Diverticular disease

Diverticular disease is the general term used to describe a number of different disorders that affect the intestinal tract. A diverticulum is a sac-like out pouch found on any part of the gastrointestinal tract, but most common by far, in the large intestine, especially along the last section, just before the rectum.

Diverticulosis is the presence of these pouches without any inflammation or infection, while diverticulitis is when one or more of these pouches become inflamed or infected

Diverticulosis is said to have no symptoms but disruptions to the digestive system, including painful cramps, diarrhoea and constipation, have all been linked to the problem. Severe abdominal pain and fever are all signs of diverticulitis. Any health condition with ‘itis’ at the end means it causes inflammation.

A liquid diet and rest can treat mild cases of this disease but some 20% of sufferers do not improve and are subsequently operated on. Of those under the age of 50 who do need surgery, men outnumber women three to one.

Diverticular disease is the usually the result of a long, slow build-up of dietary mucous against the walls of the intestine. Over time, these deposits solidify, narrowing the passage through which the faeces must pass.

The intestine responds by trying to expand to maintain normal functioning and it is in the weakened areas of the intestinal walls that the first diverticular pouches appear.

If left untreated, diverticulitis can lead to more serious even carcinogenic conditions. This is because, after digestion, the residue of bile salts can react with any putrefying food, especially meat, which has become trapped in the pouches to create cancer-causing metabolites. This is a risk, not an unavoidable prognosis, but it highlights the importance of tackling the root cause of any digestive disturbance.

With advanced or severe diverticulitis, the large intestine may narrow, causing the stools to become thin, narrow or pellet shaped.

Do seeds, nuts and popcorn cause problems for people with diverticular disease?

In the past, it was often recommended to avoid nuts, seeds, and popcorn for those with diverticulitis, as it was thought these foods could get lodged in the diverticula (small pouches in the colon wall) and cause inflammation. However, recent research has shown that these foods do not increase the risk of diverticulitis.

The answer is no, due to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2008, which found no association between eating nuts, seeds, and popcorn and the development of diverticulitis. In fact, the study suggested that higher consumption of these foods was associated with a reduced risk of diverticular disease. This study, known as the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, followed over 47,000 men for 18 years.

See>> https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1028647

What are the natural ways to treat diverticular disease?

Eat more pineapple and papaya, both of which contain potent digestive enzymes that will help reduce inflammation.

Avoid all the mucous-forming foods, including wheat, rye and dairy products, since these will exacerbate the problem. Instead, look for fibre from chickpea or soya flours, fruit and vegetables and from amaranth, oat bran, millet and spelt and sprouted grains and legumes.

Consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables will dissolve the build-up of waste matter without resorting to more invasive techniques such as colonic irrigation, where, if the intestinal wall has been damaged, there could be further risks.

NOTE: Eat little and often and do not skip breakfast.

Although a high fibre diet is required, it must be the right type of fibre. Psyllium husks are recommended as they can help alleviate the symptoms but do not attack the cause. Drink two large glasses of mineral water with psyllium husks.

NOTE: Some people may find fibre causes more discomfort. During a flare-up. For those people a rest from fibre and the consumption of liquid foods only can help relieve symptoms and give the intestines a rest until the flare-up is resolved.

How can the intestinal flora balance be corrected?

Prebiotic and probiotic foods are important to correct the balance of intestinal flora. Antibacterial mouthwashes and unnatural toothpastes, excess sugar and refined foods, intolerance to certain components in foods and medications can all upset this balance.

This can then lead to inflammation and intestinal overgrowths of yeast and pathogenic bacteria which then crowds out the beneficial bacteria that reside in the guts.

What are prebiotic foods?

Prebiotic foods containing carbohydrates such as inulin encourages a healthy intestinal environment to benefit probiotic intestinal flora. Prebiotic is a fairly recently coined name to refer to food components that support the growth of certain kinds of bacteria in the colon (large intestine).

Oligosaccharides, resistant starch and fermentable fibre feeds these bacteria who have an important influence on the rest of the body.

The human digestive system has a hard time breaking down many of these carbohydrates. Almost 90% escapes digestion in the small intestine and reaches the colon where it performs a different function: that of a prebiotic.

The bacteria that feed on fermentable carbohydrate produce many beneficial substances, including short-chain fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin K2 and certain B vitamins. They also promote further absorption of some minerals that have escaped the small intestine, including calcium and magnesium and vitamin K2 is vital for the use of vitamin D in the body. 

What are prebiotic foods that feed the beneficial bacteria?

(In alphabetical order)

What are probiotic foods?

Probiotic foods contain beneficial bacteria and come from the fermentation process that the food has been allowed to undergo. During and after any treatment with antibiotics, it is advisable to include more probiotic foods in the daily diet to replenish the friendly bacteria that are wiped out by antibiotics.

NOTE: It is advisable to consume probiotics at least an hour before other foods to enable enough beneficial bacteria to survive and pass through the strong stomach acids.

What probiotic foods contain beneficial bacteria?

