A fiber supplement, such as psyllium (Metamucil) or methylcellulose (Citrucel), may help with constipation and diarrhea. They help by bulking up your stool and making it easier to pass.
Supplemental fiber in a form like psyllium seed husk can help increase total daily fiber intake. Fish oil: Several university-associated medical centers recommend supplementing omega-3 fatty acids, including from fish oil, in diverticular disease, as these have anti-inflammatory activity.
Some other herbs and supplements have been suggested for diverticular disease, including garlic, green tea, turmeric, ginger, marshmallow root, flaxseed, or licorice. It's thought that some supplements may have anti-inflammatory effects.
Mild cases of diverticulitis are usually treated with antibiotics and a low-fiber diet, or treatment may start with a period of rest where you eat nothing by mouth, then start with clear liquids and then move to a low-fiber diet until your condition improves. More-severe cases typically require hospitalization.
The anti-inflammatory effect of turmeric may protect the digestive tract, increase the secretion of some enzymes, and relieve pain.
Low-grade inflammation and altered intestinal microbiota have been identified as factors contributing to abdominal symptoms. Probiotics may lead to symptoms improvement by modifying the gut microbiota and are promising treatments for diverticular disease.
Burdock tea might be able to modify the formation of subsequent pathogenic diverticulum by its fiber-rich properties.
It's been shown, says Dr. Farhadi, that foods rich in magnesium can prevent the progression of diverticulosis—but be aware that some of these foods are nuts, and you may be limited in eating them if they're a trigger food for you. As far as other vitamins, some patients with diverticulitis wonder about vitamin D.
Take fiber supplements — You can take fiber supplements like Metamucil, Citrucel or Benefiber to bulk up your stool. Seeds and nuts — In the past we advised diverticulitis patients to avoid whole pieces of fiber, like seeds, corn and nuts.
Most people with diverticulosis or diverticular disease do not need to avoid specific foods. In the past, doctors used to recommend avoiding nuts, popcorn, and seeds. However, more recent research suggests that these foods are not harmful to people with diverticulosis or diverticular disease.
Diverticular disease is caused by small bulges in the large intestine (diverticula) developing and becoming inflamed. If any of the diverticula become infected, this leads to symptoms of diverticulitis. The exact reason why diverticula develop is not known, but they are associated with not eating enough fibre.
Once you developed diverticula, they are unlikely to go away. Bleeding and inflammation are two common complications of diverticulosis. Diet plays an important role in the prevention of the progression of diverticulosis, but will not be able to reverse the process.
How is complicated diverticulitis treated? In about 80 out of 100 people, complicated diverticulitis clears up within a few weeks of having treatment with antibiotics.
Once diverticula form, they do not disappear by themselves. Fortunately, most patients with diverticulosis do not have symptoms, and therefore do not need treatment.
In diverticulosis, all the soluble fiber foods and supplements can be a healthy addition.
Good options include canned fruits such as peaches or pears, applesauce, ripe bananas, and soft, ripe cantaloupe and honeydew.
Plus, probiotics have anti-inflammatory effects, which may help to ease inflammation from diverticulitis. Probiotics are available in supplement form, but they can also be found in certain foods, such as yogurt, kombucha, and fermented vegetables.
Psyllium husk is a super-beneficial addition to your diet if you have diverticulosis or diverticulitis. Diverticulosis is a condition in which pea-sized pouches bulge outward from the large intestine. These pouches are typically harmless unless they become inflamed or infected (diverticulitis).
A liquid diet and rest are usually the best ways to ease diverticulitis symptoms. If there is a bleed within the intestines you may need to be hospitalized. Only in severe cases is surgery needed to remove the diseased pouches. With the proper care, diverticulosis symptoms may go away within in a few days.
Chia Seeds:
Nuts and seeds are now believed to be just fine for Diverticulosis… and chia seeds are a great source of fiber!