Readers have given lots of them 5 stars:

http://www.recipezaar.com/cookbook.php?bookid=66092

And here are 17 higher fiber recipes:

http://www.recipezaar.com/menu/21558

This website has a newsletter where they'll email you a recipe a day:

http://www.diverticulitis-diet.info/diverticulitis-diet-recipes.html

And in terms of cookbooks, here's what I found:

Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet
by Elaine Gloria Gottschall

and

Eat Well, Feel Well
by Kendall Conrad

Elaine Gloria Gottschall seems to be a leader in this field; her Carbohydrate-Specific Diet apparently works for many people with intestinal disorders; there are many reader reviews that say all kinds of good things about her books.

Here is an Amazon link to these books:

http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Vicious-Cycle-Intestinal-Through/dp/09692...

http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Well-Feel-Carbohydrate-Compliant/dp/0307339947...

Perhaps some people who have dealt with diverticulitis will share some of their favorites here as well.

Diane, you give great advice regarding several aspects of dealing with diverticulitis. I was diagnosted with it in September 2009, and have found that a psyllium-based fiber was really harsh on my system. After some research, I found a great product that is made by Garden of Life that is called Detoxifiber. I mix it with water - and even though it has an earthy and cloudy appearance it there is no taste. It works great for me, and I wanted to share my experience with people with diverticulitis that may be looking for the same result. I hope I could be of help.

Hi there
I have Diverticular Disease and have started to write a recipe blog.
Please visit and I hope you enjoy the recipes.

http://gluten-free-kitchen-fairy.over-blog.com

Best wishes
Dorothy Jamieson