What Soup is Good for Diverticulitis Recovery?

November 25, 2025 •

4 min read

An estimated 10-25% of people with diverticulosis will eventually develop diverticulitis, a painful condition where small intestinal pouches become inflamed. Fortunately, consuming the right soup is good for diverticulitis, providing comfort and nutrition while allowing the digestive system to rest and heal.

Quick Summary

This article outlines the best types of soups for managing diverticulitis, distinguishing between options for acute flare-ups and the recovery phase. It covers essential ingredients like clear broths, low-fiber vegetables, and lean proteins, and provides practical advice for preparation and transitioning back to a higher-fiber diet.

Key Points

Clear Broths: During a flare-up, stick to clear broths like chicken, vegetable, or bone broth to give your digestive system rest and provide hydration.
Pureed Soups for Recovery: As symptoms improve, switch to pureed soups made from soft, peeled vegetables like carrots, squash, or potatoes to add nutrients without high fiber.
Gradually Reintroduce Fiber: After a flare has fully subsided, slowly add fiber back into your diet with soups containing lentils, split peas, or whole grains to prevent future flare-ups.
Avoid High-Fiber Ingredients During Flares: Skip fibrous vegetables, seeds, and skins during an acute flare-up, focusing on liquids and low-residue foods.
Stay Hydrated: No matter the stage of recovery, drinking plenty of water and fluid-rich soups is vital to keep your bowels healthy and aid digestion.
Mindful Seasoning: During a sensitive period, use mild herbs and seasonings. Avoid spicy or greasy ingredients that can cause irritation.

During a diverticulitis flare-up, managing your diet is crucial for reducing inflammation and easing symptoms. Soup is often an ideal food choice because it can be tailored to be gentle on the digestive system, providing essential hydration and nutrients in an easily digestible form. The key is to select ingredients appropriate for the specific stage of your recovery.

Soups for an Acute Diverticulitis Flare-Up

When a flare-up is severe, doctors often recommend a clear liquid diet for a few days to give your colon a chance to rest. During this phase, soups are limited to clear, strained options.

Clear Broth: Chicken, beef, or vegetable broth is a staple of the clear liquid diet. They provide hydration and electrolytes without any irritating fiber or residue. Bone broth, in particular, is rich in collagen and amino acids that may help soothe the intestinal lining.
Strained Consommé or Bouillon: These are clear, flavorful broths that are gentle on the digestive system.
Mild Herbal "Teas": While not a soup, certain mild teas without milk or creamers can complement your liquid intake.

Soups for Diverticulitis Recovery (Low-Fiber Phase)

As your symptoms begin to improve, you can slowly introduce low-fiber, blended or pureed soups. This transitional phase helps you get more nutrients without irritating your recovering gut.

Pureed Vegetable Soups: Soups made from peeled, well-cooked, and pureed vegetables are an excellent choice. Good options include creamy carrot, smooth butternut squash, or puréed zucchini soup. Always remove skins and seeds before cooking.
Creamed Soups: You can incorporate low-fat milk or cream into your pureed vegetable soups, but avoid heavy, full-fat versions. Make sure there are no fibrous chunks left. Blended cauliflower and fennel soup is another palatable option.
Pureed Chicken Soup: After straining your chicken broth, add finely shredded or puréed chicken for lean protein. Avoid adding fibrous vegetables during this stage.

Soups for Long-Term Management (High-Fiber Phase)

Once a flare-up has completely resolved, it's essential to transition back to a high-fiber diet to help prevent future episodes. In this phase, soups can become a vehicle for a wide variety of fiber-rich ingredients.

Lentil or Split Pea Soup: Both lentils and split peas are excellent sources of fiber. To make it easier on the digestive system, you can start with a puréed version and gradually add more texture.
Hearty Vegetable and Bean Soups: Incorporate well-cooked, soft vegetables like carrots, celery, and potatoes, along with various beans. While older advice suggested avoiding seeds, current research indicates nuts, seeds, and corn are generally safe for long-term diverticular disease management and may even help.
Mushroom Barley Soup: Barley is high in fiber, and mushrooms add flavor and nutrients. Ensure the barley is well-cooked and soft.

