Tag: diverticulitus

Diverticulitis is found in the large intestine. It happens when the walls of the colon lose elasticity. This is often something that accompanies the ageing process as we know by the wrinkles and saggy bits visible on our skin.

Diverticulitis usually develops when naturally weak places in your colon give way under pressure. This causes marble-sized pouches to protrude through the colon wall.

Diverticulitis occurs when diverticula tear, resulting in inflammation or infection or both.

Award winning nutritionist Trish Tucker May suggests there are several factors may increase your risk of developing diverticulitis:

• Aging – the incidence of diverticulitis increases with age. As we age we have more of a build up of waste in the colon. Years of inflammatory foods can cause irritation and build up of faecal matter in the colon.  It is worth identifying foods that cause inflammation through an elimination program to find out what foods inflame your body and cause unwanted digestive distress, obesity, diabetes and other common lifestyle diseases. This elimination is also to help you to become leptin sensitive which should ensure insulin sensitivity, regulated blood sugar, less food cravings, clarity of mind, better skin integrity and an overall improved sense of health and well-being.

• Obesity – being seriously overweight increases your odds of developing diverticulitis.
• Smoking – People who smoke cigarettes are more likely than non-smokers to experience diverticulitis.
• Lack of exercise – vigorous exercise appears to lower your risk of diverticulitis.  The lymph plays a vital part in the main route of elimination.  The lymph does not have a pump, like the heart. It requires gentle muscle contraction to be stimulated. If you have a sluggish lymph due to a lack of exercise, then you are also likely to have a sluggish colon. The slower the transit time, the greater risk of food and debris getting stuck.
• Diet high in animal fat and low in fiber. A low-fiber diet in combination with a high intake of animal fat seems to increase risk, although the role of low fiber alone isn’t clear.  Too much dried or processed food is difficult for the colon.  We want to give the body the swollen message of hydrated foods rather than dried processed foods.  Foods high in fibre will mean transit time is more efficient. White rice, white bread, or white pasta, but avoid gluten-containing foods if you’re intolerant, dry low-fibre cereals and processed fruits such as applesauce or canned peaches are all to be avoided if you have digestive distress.
• Certain medications – Several drugs are associated with an increased risk of diverticulitis, including steroids, opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve).  It is possible that all synthetic drugs are compromising to the health of the colon. They are dehydrating and can cause inflammation.
• some foods may cause of aggravate Diverticulitis:
  • White rice, white bread, or white pasta, but avoid gluten-containing foods if you’re intolerant
  • Dry, low-fiber cereals.
  • Processed fruits such as applesauce or canned peaches
  • Cooked animal proteins such as fish, poultry, or eggs
  • Olive oil or other oils

Award winning nutritionist, Trish Tucker May suggests a Linseed tea, brewed for an hour.  Place 2 tablespoons of linseeds in a pan (or Thermomix bowl) and 1 litre of boiling water. Bring back to the boil. Turn off and cover, leave to stand for 8-10 hours. Bring to the boil again and simmer for 1 hour. (don’t boil over as it is hard to clean off the stove). Strain the seeds out while hot. Best to use clean filtered water and organic whole linseeds.

You can water this down if the consistency is too gloopy. Once you get used to the thickness and texture you can have it straight.  Have a mug a day and while drinking, tell yourself it is all okay. This gives your body a message of hydration and reassurance. ‘I am okay’, ‘Everything is okay’

Trish Tucker May recommends to choose natural nutrition and unrefined foods to get all the phytonutrients, minerals, vitamins and enzymes that you need for optimum health.  A significant increase in the amount of green vegetables and an array of coloured vegetables on the plate will help support better immune function, stable moods and energy.  The naturally occurring properties in plants play a vital role in the preventative treatment of disease and support the intestinal flora, which constitute a major part of your immune system. Juice, smoothies and raw food are a great way to get a massive amount of nutrition into our bodies.

You can read more on the Total Wellness website here https://blog.totalwellness.club/diverticulitis/