What Is Diverticulosis?
When diverticulosis are there are a lot of bulges in the colon. That bulges are called diverticula. Except in the colon diverticula can also occur in the esophagus or in the small intestine. They are 2.5 millimeters to more than 2.5 centimeters. Diverticulosis is a harmless condition.
According to research has 20 to 50% of the over 50s diverticula. Probably originated there during aging weak spots in the intestinal wall. Also a lack of fiber in the diet probably plays a role in the development of diverticula.
What are the symptoms of diverticulosis?
Most people are unaware of diverticula. They do sometimes cause symptoms, such as abdominal pain, some blood loss from the anus, abdominal distension, flatulence, diarrhea or constipation. Diverticula are less innocent as they become inflamed. It is called diverticulitis. The inflammation occurs when food remnants in the bulges lag behind.
Diverticulosis diagnosis
The diagnosis is usually made with diverticulosis x-ray examinations of the colon. Sometimes the doctor does a colonoscopy (a look examination of the colon).
There are no medicine for diverticulosis disease. It is important to high-fiber food (lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains), at least two litres a day to drink and enough to move. This helps to keep the stools easier by the intestine. The chance that food remnants in the bulges lag behind, is smaller.
What Causes Diverticulosis?
Diverticula are more common in people who eat little fiber. Probably it is because low fiber diet causes constipation. At blockage there is more pressure on the intestinal wall. Anyone with constipation must be harder presses. On weak spots in the intestinal wall occur then bulges.
Diverticulosis Diet
When diverticulitis, it is important that the stool smooth by the intestine. Therefore, you need high fiber food: plenty of vegetables, fruit and whole grain products. Fibers provide softer stool. That is faster and easier through the intestine than hard stools. The chances of inflamed diverticula bypassing. Also in diarrhea are fibers useful because they absorb moisture. The loose stools is thus thicker. If you are going to eat more fiber, you have in the beginning maybe more suffer from flatulence, a swollen or rumbling in the intestines. This is because the intestines have to get used to the new way of eating. It comes spontaneously.
Drink at least two liters of fluid per day. If you do not drink enough fiber rich food, the symptoms even worse.
Divide the meals on the day. As you stimulate the bowel movements. The intestine than the whole day. A breakfast helps the bowel at the beginning of the day to get going.