Kurt Hemond MD

Diverticulitis Diet For Beginners Kurt Hemond MD

Diverticulitis is relatively common in the Western world. In most cases, it can be treated through short-term dietary changes and medication. But if complications develop, they can be very serious. If you have complicated diverticulitis, your doctor will likely advise you to get treatment in a hospital. You might need to undergo surgery to repair damage to your colon. If you have diverticulitis or questions about your risk of developing it, speak with your doctor. They can help you learn how to treat this disease and support your digestive health. Once you've reached your senior years, there's a better-than-average chance you have diverticulosis, the development of small pockets, or diverticula, in the muscular layers of the colon (large intestine). Sounds serious, right? Not always. In fact, most of the time these pockets are harmless. But, about four out of 100 people with them develop diverticulitis, which is inflammation or infection of one or more diverticula. If you have diverticulosis or a history of diverticulitis, diet is important to help promote good digestive health, and it might help you avoid painful repeat episodes of the disease. Essentially, a diverticulitis diet is a colon-friendly diet.