High Fiber Diet Doesn't Help Diverticulosis

[Rosie]

I saw this recent article which turns the conventional wisdom about a high fiber diet for diverticulosis on it's head. There have been previous discussions on this forum about what to do if you have both MC and diverticulosis, because MC means that you should avoid fiber, while diverticulosis has mandated a high fiber diet. Well, now you don't have to choose........ a low fiber diet works best for both! And this is yet another example of how "conventional wisdom" doesn't hold up when actually examined!

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenter ... logy/30807

Risk factors for diverticulosis are typically thought to include a low fiber diet, a high intake of red meat and fat.

In this study, though, a high-fiber diet did not protect against asymptomatic diverticulosis, and, in fact, was associated with a greater prevalence of the condition.

A high-fiber diet afforded no protection against asymptomatic diverticulosis, findings from more than 2,000 colonoscopy exams showed. In fact, patients who ate the most fiber had the highest prevalence of diverticulosis, about 30% higher than people who consumed the least dietary fiber.

Moreover, constipation did not increase the risk of diverticulosis -- just the opposite. People who had fewer than seven bowel movements a week had a lower prevalence than those with more frequent BMs.

The findings, reported online in Gastroenterology, confound conventional wisdom about colon health.

"Our data demonstrated no association between fat, red meat, physical activity, and diverticulosis," Robert S. Sandler, MD, of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and coauthors wrote in conclusion.

"Based on our results, previous hypotheses regarding diverticulosis risk factors and diet recommendations to patients should be reconsidered."

Rosie

[tex]

Rosie,

Many thanks for posting this information. I have long wondered about that, because I always seemed to do best on a low-fiber diet. I can't help but wonder where doctors get their guidelines for dietary treatment of the various diseases. It sort of appears that they just pull them out of a hat, or make them up on the spot.

In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if there are any benefits to eating a high-fiber diet, for anyone, under any any circumstances. The paleo-archaeological evidence certainly doesn't provide any evidence that our ancient ancestors ate high-fiber diets. This appears to be a modern "fabrication", and it probably plays a part in a lot of health issues that are becoming increasingly more prevalent in recent history.

Thanks,
Tex

[JLH]

WOW! Thanks very much for sharing for that info.

[hoosier1]

I wish I had a dime for every quack doctor I have seen that has told me to take more fiber. Fiber is clearly detrimental to me, at least in the dosages the docs prescribe.

We all know you gotta go with what works best for all of as, as individuals. Fiber, IMO and experience, is not a miracle therapy.

Rich

[SherylR]

Hi - I have diverticulosis also. And tried to start and add more fibre in - with disastrous consequences. Back in the midst of a flare up of LC. Cholesterol is mid high and I have a strong family history of instant death heart attacks so it’s so hard and stressful to get all this working well. I’m back to the basics and hoping all goes well. Anyone else miss food??? I love to eat. This disease sure isn’t easy. Have had it since 2012 - LC and was really well controlled for about a year. Till I had surgery and was forced to stay home and husband eats junk and I got caught up in bad food occasionally again. So I guess - a year later - I have hit the wall and am back to LC symptoms and eating the way I should again.