summary about Diverticulitis

A good question and answer on Diverticulitis and fiber.

Really a summary of what we already know.



ContraCostaTimes.com - Fiber guards against diverticulosis

Q: Five years ago I had my first colonoscopy. The doctor told me I had diverticulosis. He said if I keep my fiber intake over 35 grams a day, I can eat whatever I want. I have a friend who had colon cancer 20 years ago. Her doctor told her that she has diverticulosis and a hole in her colon. Another man told her that he has several holes in his colon from diverticulosis. What causes these holes? And why do so many people have diverticulosis?

A: Let me give you a clear picture of diverticulosis. A diverticulum is a tiny pouch that springs up on the outside colon wall. Dry, hard stool makes the colon work very hard and makes it generate great force to push undigested food through it. That same force drives the colon lining through the colon wall, where it forms a tiny, pea-size bulge like an inner tube bulging through a tire. That's a diverticulum. The diverticulum still communicates with the center of the colon through a tiny opening. I believe that the opening of the diverticulum must be the hole that your friends speak of.

If the opening of a diverticulum becomes plugged, then the bacteria inside of it multiply and cause the diverticulum to expand. The expansion can become so great that the diverticulum bursts. That is diverticulitis, a painful and potentially dangerous condition.

So many people in industrialized countries have diverticulosis because their diets consist of refined grains -- grains with their outer bran coat removed. Bran is an excellent source of fiber. Without fiber, undigested food dries out and begets the forces that end up producing diverticula. That's why diverticulosis is so prevalent in Canada and the United States. Our diets are devoid of fiber. Do what your doctor told you, and you won't come down with diverticulitis and won't form more diverticula.