Eating Nuts and Seeds Helps Lower the Risk of Diverticulosis

The consumption of nuts, seeds, and popcorn have long been considered dietary no-noes for those with a painful digestive disorder known as diverticulitis. Diverticular disease is a rather common occurrence among the aging Western population. Roughly one-third will develop this condition by the age of 60, and two-thirds by the age of 85.

For many years doctors believed that eating these types of foods worsened the condition, thus they advised their patients to strictly avoid them. Nuts and seeds were thought to pass through the bowel undigested, or partially undigested. It was also thought that the high fiber in these types of foods could further damage the delicate intestinal membrane of the large bowel (colon), or lodge along weak protruding points that result in small pouches called diverticula. If these little sacs become obstructed or inflamed they can enlarge erupting in pain, fever, and bleeding.

High in monounsaturated fat and appetite suppressing fiber, vitamins, and minerals, nuts (in moderation) are a part of a heart healthy diet. They are also a great addition in the diet by helping lower the risk of of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Lisa L. Strate, M.D., M.P.H. and associates from the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle reasoned that there seemed to be very little evidence to support this long-standing theory of dietary treatment. Avoiding certain types of foods also posed other health risks for those who suffered from this condition.

In the largest study of its kind, conducted from 1986 to 2004, 47,228 men were followed for 18 years. Participants were aged 40 through 75, and were screened to be free of cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or diverticulosis. During the follow-up, only 801 new cases of the condition emerged in the study group, and only 383 of those developed complications of bleeding.

What this study did uncover, however, was that the opposite appears to be true. Eating more fiber rich foods, even after a diverticulitis attack, actually lowered the risk of having another attack or developing further complications. In fact, low fiber intake may just be the cause of this condition

Those that participated in this study, who reported eating nuts at least twice weekly, lowered their risk by 20 percent. Those who reported eating popcorn regularly, lowered the risk by 28 percent.

In bulking up the diet with more foods that are high in fiber, which includes nuts and seeds, chewing your food thoroughly and increasing water intake is also essential to averting the straining muscle contractions associated with constipation, by decreasing the pressure on an aging intestinal wall.

The conclusion of this rather large study suggests the sage advice of the past needs to be seriously reconsidered. Along with the encouragement of stepping up the fiber intake to prevent this painful condition in the first place, one must also consider that high fiber foods require increased water absorption from the colon .