Diverticulitis and Eating
Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
What is Diverticulosis
About 50 percent of all Americans aged 60+ have small, bulging pouches (diverticula) in their digestive system. This condition is known as diverticulosis. Although diverticula can occur anywhere in the digestive tract, including the esophagus, stomach and/or small intestine, most of these pouches form in the large intestine (colon) above the rectum. The pouches form when pressure inside the colon builds up, typically due to constipation.
What Causes Diverticulosis
A low-fiber diet is considered to be the main cause of diverticular problems. First diagnosed in the United States in the early 1900s, and now common throughout developed countries, the emergence of diverticular disease coincided with the introduction of low-fiber processed foods (eg. branless refined flour). Even now, the disease is rare in Asia and Africa, where people eat high-fiber vegetable diets.
Symptoms of Diverticulosis
Symptoms may include mild cramps, bloating, and constipation. However, these complaints are common to several other diseases like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach ulcers, so they are not always attributable to diverticulosis.
Most Cases of Diverticulosis Remain Minor and Unnoticed
Fortunately, in 80-85 percent of patients, these pouches or diverticula cause no problems and patients don’t even realise they have them.
Diverticulosis May Develop Into Diverticulitis
Occasionally, the pouches or diverticula can become infected and cause discomfort around the left side of the lower abdomen. In some cases they can cause severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and a marked change in bowel habits. When diverticula get infected, the condition is called diverticulitis. An attack of diverticulitis can develop suddenly and without warning. Doctors are unsure what causes the infection. It may be triggered when stool or bacteria are caught in the diverticula.
Diet Treatment For Diverticulitis
How to Reduce Symptoms of Diverticulitis By Dietary Methods
Diet For Diverticulitis
Treatment of Diverticulitis
In 15-20 percent of patients, their bulging pouches or diverticula (a condition known as diverticulosis) become infected and cause diverticulosis, typically associated with sudden abdominal pain on the left side of the lower abdomen. If infection is the cause, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping, and constipation may also be experienced.
Most cases of diverticulitis are mild and are typically treated with rest, diet modification, and antibiotics plus pain medication. Such treatment may include a liquid or low-fiber diet. This allows the colon to rest and heal. Once symptoms improve — typically within 3-4 days – you can gradually start increasing fiber intake in your daily diet. More rarely, serious cases may require a hospital stay and possibly surgery.
Diet Modification to Prevent and Relieve Diverticulitis
The principal dietary approach to the prevention and relief of diverticulitis is the consumption of a high-fiber diet. This has specific health benefits for all diverticular conditions, including diverticulitis. A high-fiber diet along with mild pain medications will relieve symptoms in most cases.
What is Fiber
Fiber is the indigestible parts of fruits, vegetables and grains. One type dissolves in water (soluble fiber). It forms a soft, jelly-like mass in the intestines. Another type of fiber passes almost unchanged through the digestive tract (insoluble fiber). Both types help make stools soft and easier to pass. Fiber also prevents constipation.
How Much Fiber is Necessary
The American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day. Of this, about 6-8 grams should be soluble fiber.
Note About Seeds
Up until recently, doctors advised avoiding small-seed-containing foods, such as tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries, raspberries and poppy seeds, because it was believed that particles could lodge in the diverticula and cause inflammation. However, it is now believed that only foods that may irritate or get caught in the diverticula cause problems.