• Brine pickles (eggs, fruit, nuts, seeds and vegetables that have been fermented by lactic acid bacteria)
• Kefir (fermented milk drink)
• Kimchi (a fermented, spicy Korean side dish)
• Kombucha (fermented black or green Asian tea)
• Miso (a Japanese fermented seasoning made with soya beans, salt and a type of fungus called koji)
• Sauerkraut (finely shredded cabbage that has been fermented by lactic acid bacteria)
• Tempeh (fermented soya beans)
• Yoghurt (plain with live cultures)

NOTE: Some of these probiotic foods may cause more discomfort during a flare up so should be avoided then.

An excellent tip for maintaining good digestive health for everyone is to drink a cup of warm water with the juice of half a lemon upon waking before anything else is consumed.

Are juices good for diverticular disease?

Juices, that are pure, additive free, unsweetened and preferably home-made are a good choice during diverticulitis flare-ups as they provide the nutrients without as much fibre as the whole fruits. But, once the flare-up is resolved, whole fruits and vegetables are required as many of the nutrients are in the skins and the important fibre is lost when juicing.

See>> Raw juice therapy

Can sprouting seeds help with diverticular disease?

Considered as wonder foods, sprouted seeds and grains, rank as the freshest and most nutritious of all foods available to the human diet. By a process of natural transmutation, sprouted food acquires vastly improved digestibility and nutritional qualities when compared to non-sprouted embryo from which it derives.

Sprouted foods have been part of the diet of many ancient races for thousands of years. Even to this day, the Chinese retain their fame for delicious mung bean sprouts. Sprouted legumes and grains provide all the essential phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. They should form a vital component of the diet. Sprouting requires no constant care but only a daily rinsing with water.

See>> Sprouting greens

Okra is a very good food for the health of the intestines as it creates a slippery solid which helps to expel waste from the colon.

Which substances can inflame the intestines?

• Alcohol
• Artificial additives such as aspartame,
• Coffee
• Hot spices
• Household and cosmetic toxins
• Unnecessary medications
• Pesticides residues on food choose organic)
• Smoking tobacco
• Sugar

WARNING: Certain medicines, such as steroids, opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) can cause inflammation and worsen diverticular disease.

Drink one litre of bottled mineral water per day to avoid chemicals additives such as fluoride and chlorine and provide more of the essential minerals the body needs. One glass should be consumed just before sleeping to help the body eliminate waste and toxins from the body and the brain.

Eggs are a good choice as they are easily digested and rich in many vital nutrients.

Oily fish is a good choice for protein and omega-3 fatty acids plus it is easily digested.

Seeds (Add to meals daily) Flaxseeds, hemp, nasturtium, poppy, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower and watermelon. Hemp seeds provide the correct balance of omega-6 (inflammatory) to omega-3 (anti-inflammatory) fatty acids and should be consumed daily. A handful of pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds can be sprinkled on any dish or in sandwiches daily and adds many important nutrients.

Nuts (Consume a handful, except where stipulated, daily. Best consumed with fresh or dried fruits to obtain the correct balance of vitamin C and E)

Almonds (five per day), Brazil nuts (1 per day unless excessive sweating, through exercise or fever, has taken place, then eat 2 per day, cashews, chestnuts, coconut, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, walnuts (5 halves per day).

NOTE: Using cold-pressed nut and seeds oils provides a way to gain the healthy nutrients in these foods.

Common herbs and spices (To be consumed as often as possible daily in meals or as teas)

Basil, cardamom, coriander, cloves, cumin, dill, fennel, ginger, lemongrass, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, safflower, sage, tarragon, thyme and turmeric.

Oils (Cold-pressed only and used to cook with or dress vegetables and salads, especially with foods that contain fat-soluble nutrients, such as carotene and vitamins A, D, E and K, to enable absorption)

Coconut oil, flaxseed, grape seed, coconut oil, olive, rapeseed and a blend of sesame and rice bran oils. Also take one capsule of cod liver or krill oil daily, especially during the winter months between October and April in the Northern hemisphere.

Aloe vera juice, anise seed tea, barley grass (powder or juice), bergamot tea, black strap molasses, brewer’s yeast, brine pickles, chamomile tea, green tea, honey, miso, peppermint tea, pine needle tea. Barley grass is one of the rare plants to contain vitamin B12 so is a useful addition to the diet of those that limit meat intake.

If there is a flare up juicing fruits and vegetables can help to provide then nutrition with less fibre which gives the intestines a rest. Make teas by steeping fruits and vegetables in hot water for 20 minutes, then strain and drink immediately to gain the nutrients without the bulk. Teas can be gently reheated, and honey and lemon added to make them more palatable and to add additional beneficial nutrients.

NOTE: Non-heme iron is found in tea and dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale. However, tea and green leafy vegetables also contain oxalates that block the absorption of iron. To assist the body in the absorption of non-heme iron eat a couple of strawberries, a kiwi fruit or some orange, tangerine or mango at the same time.

NOTE: To benefit from foods containing fat-soluble nutrients, such as the carotenoids in carrots and tomatoes, always eat together with oily foods like rapeseed oil, olive oil, fish, nut or other seed oils or avocado or coconut oils. This is bercause carotenoids are fat-soluble, meaning they are only absorbed into the body along with fats and can then assist with the manufacture of the essential vitamin A nutrient.

WARNING: Some nutritional yeasts, especially brewer’s yeast, can also interact with medications. Those who are on Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor antidepressants (MAOIs) medication are especially at risk. It is also best avoided by those carrying the herpes virus as it can induce an attack.

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