Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

Diverticulum are small pouches in the lining of the colon that bulge outward through weak spots. When you have multiple pouches, it’s called diverticulosis. Approximately half of all people over the age of 60 have diverticulosis

When the pouches get inflamed, it’s called diverticulitis. Approximately 10-25% of people with diverticulosis get diverticulitis.

People with diverticulosis usually have no discomfort or symptoms. Some people have crampy pain, discomfort in the lower abdomen, bloating, or constipation (similar symptoms as irritable bowel syndrome and stomach ulcers).

With diverticulitis, the most common symptom is abdominal pain. The pain is severe and comes on suddenly, although the pain intensity can fluctuate. Some people can experience cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and change in bowel habits.

The theory behind the cause of diverticulosis is that a low-fiber diet causes diverticular disease. Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables and grains that the body can’t digest. Both kinds of fiber help prevent constipation by making stools soft and easy to pass. Constipation may cause people to strain when passing stool during a bowel movement. Straining may cause an increase of pressure in the colon, which may cause the colon lining to bulge out through weak spots in the colon wall. These bulges are the diverticula.

A lack of exercise is also associated with a greater risk of forming diverticula.

The treatment of diverticulosis consists of a high fiber diet and pain medication in order to help relieve symptoms. It is recommended to take a fiber product 1-3 times per day and it should be taken with at least 8 ounces of water.

It is also recommended to avoid nuts, popcorn, sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, and sesame seeds as it could enter, block or irritate the diverticula.

High Fiber foods

Breads, cereals, and beans            Fiber
1/2 cup of navy beans                        9.5 grams
1/2 cup of kidney beans                        8.2 grams
1/2 cup of black beans                        7.5 grams

Fruits
1 medium apple, with skin                        3.3 grams
1 medium pear, with skin                        4.3 grams
1/2 cup of raspberries                        4.0 grams
1/2 cup of stewed prunes                        3.8 grams

Vegetables
1/2 cup of winter squash                        2.9 grams
1 medium sweet potato with skin            4.8 grams
1/2 cup of green peas                        4.4 grams
1 medium potato with skin                        3.8 grams
1/2 cup of mixed vegetables            4.0 grams
1 cup of cauliflower                                    2.5 grams
1/2 cup of spinach                                    3.5 grams
1/2 cup of turnip greens                        2.5 grams