Comparison of Soup Types for Diverticulitis


Soup Type	Flare-Up (Clear Liquid)	Recovery (Low-Fiber)	Long-Term (High-Fiber)
Best Options	Clear Broth (Chicken, Beef, Vegetable), Bone Broth	Pureed Vegetable (Carrot, Squash), Pureed Chicken Soup	Lentil Soup, Split Pea Soup, Beef and Vegetable Soup
Consistency	Clear, completely strained liquid	Smooth, pureed, no chunks	Hearty with soft, cooked ingredients
Key Ingredients	Water, broth, salt	Peeled/seedless vegetables, lean proteins, low-fat dairy	Whole grains, legumes, fibrous vegetables, lean proteins
Fiber Content	None	Very Low	High
Purpose	Bowel rest and hydration	Gentle transition, nutrient reintroduction	Long-term prevention, strengthening bowel function

General Tips for Making Diverticulitis-Friendly Soups

Control the texture: Adjust the soup's consistency based on your current recovery phase. During a flare-up, everything should be strained. In recovery, use a blender or food processor to create a smooth, pureed consistency.
Use mild seasonings: During a flare-up, stick to mild herbs like parsley, basil, or thyme. Avoid spicy seasonings, which can irritate the digestive tract.
Mind your hydration: When on a liquid or low-fiber diet, it's easy to get dehydrated. Ensure you are drinking plenty of fluids, including clear broths, throughout the day.
Monitor ingredients: Even with low-fiber foods, some individuals have different sensitivities. Keeping a food diary can help you identify any specific ingredients that cause discomfort.

Transitioning Off the Recovery Diet

As your doctor advises, you can begin to gradually reintroduce high-fiber foods. This process should be slow and methodical to prevent bloating or discomfort. Start by adding small amounts of soft vegetables or legumes to your soups before moving on to whole grains. Staying hydrated is also crucial during this phase to help the fiber move through your system. For a more detailed dietary transition plan, refer to resources like the Northwestern Medicine guide.

Conclusion

Soup is an excellent and versatile food for managing diverticulitis, offering a soothing and hydrating option across all stages of the condition. From the clear broths required during an acute flare-up to the hearty, high-fiber soups that aid long-term prevention, careful ingredient selection is the key. By paying close attention to your body's needs and progressing through the dietary phases, you can use soup to support your digestive health and recovery effectively.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only. Please consult a healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making any significant changes to your diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

During a severe flare-up, the best option is a clear liquid diet, which includes clear broths like chicken, beef, or vegetable broth. These are strained to remove any fiber and allow the colon to rest while providing essential hydration and electrolytes.

Yes, but with caution. During the recovery phase, pureed and blended creamy soups are a good option, provided they are made with peeled, cooked vegetables and low-fat dairy or broth. Avoid heavy cream bases and ensure all fibrous parts are removed.

You can begin adding soft, cooked, and peeled vegetables to your pureed soups as your symptoms improve. It is important to introduce them gradually. Once fully recovered, you can add higher-fiber vegetables.

Yes, bone broth is highly beneficial during the liquid diet phase. It is light on the digestive system, easy to digest, and contains nutrients and collagen that may promote gut healing.

The long-held belief that nuts and seeds should be avoided has been debunked by recent research. They are generally safe during remission and may even be beneficial due to their fiber content. However, they should be avoided during an acute flare-up and introduced slowly afterward.

After a clear liquid diet, your doctor will likely recommend a low-fiber diet. You can transition by introducing pureed soups with low-fiber ingredients. Gradually increase the texture and fiber content over several weeks, carefully monitoring your symptoms.

Lentil soup is a great choice during the long-term, high-fiber maintenance phase. It is packed with fiber, which helps prevent future flare-ups. During a flare-up or initial recovery, a pureed or strained version might be more appropriate.