Benefits of Drinking a Lot of Warm Water for Diverticulitis

Water is necessary for life. It keeps you hydrated, and fills you throughout the day, preventing you from overeating. It keeps you cool when outside temperatures rise, and it keeps your digestive tract running smoothly. When you think of the benefits of water, though, you may think of cold water. Warm water has just as many benefits and may help relieve the symptoms of diverticulitis, a medical condition affecting your digestive tract.

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis results from diverticula, small pouches lining your digestive tract. Diverticula appear in weakened areas of your colon. They protrude through the walls of your colon; once they become inflamed or infected, diverticulitis develops. Common symptoms of this disease include abdominal pain, nausea and constipation. You may also experience bloating, abdominal tenderness and rectal bleeding, according to MayoClinic.com.

Fiber and Water

Diverticula are marble-sized, leaving only a small opening for fecal matter to pass through. This can narrow and trap fecal matter, leading to the infection that results in diverticulitis. MayoClinic.com recommends eating between 20 and 35 grams of fiber each day to soften this waste and expedite its movement through your colon. Fiber is not effective without water, though, and can cause constipation. Fiber absorbs water, which softens the waste, making elimination easier. You should drink a minimum of eight 8-oz. glasses of water per day.

Ayurveda and Diverticulitis

Ayurveda practitioners believe you can prevent and treat illness and disease by maintaining balance in your body through proper diet. This ancient Indian method of treatment rests on the belief that the digestive system is the root of all disease in the body. Gas, bloating and abdominal cramping are all signs of imbalance, as are diagnoses of diseases such as:

• ulcerative colitis
  
• diverticulitis
  
• explains Dr

Marc Halpern
* founder of the California College of Ayurveda 1.

Ama and Warm Water

Cleansing your digestive tract of ama is the first step in revitalizing your body's ability to properly digest food and receive the nutrients it requires. In the Western world, many believe cold water is healthier, as it forces your body temperature to rise, although practitioners of Ayurveda in the Western world have a different outlook. Drinking warm water relaxes your digestive tract, making elimination of ama easier, and less painful 3. The removal of excess ama may improve diseases such as diverticulitis. Douillard recommends sipping warm water throughout the day and drinking a cup with each meal. Speak with your doctor before using this treatment.