How to Prevent Diverticulitis Naturallyistock. This is a guest post written by staff nutritionist Kelsey Marksteiner, RD. Click here to read her blog or join her newsletter! If you’ve ever experienced a diverticulitis attack, I’m sure you’d be the first to say that it’s not a pleasant experience. I bet you’d be willing to do a lot of things to prevent it from happening again! Or maybe you’re someone who has been diagnosed with diverticulosis by your gastroenterologist, but you’re not quite sure what to do to prevent those painful attacks you’ve heard about and you want to learn more. Whatever brought you here, I’m happy to have you. Today I’ll be providing tips on how to prevent diverticulitis attacks naturally. What is Diverticular Disease? Diverticular disease is the term used to encompass a spectrum of issues from diverticulosis (the presence of sac- like pouches called diverticula that protrude from the colonic wall) to diverticulitis (the inflammation of these pouches and the accompanying symptoms). Diverticular disease is common in the Western world, with the highest rates seen in the United States and Europe. Even in those countries the disease was almost unheard of in 1. However, if you have diverticulosis and want be sure to prevent any problems or you’ve had diverticulitis attacks in the past, continue reading! Despite the fact that diverticular disease is so common, we know relatively little about it and the common recommendations are based on limited data. If you’ve been diagnosed with diverticulosis, you may have received advice from your gastroenterologist about avoiding nuts and seeds and eating more fiber. However, these recommendations are based on inconclusive research and may not provide much benefit to you. In fact, few studies show any benefit to avoiding nuts and seeds and one study even showed that intake of nuts and popcorn was associated with a decreased risk of diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding. In fact, of 9. 30 patients undergoing surgery for symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD), approximately 7. This is also why chronic use of non- steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen have been shown to increase the risk of diverticular complications . It is clear that chronic inflammation is involved in the development of diverticular disease, and that those who wish to prevent attacks should take steps to reduce intestinal inflammation. Thankfully, one of the best ways to decrease intestinal inflammation is to eat a paleo diet! By avoiding potentially irritating and inflammatory foods such as grains and omega- 6 fatty acids, we can reduce intestinal inflammation and encourage proper gut health. A paleo diet also positively influences gut bacteria, which in turn results in reduced inflammation as well. A paleo diet for diverticular disease should focus on gelatinous cuts of meat, bone broths, well- cooked vegetables, starchy tubers, and fermented foods. A liquid, pre-digested, elemental diet is the best way to eat during a diverticulitis flare, to prevent an intestinal blockage or obstruction and flush out any. Liquid Market Definition . The opposite of a liquid market is called a "thin market. Komentar Br.1 Poslao : G-Dog Datum : 03.06.2005. Health is the only wealth. Umalo da zaboravim ovu satrologiju o principima davanja. Our understanding of ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis is changing, and new developments are emerging in treating these conditions. What is a low carb diet, really? When can a low carb diet be beneficial? Should everyone follow a low carb diet? Or, can a low carb diet ruin your health? Reducing your stress level is also important for bringing down levels of intestinal inflammation, as stress has been shown to activate inflammation in the intestine. This means incorporating mind- body activities such as yoga, meditation, tai chi, etc on a regular basis. If you’re someone who’s constantly stressed out and never takes time to take care of your own well- being, it’s unlikely you’ll be successful in preventing diverticulitis attacks even if you implement all the other suggestions outlined in this article. This one is important! Another way to reduce intestinal inflammation is to supplement with soothing and healing demulcent herbs – deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) has been shown to reduce mucosal damage and inflammation in rodents . Take chewable DGL tablets or mix a spoonful of slippery elm or marshmallow root powder in a small amount of water and drink 1- 3 times per day to help soothe and heal intestinal inflammation. Another healing substance for the gut – bone broth – should be liberally consumed for this purpose as well. Altered intestinal bacteria. