To live well with diverticulitis it is important to ensure the proper functioning of the intestine by keeping it regulated so as to prevent diverticula, which are pouches that form in the intestine, inflaming, giving rise to acute diverticulitis, which in addition to painful can have serious complications, and surgical treatment may be necessary.
In this way, 5 tips that help keep the bowel regulated by preventing a diverticulitis are:
1. Eat fiber every day
Fiber-rich foods, such as apple, pear, mango, papaya, carrot, broccoli, or spinach, for example, help keep the bowel regulated and prevent diverticula from inflaming. See a more complete list with this type of food.
This is because the fibers can not be digested and therefore stimulate the bowel to function better. In this way, the feces are eliminated more quickly, avoiding the accumulation of bacteria that can lead to the appearance of acute diverticulitis.
2. Give preference to raw food
This tip works similarly to high-fiber foods, since eating raw foods avoids fiber loss during cooking. That way, even if you eat foods with low amounts of fiber, they are kept and ingested, helping the bowel to function. Learn other tips on how to feed.
The amount of fiber that a person with diverticula in the gut should consume to avoid a diverticulitis is about 25 to 35 g of fiber per day. Learn how to include this amount of fiber in your diet daily by watching the following video:
3. Drink 2 liters of water per day
Adequate water consumption during the day helps keep the stool well hydrated, facilitating their passage through the intestine. When this does not happen, and the stools eventually become very scarred, they may eventually accumulate inside the diverticula of the intestine. If this happens, bacteria can develop easier, causing inflammation of the intestine and the emergence of symptoms of acute diverticulitis.
However, the amount of water required is different for each person, depending on their weight and level of physical activity, for example. See how you can calculate your required amount of water.
4. Doing regular exercise
For example, some physical activity, about 2-3 times a week, such as 30-minute walks, swimming or jogging are essential to maintain the regular bowel movements, ensuring a better functioning.
5. Avoid the use of laxatives
The use of laxatives should be avoided, especially during attacks of acute diverticulitis, because this type of medication causes excessive bowel functioning, increasing the movements of the organ wall. Thus, if there is pain and inflammation caused by diverticulitis, laxatives may worsen the symptoms.
Learn more about treating and preventing the onset of symptoms in diverticulitis.
