Question: I’ve been diagnosed with diverticulitis. Does this mean I can’t eat popcorn or nuts?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Diverticulitis occurs when one or more local weaknesses called diverticulae in your digestive tract (mainly the colon or large bowel) become inflamed and infected. In the past, doctors had recommended that people with diverticular disease (diverticulosis or diverticulitis) avoid hard-to-digest foods such as nuts, corn, popcorn, and seeds, suggesting that these foods could get stuck in the diverticula and lead to inflammation. However, recent research has noted that there is no real scientific evidence to back up this recommendation. In fact, nuts and seeds are components of many high-fiber foods, which are recommended for people with diverticular disease.
When you are first stricken with diverticulitis, you doctor may put you on a diet that starts with only clear liquids for a few days. As you start feeling better, your doctor will recommend that you slowly add low-fiber foods, switching to a high-fiber diet to help prevent diverticulitis from recurring. Just be sure to increase the fiber in your diet slowly and aim for the level recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans — at least 25 grams of fiber a day for women and 38 grams for men. A dietician is often advised to help you with food choices.