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is common in diverticulitic patients. If you’re not already consuming probiotics from your food (in the form of kefir, kombucha, kimchi, etc) then you should consider adding a supplement like VSL #3 or Prescript Assist (though even if you are consuming probiotics, a supplement isn’t a bad idea!). As Chris has mentioned, Prescript Assist tends to be the probiotic of choice for those suffering from constipation so start with that if you tend to err on the side of decreased motility. Prebiotics are also very useful for correcting dysbiosis, and should be considered by those with diverticular disease. Prebiotics “stimulate selectively the growth and/or activity of intestinal bacteria associated with health and well- being” . My go- to prebiotic is Pure Encapsulations fructo- oligosaccharide (FOS) powder, but others include GOS and even lactulose. Supplementation with 1. FOS per day has been shown to increase counts of bifidobacteria. If you’re sensitive to FODMAPs you’ll want to be particularly careful as prebiotics are also FODMAPs. However, if you tolerate them well I think prebiotics can be a powerhouse when it comes to correcting imbalanced gut flora. Most importantly, it’s crucial to treat SIBO or dysbiosis. As we’ve discussed, these conditions are very common in those with diverticular disease so it’s worth checking on your gut bacteria to see how they’re doing, using specialty labs such as Genova Diagnostics (and get your calprotectin tested while you’re at it!). It’s best to work with a practitioner who can test and treat you for these conditions. Abnormal colonic motility. Researchers have found that those suffering from symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease have what they like to call a “spastic colon” in the areas affected by diverticulosis . This is similar to what is found in patients with constipation predominant IBS and in functional constipation. In studies on animals with a lack of ICC networks, delayed or absent intestinal motility is noted. Though we’re not entirely sure what we can do to directly affect these cells (yet), it’s important to use therapies aimed toward improving motility if this is an issue for you. Know that correcting SIBO and dysbiosis will go a long way toward improving constipation, so this is a good place to start. Given that our stool is mostly made up of dead bacteria, one can imagine that without proper amounts of good bacteria we’re going to have a tough time bulking the stool. Prebiotics can be particularly useful for constipation given that they selectively increase good bacteria like bifidobacteria. However, if you’re still struggling after correcting dysbiosis, here are some additional recommendations. First, serotonin is an important player in gut motility. Serotonin concentrations in those with colonic diverticulosis are significantly lower than normal controls and contribute to the type of bowel habit following a test meal. In addition, it is also likely that supplementation with 5- HTP (a precursor to serotonin) may alleviate constipation and increase motility since it will increase serotonin levels. Note: do not take 5- HTP without talking to your doctor first if you are on an SSRI medication. Second, if you’re currently on a low carbohdyrate paleo diet, you may want to consider increasing your carbohydrate intake. In my experience working with those with constipation on a paleo diet, this is the single most effective diet- based recommendation I’ve seen. If you’re at a loss as to what starches to add in, check out this excellent handout from Balanced Bites. Note: since SIBO is so common for those with diverticulosis, this step may need to wait until that has been treated, and may not be appropriate for some people. Magnesium supplementation can also be very useful for people with constipation. Given that only about half of US adults consume the RDA for magnesium . This is due to the fact that not many foods naturally contain high amounts of magnesium, and even those that do have less due to the depletion of magnesium from our soil. Check out this magnesium soil content map to see how your local area is doing (and think about where most of your food comes from – if you’re not eating local you may not even know what soil your food is being grown in!). Conclusion. By reducing our intestinal inflammation, balancing our gut bacteria, and improving our intestinal motility it is likely that we can prevent diverticulitis attacks. I’ll leave you with a set of action steps so you remember exactly what to do to improve these underlying factors. Action Steps to Prevent Diverticulitis Attacks: Eat a paleo diet! Reduce stress. Use demulcent herbs such as DGL, slippery elm, and marshmallow root to soothe and heal the intestine. Take probiotics like VSL #3 or Prescript Assist. Take prebiotics like FOS powder. Treat SIBO or dysbiosis. Reduce intestinal inflammation to increase SERT functioning, and consider supplementation with 5- HTPIf you’re currently on a low carbohdyrate paleo diet, consider adding some starchy tubers to your diet. Supplement with magnesium. Now I’d like to hear from you – have you tried any of these tips or do you have additional tips to prevent diverticulitis? Chime in on the comments below! This is a guest post written by Kelsey Marksteiner, RD. Kelsey is a Registered Dietitian with a Bachelors degree in nutrition from NYU, and is currently working on her Master’s in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine. She works in private practice and recommends individualized dietary therapy focusing on biologically appropriate diet principles to aid her clients in losing weight, gaining energy, and pursuing continued health. She is a firm believer that everyone is different, and she tailors her plan for each and every individual.
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8/17/2020 10:22:58 am
Diet is the best way to prevent and treat diverticulitis
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