Diverticulosis, Diverticulitis and Diet
Pouches that push outward through vulnerable areas in the colon are called diverticula. Diverticulosis is the condition of having diverticula. Diverticulitis occurs when the pouches (diverticula) become infected or inflamed. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are also called diverticular disease.
CAUSES OF DIVERTICULAR DISEASE:
Our highly refined western diet, with inadequate amounts of fiber, especially soluble fiber, is the primary cause of Diverticular disease, a type of digestive disease. The disease was first noticed around the time that processed foods were introduced into the western diet.
Because processed foods contain refined, low-fiber flour, there is not enough fiber to prevent constipation.
Chronic constipation forces the muscles to strain in order to move hard stools. This increased pressure in the colon causes weak spots that force the colon to bulge out and become diverticula.
Diverticular disease is rare in countries where people eat high-fiber diets. It is only common in the industrialized countries where low-fiber diets are now so common.
SYMPTOMS OF DIVERTICULAR DISEASE:
DIVERTICULOSIS: Symptoms of diverticulosis are chronic constipation, cramping, and bloating. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately to determine if you are suffering from diverticulosis.
DIVERTICULITIS: Because diverticulitis occurs when the pouches become infected, abdominal pain is the most common symptom of diverticulitis. There may also be nausea, vomiting, fever, chills and cramping.
The extent of the symptoms is dependent upon the level of the infection.
TREATMENTS FOR DIVERTICULAR DISEASE:
DIVERTICULOSIS: Typical treatment for diverticular disease includes a high-fiber diet. Fiber keeps the stool soft and lowers pressure inside the colon so that bowel contents can move through easily. If you increase your fiber intake, make sure you increase your fluid intake at the same time. (Drink at least 3 pints per day).
Insoluble fiber needs fluid in order to form stools that are easy to pass.
Occasionally, mild pain medications that help relieve symptoms can be prescribed. The doctor may also recommend taking a fiber product such as Citrucel or Metamucil once a day.
Foods that may irritate or get caught in the diverticula should be avoided. These foods include nuts, popcorn hulls, and sunflower, pumpkin, and sesame seeds. The seeds in tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries, and raspberries are considered to be harmless.
People vary in the amounts and types of foods they can eat.
Each person should make the decision about their diet based on what works for them. Keeping a food journal can help identify problem foods.
If chronic constipation, cramps and bloating continue, the doctor may recommend pain medication. Some medications, however, can affect the colon's ability to void itself, causing adverse consequences for people with diverticulosis.
DIVERTICULITIS: The primary goal of treatment for diverticulitis is to clear up the infection, rest the colon, and prevent complications. If there are no complications, antibiotics can heal the infection within a few days.
To rest the colon, the doctor may suggest bed rest, along with a liquid diet.
An acute attack with severe pain or severe infection may require a hospital stay.
ADDING FIBER TO YOUR DIET:
*The table below shows the approximate amount of fiber in some foods that you can easily add to your diet:
FRUITS
apple 1 medium = 4g fiber
peach 1 medium = 2g
pear 1 medium = 4g
tangerine 1 medium = 2g
VEGETABLES
acorn squash, fresh, cooked 3/4 cup = 7g fiber
asparagus, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 1.5g
broccoli, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2g
Brussels sprouts, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2g
cabbage, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2g
carrot, fresh, cooked 1 = 1.5g
cauliflower, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2g
romaine lettuce 1 cup = 1g
spinach, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2g
tomato, raw 1 = 1 gram
zucchini, fresh, cooked 1 cup = 2.5g
STARCHY VEGETABLES
black-eyed peas, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 4g
lima beans, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 4.5g
kidney beans, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 6g
potato, fresh, cooked 1 = 3g
GRAINS
bread, whole-wheat 1 slice = 2g
brown rice, cooked 1 cup = 3.5g
cereal, bran flake 3/4 cup = 5g
oatmeal, plain, cooked 3/4 cup = 3g
*Source: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA Nutrient Database for standard reference.
In summary, diverticulosis occurs when pouches, called diverticula, push outward through vulnerable areas in the colon. The pouches form when the pressure builds, usually caused by chronic constipation. Diverticulitis is a result of the pouches becoming infected, thus causing pain in the abdomen.
Eating a high-fiber diet is the treatment that is always recommended..
Chris Chenoweth, author of the DO-IT-YOURSELF HOME, HEALTH & MONEY GUIDE, writes articles pertaining to diet, exercise, health, and business. If you would like information that will help you get started on a healthy diet and exercise program, learn about one of the most effective exercise and weight loss systems available, the BURN THE FAT program.Fiber ? More Appealing Packaged In A Pear!
(NC)?Fiber is a very beneficial substance for your body. And when fiber is delivered in the delicious and sweet package of a fresh pear, it takes on a whole new level of appeal.Pears are one of the most fiber-filled fruits around. With 4 grams of dietary fiber per serving (one medium sized pear, think the size of a baseball), pears are a good source of fiber ? one pear will give you about 18% of the recommended daily intake of fiber. More information about pear nutrition can be found at www.usapears.com.In addition to its digestive tract benefits, fiber has a load of other health benefits including:? Fiber slows how quickly sugar goes into the bloodstream, which may reduce peaks of blood sugar levels ? very important for diabetics.? Low-fat diets rich in fruits and vegetables (foods that are low in fat and cholesterol and that contain dietary fiber and vitamins A and C) may reduce the risks of some types of cancer and coronary heart disease.?...
