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Diverticulitis and constipation - help!
I suffer from diverticulitis and have constipation most of the time. I have tried all sorts of high fibre foods but still suffer. My tummy is very swollen and I am desperate to find some relief. Can you please advise me?
Fibre aids the digestion and absorption of foods, promotes a healthy bacterial balance and provides important bulk to stimulate peristalsis - the muscular, wave-like motion that transports digested food through the intestines. A fibre-rich diet helps to stimulate bowel function, avoid constipation and reduces the chance of any pouches becoming infected and inflamed. Fibre from different plants varies widely in its composition. Recent research suggests bowel bacteria adapt to the types of fibre you eat. After a few weeks of eating a fibre-rich diet, they release more of the enzymes needed to break down the different fibre types. This means that some of the benefits are lost unless you regularly vary the types of fibre you obtain.
Eat as wide a range of fibre-rich foods as possible from wholegrain sources (fruit and vegetables) but increase intakes slowly so you don't develop wind and bloating from an initial fibre overload. Drink plenty of fluids, which are needed to help fibre swell and work effectively. Probiotic supplements containing bowel-friendly bacteria help to maintain optimum bowel function, while Aloe Vera juice and colloidal silicol gel have a useful cleansing and soothing action on the intestines.
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