Digestive System

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on Fiber: Its Importance In Your Diet. The University of Maryland publishes a page on its Web site that contains a listing of fiber content in popular foods, good sources of fiber, and not-so-good sources. The page may be found at University Of Maryland Handouts.

The following foods are good sources of fiber: Whole grains (bran has the highest fiber content); this includes breads and cereals, whole-grain pastas, and brown rice Nuts and seeds Legumes (such as dried peas, beans, lentils) Fruits Vegetables A dietary supplement of fiber products such as Citrucel orMetamucil, which are mixed with water and provide about 4

A good diet should contain approximately 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day. The average American eats less than half of that. Getting more fiber in your diet doesn’t have to mean a drastic change. In fact, it’s best to start slowly, in order to avoid constipation from getting too much fiber all at

Fiber has numerous effects in the large intestine: Fiber is attacked and broken down by the huge population of bacteria that live in the colon. The breakdown products are acids and gases. This process is called fermentation. Dietary fiber is only partly fermented, because some plant cell walls resist bacterial attack. The simple organic acids

Fiber is helpful to the body in many ways: Relieving constipation and hemorrhoids Preventing certain diseases Keeping weight under control Avoiding And Relieving Constipation Fiber can absorb large amounts of water in the bowels, and this makes stools softer and easier to pass. Anyone starting a higher-fiber diet will notice the difference in stool bulk.

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on Diverticular Disease. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a part of the National Institutes of Health.  http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/digest.htm The web site posts information on digestive diseases, provides a directory of digestive diseases organizations for patients, and will send free publications and

Many people with diverticular disease have no symptoms and require no treatment. Treatment is required if symptoms develop. Usually symptoms can be treated successfully, and most people who have an episode of inflamed diverticular disease do not suffer a recurrence. If serious complications do develop, surgery may be required to remove the affected parts of

Living with diverticular disease involves: A high-fiber diet Treating mild symptoms A High-Fiber Diet Usually the simple remedy of a high-fiber diet may well prevent the development of complications from diverticular disease. People hospitalized for complications of diverticular disease typically start a high-fiber diet while still in the hospital. Fiber keeps stool soft, keeps the

The large majority of people with diverticular disease will not realize they have diverticula unless the condition is discovered during a colonoscopy. You can reduce your risk for the disease or its complications by eating plenty of fiber. Those who do experience discomfort usually suffer a relatively mild case of inflammation, readily treated with antibiotics in the short term

Here are some frequently asked questions related to Diverticular Disease. Q: Does diverticular disease increase the chance of later developing colon cancer? A: No, diverticular disease doesn’t seem to increase the risk for colon cancer. But the symptoms of colon cancer can be quite similar to those of diverticular disease. Cancer and diverticula often look alike on CT scans (CT