Diverticulitis is a painful yet common condition, particularly in western nations. Approximately 10% of people over the age of 40 and up to 50% of people over the age of 60 are affected by this disease. What occurs in diverticulitis is the development of small bulging pouches, known as "diverticulitis" within the intestinal wall. These diverticula become inflamed or possibly even infected. Symptoms can be very mild or quite severe depending on a number of factors. Some symptoms may be pain in the lower left abdomen, diarrhea, constipation, fever and nausea. It is believed that the reason why this disease is more prevalent in western nations is due to our lack of dietary fiber in our daily diet. Additionally our heavy reliance on processed foods has made us more susceptible to this condition. We need to begin to incorporate healthy dietary changes to avoid the development of such diseases to begin with. Diverticulitis can weaken the colon and result in further health issues.
Dietary Changes to Help This Condition: The perfect diet for diverticulitis is one which includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, wholesome beans and other fiber rich foods. Increasing your intake of dietary fiber is one of the most important things you can do. Do this gradually because if you add too much fiber too quickly, you can experience gas and bloating. Over a period of several weeks, gradually increase your fiber intake. Try to completely eliminate all processed foods from your diet. All "white" products such as white flour, sugar and bread should be removed from your diet. Incorporate whole grain alternatives such as whole wheat bread and brown rice. Begin eating more vegetables. There are many creative ways to add more vegetables into your diet without feeling overwhelmed by the process. For example, you can add saut矇ed veggies to a breakfast sandwich on whole wheat bread. A pizza can be layered with many types of vegetables and just a little meat protein. Increase your intake of liquids.
Plenty of fresh pure water is extremely important to maintaining a clean and well functioning digestive system. This will certainly be beneficial in cases of diverticulitis. You can also add healthy beverages such as green tea and vegetable juices. Eat Papaya: papaya has been shown to ease digestive tract irritation and is very helpful in cases of diverticulitis. You can eat it as a piece of fresh fruit or mix it into a delicious smoothie or add it to a salad. Begin exercising. Simple yet effective exercises may include walking or moderate swimming. Movement will help your colon to become stronger and will help you to achieve better bowel movements as well. Cut down or eliminate alcohol and tobacco products. These substances are irritating to the digestive tract and can further aggravate the condition.
Sample Meal Ideas: Breakfast could be a delicious smoothie with plenty of added fiber. Make a smoothie with fruit that includes a banana, a peach or papaya. Or perhaps some whole wheat toast with fresh veggies such as sliced tomato and avocado or a whole grain cereal with some soy milk. Lunch may be a lean protein turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread or a grilled chicken salad with lots of saut矇ed veggies added to it. A sample dinner could include a grilled fish fillet with a baked potato or brown rice with green beans. If eating whole grain pasta try adding a handful of beans to the sauce for the extra fiber. Great snacks include raw veggies with hummus or salsa, smoothies or a piece of fresh fruit. Avoid all foods that are hard for your body to digest such as popcorn and sesame seeds.
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