Fiber ? More Appealing Packaged In A Pear!
Diets > Fiber ? More Appealing Packaged In A Pear!
Junk Foods Kill.
All of the following are health hazards.Fatty foodsHigh salt levelsSugar and most artificial sweeteners. Americans now consume roughly 25 times as much sugar and equivalents as was typical around 1900, which is not healthful. Refined sugar, high fructose syrup, and the three major artificial "no calorie" sweeteners (aspartame,saccharin, and sucralose) release chemicals into the body, and high usage has been implicated in headaches, cancers, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.Anyone wanting to lose weight should not ingest any sweetsthat are not natural to foods, such as fresh or dried fruits.Instead of candy, try a handful of raisins and almonds, nutswhich provide beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids like those found in fish.It is interesting that children taking drugs for "Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder" (ADHD), such as Ritalin, often get better when all processed sugars are removed from their diets, and the drugs stopped.******************************************* Diet with FACTS,...
Junk Foods Kill.
Diets > Junk Foods Kill.
Computer Guru Devotes His Talents To Helping People Lose Weight
Douglas Cromer, president of Superior Computer Solutions, Inc., has devoted the last several months of his life to helping people lose weight with his new website.
When asked why he would devote so much of his time and resources to a cause such as weight loss he said, "It is simple, I am not just overweight, but obese and I understand all too well the pain this causes."He went on to further say, "I have tried to lose...
Diets > Computer Guru Devotes His Talents To Helping People Lose Weight
To Diet or Not to Diet and the Right Answer
It's that time of the year again ? the sun is shining, our mood is rising and we want to throw away the layers of winter clothes and with them the extra kilos that have somehow managed to sneak in again?Suddenly we are all ears for the latest diet out there. This one WILL work for us. This time we are more determined, more worked up. So we start big, armed with books, tips, gym gear, calorie counting and panting our way to slimness. And we get tired and mentally exhausted -not so much from exercising or calorie counting but from having to think about food all the time.
Diets can become very obsessive, mentally and physically exhausting. But what is more ? they create havoc with our metabolism. The more we diet the less efficient our metabolism is so unless we plan to keep this diet for the rest of our life, then we are definitely going to regain our pre-diet weight and even some more?The other thing about diets is that they expect us all to be the same and react the same way to...
To Diet or Not to Diet and the Right Answer
Diets > To Diet or Not to Diet and the Right Answer
The Natural Truth About Quick Weight Loss
The Natural Truth About Quick Weight LossActually, I was reading about fad diet and suddenly I received a message in my mail "Lose 20 Pounds in 10 Days!"So I thought I should write some more on quick weight loss diet plans and how they're intended to fail miserably.I have already written a lot on such topics and I think you should read this article because they are flawed at the grass root level! along with this article to learn exactly what's wrong with quick diets.There are a few facts that I want to discuss before getting into the specific details of how she lost 10 pounds in 10 days and more specifically, even after losing 20 pounds, how she has more fat.1.Temporary weight loss will never teach to anyone how to maintain her proper weight.2.Protein shakes are an unhealthy way to trick yourself into eating fewer calories.3.It is unlikely that any person could lose 20 pounds of fat in 10 days. A large part of this loss is water and depleted muscle mass, not fat.Now let me explain how...
The Natural Truth About Quick Weight Loss
Diets > The Natural Truth About Quick Weight Loss
WHY DIETS MAKE YOU CRABBY
You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included and the article is published in its entirety. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Send it to mailto:drwallin@drwallin.comWHY DIETS MAKE YOU CRABBYBy Pauline Wallin, Ph.DAuthor of "Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide for Transforming Self-defeating Behavior"Word count: 668Copyright
2003. All rights reserved If you've ever been on a diet you know the feeling of irritability that sets in after a few days. Nutrition experts have attributed this feeling to a physical state of deprivation, such as low blood sugar or dehydration.
While these conditions do have a definite effect on mood, they don't tell the whole story. Consider the fact that you are not ALWAYS crabby when hungry or thirsty, even though your body may be in a state of deprivation. Diet-related crabbiness stems not just from your body's physical state, but also from mental...
WHY DIETS MAKE YOU CRABBY
Diets > WHY DIETS MAKE YOU CRABBY
Prostate Cancer Device Market set to Triple in Asia and Latin America
(ContentDesk) January 25, 2006 - The next five years will herald massive growth for minimally invasive prostate cancer devices in several emerging markets, with high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technology leading the way.
By 2010, the Asian and Latin American markets for brachytherapy seeds, cryoablation, and HIFU devices will gross over $25 million in revenuemore than 3 times the market value in 2005.
According to a recent report by Millennium Research Group, prostate cancer rates are rising sharply due to the aging population and changing lifestyles.
In Asia, especially, a spike in prostate cancer cases is linked to a move away from traditional diets toward more Western fare.
As rates of prostate cancer rise, so too will the interest in minimally invasive treatments.
Much, if not most, of the growth in this sector will take place in rapidly industrializing countries in the Far East and Latin America.
Although it has yet...
Diets > Prostate Cancer Device Market set to Triple in Asia and Latin America