Can someone with diverticulosis still eat a plant-based diet?
Nearly half of Americans over age 60 have diverticulosis, although most are unaware of it. Experts think that this condition arises after years of eating low-fiber diets, which causes pouches, called diverticula, to form in the large intestine (colon) from the pressure of trying to pass hard stools. When a pouch becomes infected, people with this condition can develop diverticulitis. In serious cases, surgery is called for, and a low-fiber diet is needed while the colon heals. But once the colon has healed, a high-fiber diet is just as important for these people as it is for anyone with the lesser condition diverticulosis. Fiber makes softer stools that pass easier, reducing pressure in the large intestine and decreasing the odds of more pouches forming. To reach the recommended levels of at least 21-25 grams of fiber daily for women and 30-38 grams a day for men, eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, bran and beans. Former advice for people with diverticulosis to avoid raw v
