THE BEST MEDICINE- LAUGH! SECOND DOSE Last night, my friend and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her, "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug." She got up, unplugged the TV, and threw out my wine |
THE BEST MEDICINEf- LAUGH! FIRST DOSE There are always two ways to look at everything, I guess. My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion last October, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table. My wife noticed me staring and asked me, "Do you know her?". "Yes", I sighed, "She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since." "My God!" says my wife, "Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?" Got a Joke? E-mail it to us: frontpage@collectivewizdom .com |
Ideal Diet for Diverticulitis
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March 28, 2009, Last Updated January 28, 2012
By Natalia Real, Contributing Columnist, updated by Susan
Callahan, Associate Editor
Diverticula are tiny pouches or bulges in the lining of your
intestines. These tiny diverticula become more numerous as we
age, so that by the time we are 40, about 10% of us have them
and by the time we are aged 60, over 50% of all people in the
US and the Western world have these pouches in our
intestines. The mere presence of these diverticula pouches is
called "diverticulosis".
Diverticulitis is a different matter altogether. It's a complication
of diverticulosis. Although the words sound similar, they
describe very different conditions. If you merely have the
pouches, even if they're causing you no trouble, that's
"diverticulosis". If the pouches become inflamed and infected,
then you have "diverticulitis", which is a serious disease. About
1 to 2% of the population develops the inflammatory condition
of diverticulitis. What causes diverticulitis? Are there foods or
other natural remedies for diverticulitis or diverticulosis?
The interesting thing about these diverticula pouches in your
intestines is that they have only started to appear in any
significant numbers in the last 70 to 100 years. Prior to that
time they did not even exist in the medical literature. According
to a 1971 article in the British Medical Journal by Dr. Neil
Painter and Dr. Denis Burkitt, "This dramatic increase in
incidence occurred in only 70 years and cannot be explained on
a genetic basis... We believe that there is another possibility
and that the colon's environment has changed and that
diverticula are caused by the diet of so-called 'civilized'
countries".
Typical symptoms include severe and sudden (or mild and
gradually worsening) pain in the lower left side of the
abdomen, abdominal tenderness, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills
and constipation or diarrhea.
Ever hear the saying “you are what you eat”? Well, it’s true!
Diverticulitis is thought to be caused, simply, by a lousy diet.
That means processed foods, meat, and little fiber—which
explains why diverticular disease is so prevalent in countries
like the US, England, and Australia, and rare among Asian and
African nations.
The reason is that low-fiber diets make stools hard and difficult
to pass. The intestines and colon must strain, causing increased
pressure in the colon, which, in turn, can cause diverticula.
Pressure can also cause the diverticula to become infected.
Apart from an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise is a suspected
cause. Your mission is, therefore, to increase your fiber intake
to prevent and treat diverticulitis (its mild form, as serious
cases require surgery) and other like conditions.
What is the ideal diet for diveticultis? What should you eat to
prevent diverticulitius? And what should you eat if you already
have diverticulitis?
The Perfect Diet for Diverticulitis
The perfect diet for diverticulitis is a balanced vegetarian diet
with plenty of fiber from fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals,
grains, beans, and so on. (Read more about foods rich in fiber.)
As your digestive system will need time to adapt, increase your
fiber intake gradually over the course of 6-8 weeks. If you
experience gas or bloating, know that for most people, it
passes after the first few weeks.
Whether you’re ready to make the transition or not, here are
some hearty meal ideas:
Diverticulitis Breakfast
For breakfast, you can “cheat” by making a smoothie and
consuming several excellent sources of fiber at once: try
orange juice, a banana, strawberries, and a peach.
Or try soy milk, nut butter (peanut, sesame, almond, etc.),
banana, raw honey, and tofu (try the silken variety)—this
provides a fantastic amount of fiber, plus protein and many
vitamins and minerals.
Adding tofu and nut butter makes a meal out of your
smoothies, leaving you feeling satisfied. Ground seeds (flax,
sesame, sunflower, etc.) are great too.
And if you eat cereals or bread, always stick to whole grain. My
favorite breakfast for a long time was whole grain toast with
soy cheese slices, hummus or guacamole, and slices of tomato.
Diverticulitis Lunch and Dinner
Basically, you want to include as many raw foods as you can—
salad is your friend! Feel free to sprinkle them with seeds, nuts,
and dried fruits (e.g. raisins).
Love pizza? Substitute dairy cheese for soy or rice “cheese”
(hello fiber!) and load it with vegetables like broccoli, snow
peas, tomatoes, peppers, and onions. Buy veggie burgers,
burritos, hot dogs, sausages, bacon, nuggets, and so on.
Try seitan and Boca’s grilled veggie burgers for a meaty texture.
Eat whole grain pastas and add different types of beans to the
sauce.
Make an epic stew with fiber-loaded grains like quinoa or
barley and add beans, seeds, and vegetables. T
Try couscous with falafel, hummus, and a cucumber-tomato-
lettuce salad.
Snacks and Desserts for Diverticulitis
Grab some fruit, dip crunchy raw vegetables in hummus and
guacamole or salsa, a handful of dried fruits and nuts, a
smoothie, vegetable and fruit juices, cereal bars, top your
sorbet and low-fat ice cream or yogurt with nuts and berries
(even better if you sub the dairy for soy), and so on.
Cake? Sure. A moderate slice with a decent side of fresh fruit.
Want more ideas? Check out fiber-rich recipes in vegetarian
cookbooks and websites everywhere. And before you scoff at
me, try it. You’ll see how delicious healthy eating can be—and
how much better you’ll feel!
Add Almonds to Combat Diverticulitis
Think almonds. You may have heard that eating nuts is not
recommended for diverticulitis sufferers. But a new study has
found that just the opposite is true. Researchers from the
University of Washington has found that eating a handful of
almonds a day seems to reduce diverticulitis.
You're just getting started. Learn other ways that your diet can
protect you against disease: Diverticulitis-Top 10 Natural
Remedies / Ideal Diet for Fibroid Tumors / Pelvic Cancer --
Symptoms and Treatments // Foods That Fight Endometriosis/
Diet Sodas-Bad for Your Health? /Top 10 Health Benefits of
Different Nuts
Bowel Colors-What They Mean / Fibromyalgia-Ideal Diet /
Does Beer Raise Blood Pressure?
More Related Links:
Why Americans Read In Bathrooms-The Hidden Epidemic of
Constipation
The Color of Your Bowels--What It Means
Bowels -3 Keys to Normal Bowels
Exercises That Increase Bowel Movements
Diet and Exercise-A Simple Plan
Snoring Increases Your Risk of Stroke 67%
Six Pack Abs--Step By Step
Foods That Reduce Blood Pressure
Foods That Shrink Your Waist
Owning a Cat Reduces Risk of Stroke 40%
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