Diverticulitis is a common ailment in people aged above 60 years. It results mainly due to bad eating habits and being an age related disorder, there are other factors which act as a cause for this disease.
It basically results from a condition called 'diverticulosis' which involves the formation of sacs or vesicles in the lining of the alimentary tract. Even though its intrinsic nature is harmless, these sacs can prove to be a considerable source of discomfort if they become inflamed or are subject to infection.
Such formations in the intestine of an individual can mainly be attributed to the consumption of considerable quantities of processed food products, which are deficient in the essential nutrients required by the body and contain numerous non essential components.
The initial and basic treatment of this sort of discomfort can be a significant change in the diet of the individual. As this ailment results from absence of a fibrous diet over a long period of time, sufficient intake of fibrous food-stuffs may be advised for people diagnosed with a milder version of this disease. However, a doctor may advise against an extensive fibre rich diet as it may aggravate the condition. But it is very essential to maintain optimum levels of fibre in the body as the ailment is initially caused by its absence only. 'Psyllium' is a very rich source of fibre and considered to be amongst the best. It can be very well included in the diet plan of the individual. It essentially helps to cleanse the body by clearing out the bowel and increasing the elimination rate.
In order to prevent the colonization of the stomach by microbes, patients often adhere to the use of heavy dose anti-biotic. As a result, the good bacterial level in the body is also reduced to a considerable amount as is the ability of the body to ward off certain pathogens. Hence one should increase the intake of vegetables and fruits. In addition, one should try to incorporate probiotic food products in the diet pan as well. The inclusion of whole grains is also of considerable importance as it is a rich nutrient source for the body.
Also important is to increase considerably the amount of water intake for an individual. Water is considered to be the elixir of life and it is very essential that an individual has an optimum hydration level.
