How Treat and Prevent Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a painful intestinal disease, in which small pouches on the large intestine becomes inflamed. Seek medical treatment if you experience any symptoms of this condition, which includes constipation, cramping in the lower left abdomen, diarrhea, fever, nausea and rectal bleeding. Listed below are five natural treatments to help prevent flare-ups of this painful disease.

1) Exercise for 30 minutes a day to lower your risk of diverticulitis. Exercising helps to reduce inflammation and speeds the healing of damaged tissues by boosting the flow of blood to your stomach.

2) Eat 2 cups of green leafy vegetables a day to lower your risk of diverticulitis. Vegetables such as collard greens and brussels sprouts are packed with cellulose, a complex carbohydrate composed of glucose units and is the main constituent of plant cell walls.

3) Snack on nuts, seeds and popcorns daily to lower your risk of diverticulitis. These healthy snacks are rich in fiber, a complex carbohydrate found in plants that the human body cannot digest.

4) Avoid eating beef, steak and other red meats daily. Cooking red meats creates compounds called aromatic hetercyclic amines, which causes damaging inflammation in the intestines. Instead, lower your risk of diverticulitis by adding healthier meats such as poultry, fish and pork to your daily diet.

5) Drink six (8 oz.) glasses of water daily to prevent constipation which can trigger diverticulitis. Water softens stools and prevents straining during a bowel movement, which can damage the intestinal walls and cause pockets to form.