Guest Author - Carolyn Chambers Clark, ARNP, EdD

What is diverticulosis?

Diverticulosis is an acquired sac-like mucosal projections through the musclar layer of the colon and/or rectum. These diverticula can press on blood vessels and cause bleeding. Except for bleeding, diverticula are harmless, but they can lead to diverticulitis. If your stool is black, get a stool test to make sure you aren't bleeding in your bowel.

Millions of people have diverticulosis but they don't even know they do, or they interpret it as indigestion.

What is diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis is an inflammation of the diverticular mucosa. It can cause fever, chills and left-sided abdominal pain. Some of all of the symptoms may be relieved for a time by having a bowel movement or passing gas. A low-fiber diet, smoking, alcohol and insufficient water can lead to inflammation, phlegm in the bowel wall, perforation, abcess, obstruction, and bleeding if not treated. Once inflammation occurs, you may need antibiotics and a liquid diet until the inflammation disappears. That's why you are best taking self-care measures with diverticulosis, or to prevent it in the first place.

Self-Care measures for diverticulosis

1. Avoid nuts, seeds, corn and popcorn if they seem to bother you. Avoid meat. A study published in Disease of the Colon and Rectum found that frequent meat consumption was correlated with diverticulosis.

2. Gradually eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Green leafy vegetables are especially good because they contin high levels of vitamin K. A high-fiber diet seems to completely relieve symptoms and may prevent further diverticular formation, according to The Clinical Advisor. In fact, a total vegetarian diet may be best. Vegetarians were found to have a lower incidence of diverticular disease, according to Digestive Diseases. You can juice your vegetables (purchase a juicer at a health food store) or steam them if gas is a problem. Carrots, cabbage and greendrinks (fill a blender with pineapple juice, celery with leaves, escarole and a handful of parsley) can help.

3. Take 1-3 teaspoons of psyllium in a glass of water an hour before breakfast. (Drink it down quickly before it gels!)

4. Avoid antibiotics unless you have an infection (diverticulitis) as diagnosed by your doctor.

5. Exercise. A study reported in Gut found that physical activity, especially jogging and running, along with a high fiber diet, can prevent the symptoms of diverticular disease. If you can't jog or run, start walking, building up gradually to brisk rhythm.

6. Drink 8-10 glasses of distilled water or water that has been put through a reverse osmosis filter.

7. Drink 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice (health food store) 3 times a day to help promote healing of inflammed areas.

8. Eat garlic or take garlic jel caps to help heal and detoxify your colon.

9. Take acidophilus capsules (health food store) in the morning to help your bowels move and also to replace beneficial gut bacteria if you've been eating too much meat or taken antibiotics.

10. Avoid taking laxatives; they irritate the colon wall.


This article is for information purposes only. For treatment, consult your
health care practitioner.