Dealing with Diverticulitis / Diverticulosis

Diverticulitis and diverticulosis

A few years ago, I had a friend who told me that they had suffered for a long time with diverticulosis, and while I was sympathetic, I knew very little. I went to the library and found peer-reviewed research articles and I began taking notes. I will share a short, organized synopsis of the information that I found. I found that diverticulitis and diverticulosis are two words that mean about the same, just that diverticulosis refers to (the condition) and diverticulitis refers to (the inflammation).

What is diverticulosis?
Diverticulitis is inflammation of an abnormal pouch (diverticulum) in the intestinal wall, usually found in the large intestine (colon). The presence of the pouches themselves is called diverticulosis. While there is a lot of information available, there is still a good deal of confusion about diverticulosis and diverticulitis.

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Small protruding sacs of the inner lining of the intestine (diverticulosis) can develop in any part of the intestine. They are most common in the colon. These sacs, called diverticula, occur with increasing frequency after the age of 40. When they become inflamed, the condition is known as diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis is an inflammatory condition where the area around the diverticula becomes irritated and attracts immune cells. It affects 10% to 20% of those with diverticula at some time. These areas can become infected. Risk factors are older age and history of diverticula or prior episodes of diverticulitis. You may be happy to learn that eating a high-fiber diet may prevent episodes.

Diverticulitis is infection/inflammation of the diverticuli. In other words, a person with diverticulosis may get diverticulitis when a stool gets caught in one or more of these “pockets,” and they become inflamed or infected. This typically causes fever, pain and tenderness in the abdomen. The two major signs of diverticular disease are bleeding and infection.
Diverticulitis usually clears up within a week with antibiotics and a liquid or soft diet, but may persist for much longer. (A soft diet includes anything that does not require a lot of chewing: soup, mashed potatoes, cooked or pureed vegetables, bananas, Jell-O and pudding fit this category.) After the acute infection clears up, patients should eat a high-fiber diet including nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. They should drink plenty of fluids and avoid constipation at all costs, even if that requires taking Metamucil (psyllium seed) or other fiber products daily. Metamucil is good for you, and I found that it was not very expensive when I bought some at the store for my daily fiber intake. Hard stools or straining will cause more diverticuli to appear or the existing ones to enlarge.

Treatment

Everyone should eat a diet high in fiber, but especially people with diverticulosis. Nuts are a good source of fiber and protein. Although nuts contain fat, it is mostly unsaturated, the "good kind." Dietary fiber is found in plant foods. So eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Many doctors agree that eating high fiber foods is the ONLY treatment for diverticulosis. Fiber cannot be digested by humans. (It just passes straight through your digestive system, while gently cleaning your system.) Fiber has no calories because the body cannot absorb it, so it provides a feeling of fullness and adds bulk in the diet. This assists digestion and elimination.
While your diet is very important, I am not a doctor, and I want to urge you to call your health care provider if symptoms of diverticulitis occur, especially if your family has a history of colon cancer.

My friend that had diverticulosis found a new supplement that helped her more than anything else. that glyconutrients supplements (immune boosting cellular enhancement) and fiber were how she was able to completely get rid of diverticulosis.

For info on discount glyconutrients and diverticulosis, or to buy glyconutrients, go learn more at www.ifoundhealth.com.

Spencer Hunt is a bilingual college student studying Chemistry and Nutrition. He also uses and recommends glyconutrients to anyone wishing to improve their health and wellness.
This copyrighted article may be reprinted only if the links are live.

Dealing with Diverticulitis / Diverticulosis

Diverticulitis and Diet

What Is Diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis is another one of those conditions that has followed from industrialisation, and a fundamental change in eating habits to a diet of processed food. The condition emerged after milling became commonplace in Western countries, starting in the US. Milling grains strips out valuable fibre, and since the early 20th century a shortage of fibre in diets has been commonplace amongst the American, and other Western, population.
Diverticulitis actually follows on from a condition called diverticulosis, which tends to come with age, particularly over 60. Diverticulosis is quite common, and past the age of 60 about half the population have this condition. With diverticulosis people experience the formation of small pouches in the intestinal tracts. These pouches are called diverticula. They are, in themselves, harmless, and most people never know they have them.
If diverticula become inflamed or infected, however, then the patient will experience pain in the abdominal region. Only a relatively small percentage of people with diverticulosis develop diverticulitis, and many of these are mild cases which can be treated with rest and diet change. More serious cases may require surgery.
What Should A Diverticulitis Diet Include?
If diverticulitis has been diagnosed by your doctor, and is confirmed as a mild case, then your doctor will probably recommend some dietary changes. Although a shortage of fibre in the diet over a number of years may have caused the condition, once you have it, your doctor may ask you to cut down on fibre even more for a few days, as it may aggravate the pain.
Your treatment is likely to include antibiotics to kill the infection, and it is vital you finish your course and take your doctor's advice. In about half of cases of diverticulitis, the patient will be hospitalised; the other half will be treated at home. So it is wise while you are home to stick to the diverticulitis diet recommended by your doctor.
When the infection is cleared and the diverticulitis is no longer a problem, then you will be able to concentrate on prevention, but again you should take your doctor's advice.
Diverticulitis Prevention Diet
The cause of diverticulosis is a diet too low in fibre. The prevention of the condition should therefore attempt to redress that balance. The diverticulitis diet should be well balanced, but include high fibre foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. I am sure you have heard that before when a healthy diet is mentioned. Such a diet can help prevent a number of chronic diseases.
A fibre supplement may be helpful. I have used psyllium for more than a decade, and find it an excellent source of soft fibre, and for cleansing the digestive system it is ideal, as the psyllium forms a gel like texture when mixed with water.
The water itself plays an important role in producing a soft stool, and especially when mixed with fibre. So, you should have plenty of water in your diverticulitis diet. Throw in half an hour exercise a day, and your bowel and digestive system should keep in good shape.
This diverticulitis diet article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of the Routes To Self Improvement website

Diverticulitis and Diet