Statistics show that by the time you’re 60, you’re extremely likely to contract either diverticulitis or diverticulosis, in which your digestive tract develops pouches that can become infected or painfully inflamed and even send you to the hospital.
Luckily, there are diets that can help you combat these painful and irritating conditions.
What is diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis generally starts with a condition called diverticulosis, which is the presence of little bulging pockets of inflammation in your lower intestine and colon, called diverticula. Usually, diverticulosis doesn’t cause any symptoms. But if you don’t take care of your diet, these diverticula can become infected and cause a condition known as diverticulitis.
You may never have heard of diverticulosis before, but it’s much more common than you’d think. More than 35% of people over the age of 50 have been diagnosed with diverticulosis, and 58% of those over the age of 60 are affected. Almost everyone over the age of 80 suffers from diverticulosis. And if you’re male and overweight, you’re much more likely to have this condition — perhaps you have it and don’t even know it.
You will, however, know when you have diverticulitis. The infection in your diverticula can cause stomach pain on your lower left side, nausea, fever, and a marked decrease in bathroom visits. If your condition is mild, then you can treat it at home with rest, diet changes, and antibiotics. If your diverticulitis is severe, however, you may need surgery.
In addition to being an overweight male over 50, there are several other factors that will predispose you to diverticulosis and, consequently, diverticulitis.
If you eat a low-fiber diet filled with high fat, and red meat, like keto, you’ll probably contract diverticulosis as the years go by. Not exercising and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, and opioids are also predisposing factors.
How is diverticulitis treated?
If you think you may have diverticulosis or diverticulitis, you should first ask your doctor for a blood test to check for a high white blood count, followed by a colonoscopy. Depending on which disease you may have, your treatment may vary. Either way, however, your diet is one of the most important factors.
To treat a diverticulitis flare-up, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic like metronidazole, Bactrim, ciprofloxacin, or Augmentin. Additionally, you’ll be on a liquid diet for a few days to let your system get some rest. You’ll be eating broth, pulp-free fruit juices, ice chips, ice pops, and gelatin. Once you’re feeling better, you’ll ease back into eating low-fiber diets like pasta, bread, potatoes, or light dairy. After your flare-up has subsided, you’ll be able to resume normal eating habits.
For diverticulosis, if your disease hasn’t yet developed into something painful, your diet will be the exact opposite. The Cleveland Clinic recommends that you not only try to lose a little weight and get some more exercise but start eating as much fiber as possible. The reason that fiber is of the utmost importance for diverticulosis is that it calms inflammation and allows you to make more frequent and comfortable bathroom visits. The less pressure in your colon, the less likely you’ll be to contract diverticulitis.
WebMD recommends that women over the age of 51 aim for 21 grams of fiber per day and men over 51 get 30 grams daily. If that seems like a lot of fiber to eat, there are other ways to get your daily intake. Supplements like Benefiber or Metamucil are extremely common and often highly recommended. If you just want to stick to high-fiber food, wheat bran, brown rice, lentils, chickpeas, and leafy greens are what you should turn to.
Another extremely important feature of the diverticulosis diet is water. Ideally, you should be drinking at least64 ounces per day in order for the fiber you eat to be effectively carried through your gastrointestinal system.
Treatment for these conditions is easier than it seems. If you’re having an active flare-up of diverticulitis, you need low-fiber foods for your system to heal. If your symptoms are inactive (diverticulosis), high-fiber foods are your friend. And most importantly, maintaining an appropriate weight, physical activity, and a healthy lifestyle are always of the utmost importance, especially after 40.