Diverticulosis, otherwise known as pockets or pouches of the colon, is very common. The condition is almost certainly caused by a low fiber
intake over a lifetime. This results in high pressures in the colon, which very, very slowly, over many years, cause ballooning of tiny weak points in the colon wall resulting in diverticuli. When
these pockets become infected, diverticulitis occurs, a painful and, at times, serious condition. Rural Africans who consume 50 or more grams of fiber a day over a lifetime do not get diverticulosis.
Yet, they do when they eat a Western diet with low fiber. Low fiber intake can result in small, thin and/or hard pellet stools, which usually means high pressure within the colon. Again, this high
pressure is what causes these pockets to balloon out forming diverticuli.
These are dietary recommendations for people with diverticulosis. However, specific advice will depend on the stage of diverticulosis. Is it early diverticulosis? Is it advanced with fixed changes in
the colon? Are there symptoms? Or is it acute diverticulitis where the colon is recovering from infection around these pockets?
Stages of Diverticulosis
Diverticulitis - Diverticulitis means that one or more of these weak-walled diverticuli has become infected and inflamed. At this point, the physician will want to put the bowel and even the patient
at rest. Early on, a diet consisting of clear liquids is often prescribed to ensure maximum bowel rest. As recovery proceeds, the diet is advanced to a Low Fiber Diet, progressing gradually to a High
Fiber Diet when recovery is complete.
Quiet, early and moderate diverticulosis - This is where most people are. The physician may have discovered a few or a moderate number of diverticuli on colonoscopy as an incidental finding when
screening for colon cancer. Because it is just mentioned in passing, not too much importance may be attached to it. This is a mistake, as now is the time that something can really be done. Remember,
it is the increased pressures that the colon can exert within itself that causes diverticulosis. A bulky stool helps prevent this. Plant fiber, especially the insoluble fiber, is the best. These are
the fibers that do not produce colon gas. The easiest to take are wheat bran, amaranth, barley and others.
Quiet but advanced, fixed and/or narrowed diverticulosis - In many older folks, the diverticulosis has become so severe that the colon, just above the rectum, becomes fixed, twisted or gnarled by
fibrous tissue within the bowel wall. At this stage, the colon is less likely to be massaged back to its normal size. The dilemma here is that large stools can seldom be produced, as the only thing
that can get through this narrowed portion of the colon is smaller, even pellet-like stool. Still, it is worth trying small doses of extra food fiber or supplements to see what can be
accomplished.
The goal is to increase the daily fiber to 20, 30 or even 40 grams per day. You do not want to do this all at once, and, especially with excessive amounts of soluble fiber as this fiber is the one
that, if taken to excess, promotes the bacterial production of harmless colon gas and flatus.
Insoluble Fiber
This fiber, also known as roughage or bulk, does not dissolve in water but paradoxically hangs onto water in the large bowel. This creates a large, soft and bulky stool. It promotes regularity and
seems to be associated with a reduced chance of getting colon polyps and colon cancer, as we believe cancer inciting agents are swept through the bowel in a more rapid manner. In addition, it may
promote weight loss and it can enhance diabetic control. Foods that are high in insoluble fiber are:
Soluble Fiber
This plant fiber does dissolve in water. In the colon, it provides food for the enormous number of bacteria that thrive there and, in so doing, provides many health benefits. Soluble fibers also
promote regularity by increasing growth of the colon bacteria. Foods that are high in soluble fibers are:
-
oats in any form - cereal, muffins, etc.
-
apples, oranges, grapefruit, peaches, concord grapes
-
prunes, pears, cranberries
-
beans
-
beets
-
carrots
-
sesame seeds
-
psyllium found in dietary supplements and cereals
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are the relatively newly discovered types of plant fiber that have been shown to promote beneficial changes in the colon. These are present in certain plant foods as well as in our
prebiotic products. In diverticulosis, all the soluble fiber foods and supplements can be a healthy addition. However, if too much is taken, then excessive colon gas can occur. If it is trapped
behind a narrowed diverticular colon, there may be cramps and bloating. The advice is to take these healthy fibers in small, but increasing amounts and see if symptoms develop.
Summary
Diverticulosis is a disorder of the Western diet which has occurred along with the ingestion of large amounts of animal products and small amounts of beneficial plant food and their beneficial fiber.
At any stage, but particularly in the early one, increasing fiber intake will be very helpful. Reducing high pressure in the colon and a more regular, softer bowel pattern may be the observed
benefit. The unseen one, in the long term, is the large number of positive health benefits that dietary fibers, especially the prebiotic ones, can confer on future health.
|