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How Can I Prevent It?

The best preventive action you can take against diverticulitis, of course, is to keep from developing the small sacs called diverticula. You have a good chance of doing that simply by modifying your diet and lifestyle.

Eat whole-grain breads, oatmeal, bran cereals, fibrous fresh fruits and vegetables, or try an over-the-counter preparation containing psyllium (Plantago psyllium) to increase the bulk in your diet. You can also try ground psyllium seed: Once a day, add 1 teaspoon over any cold liquid and drink within a few minutes of preparing, before the mixture gels. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids (at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day) if you increase your intake of fiber, and take care to add fiber gradually; a sudden switch to a high-fiber diet can cause your abdomen to become distended and create an uncomfortable amount of intestinal gas. Adjust your diet to remove foods that are difficult for you to digest.

Avoid refined foods such as white flour, white rice, and other processed foods. Contrary to popular wisdom, however, it is not necessary to avoid all nuts and seeds. Foods such as nuts, popcorn, sunflower, pumpkin, caraway and sesame seeds should be avoided. The seeds in tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries and poppy seeds are however considered harmless.

Try over-the-counter stool softeners to fight constipation. If you have the urge to move your bowels, don't delay or ignore it. Regular exercise can help the muscles in your intestine retain their tone, which encourages regular bowel movements. Don't use suppositories for constipation, because your system may become addicted to them.

Prunes, prune juice, and psyllium seed are all good natural laxatives. Specially formulated teas to fight constipation are available in health food stores, but some may be very strong, so use them only as directed; also avoid products containing senna (Cassia senna), which is an especially strong herbal laxative and can be addicting.