A diverticulum is a small, saclike protrusion that extends through your bowel wall. Diverticulosis is a term that describes the presence of one or more diverticula in your colon. These protrusions usually form at points where arteries perforate the wall of your gut to reach its inner layers. Diverticula are believed to result from increased pressure within your intestine, and dietary factors appear to play a role in the development of diverticulosis.
Disease of Western Civilization
Diverticulosis occurs almost exclusively in developed countries, according to an October 2005 "American Family Physician" review. Most experts feel that the Western diet and a lack of physical activity play a part in the development of this condition. Vegetarians and other people who consume more fiber tend to have fewer diverticula. However, the exact cause of diverticulosis is unknown, and it probably results from the interaction of several factors, including genetics, diet and the structure and function of your colon.
Complications
An April 2007 review in "Digestive Diseases" reports that 80 to 85 percent of individuals with diverticulosis have no symptoms. Symptoms of varying severity occur in the remaining 15 to 20 percent. Abdominal pain, flatulence and constipation or diarrhea are common complaints. If a diverticulum becomes inflamed, you could develop a fever, severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Diverticula occasionally cause bleeding, which can sometimes be massive. Surgery could be required to manage some complications of diverticulosis.
Fiber
According to the May 2002 "British Journal of Surgery," diverticulosis is rarely seen in rural cultures where high-fiber diets are consumed. In such populations, dietary habits lead to increased bulk within the intestine, which alters the structure of the bowel wall and contributes to the development of "large-bore" colons where less internal pressure develops. The typical Western diet contains much less fiber, which lends to the development of smaller-caliber colons, higher internal pressures and more diverticulosis. People who move from rural to urban regions tend to develop diverticulosis when they adopt a low-fiber diet.
Seeds, Nuts and Popcorn
Traditionally, doctors have advised patients with diverticulosis to avoid nuts, popcorn, small seeds and corn, presumably because such dietary items could get stuck in diverticula and cause inflammation, bleeding or infection. The University of California School of Medicine in San Diego reports there are no scientific evidence to support this notion. If you have diverticulosis, you may have discovered specific foods that cause bloating, cramping, left-sided abdominal pain and diarrhea or constipation. This may reflect the activity of bacteria that have colonized your diverticula, rather than "entrapment" of seeds or husks.
Recommendations
If you have diverticulosis, the addition of fiber to your diet -- fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fiber supplements -- could help prevent the development of symptoms. If you already have symptoms, these same measures could lead to improvement. If specific foods trigger abdominal pain, gas, bloating or changes in bowel habits, avoid those items in the future. Psyllium, bran and methylcellulose can be used to add fiber to your diet. Daily exercise helps to improve bowel activity and reduces your risk for diverticulosis.
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