| Most people with Diverticulosis (approx. 50% of all Americans ages 60 to 80 have it) wil never have symptoms. Some may develop painful cramps in the lower left abdomen, along with bloating and constipation. Adding more fiber to your diet lowers the internal pressure, reducing or eliminating symptoms. It's that simple. You need 20 to 35 grams of fiber a day to help prevent problems from diverticulosis. One way to get that much fiber, day after day, is with a fiber supplement. A pure psyllium supplement is recommended . It should provide a minimum of 5 grams of fiber per teaspoon. Since increasing your fiber intake all at once can cause gas or bloating, start with 1 teaspoon of psyllium supplement a day. Mix it with an 8-ounce glass of water or take it with a meal. Stay at that level for 2 days. If you don't notice any gas, increase to 2 teaspoons a day - 1 teaspoon with breakfast and 1 teaspoon with lunch. Again, wait for 2 day. If you're comfortable increase the dos to 1 teaspoon with each meal. Always take it with at least 8 ounces of water. If you experience discomfort, go back to the previous level, stay there for a week, then try again. Eventually you'll reach 3 teaspoons a day, and ou should continue with that amount inefinitely. One caution - during or right after an attack of diverticulitis, fiber can aggravate the problem. So if you've been diagnosed with diverticulitis, use fiber supplements only with the approval of your Health Practitioner.
High-Fiber Foods: Natural Colon Protection Eating at least five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day will provide loads of dietary fiber, with the bonus that you'll get dozens disease-preventing phytonutrients such as beta-carotene. It is also recommended to add plenty of fiber-rich whole grains and beans to your diet.
MSM: Restores Elasticity to the Intestinal Wall While fiber is the most important healing agent for diverticulosis, it's not the only one. Diverticula are more likely to develop when the walls of the colon lose their natural elasticity. To restore elasticity to the intestines, which will prevent new diverticula and hlep ensure that the existing ones don't worsen, take a daily dose of 1,000 milligrams of a supplement of MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). MSM has a high sulfur content, which is what helps repair and heal damaged intestinal tissue. Anyone wh ois prone to diverticular inflammation should stay on MSM indefinitely. Besides the fact that if there is any stiff joints, arthritis. or any pain in the joints, MSM will help take care of that too.
Slippery Elm: Soothing the Digestive Tract The herb Slippery Elm Bark both strengthens and sothes the digestive system, helping to prevent diverticulosis from causing symptoms. It is recommended to take 3,000 milligrams of slippery elm a day, in either capsule or powder form, until symptoms subside.
Summary The best treatment for Diverticulitis or Diverticulosis is prevention. I fear that as our national dietary habits continue to decline, we will see an increase in the amount of people with Diverticulitis and other bowel conditions. Some people are sent home from the hospital with a colostomy bag. Some are temporary and others are not. People might think twice about what they put in their mouths to cause this disease.
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