1. Eat A Healthy Diet
Eating foods that are high in fiber and drinking plenty of water can help prevent you from developing diverticulitis, a painful disorder in which pouches in your colon can become inflamed and infected. A high-fiber diet keeps your digestive system running smoothly and efficiently, with a lower risk of irritation to your stomach and intestinal linings. Whole-grain breads and pastas and brown rice are healthy choices when you are craving carbohydrates. Many kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables contain fiber, including apples with the skin on, strawberries and sweet potatoes. Limit the amount of fast food and other packaged foods you eat, as they are usually very high in fat and refined ingredients that don't have much nutritional value. Fatty foods can irritate your stomach and the rest of your digestive tract.
2. Don't Ignore Your Bowel Urges
When your body is telling you it's time to eliminate, listen to it. If you continually ignore your bowel urges, your feces harden inside your intestines and become difficult to pass. The hardened matter, in addition to the constipation, puts undue pressure on your colon. Diverticular pouches develop when an area of your colon is weakened due to this type of pressure. Ignoring your natural urges often enough can cause your body to stop giving you signals, which can become a serious problem. Speak to your doctor if you are having problems with your bowel function, so that you can address the situation early on before it gets worse.
3. Get Some Exercise
Exercise is important for a healthy body, and may help prevent diverticulitis. Participating in at least 30 minutes of exercise each day promotes normal bowel function and puts less pressure on your colon. You don't need to join a gym in order to exercise. Take a walk around the block, play ball with your kids or go swimming at your neighborhood pool. The type of exercise is not as important as the fact that you are doing it.
