Diverticulitis
What Is It?
The following are three names you may hear connected with this diverticulitis:
Diverticulosis: This is where small pockets or pouches have ballooned out of the large bowel but is showing no symptoms or causing discomfort.
Diverticular disease: Refers to anyone with diverticulosis who may be showing some symptoms.
Diverticulitis: Is where the diverticular have become inflamed and infected as a result of trapped faecal matter. This can worsen and lead to other problems. It can be dangerous as the neck of the little cul-de-sac-shaped protuberances can become twisted and strangled, and can lead to necrotic tissue (dead tissue) forming with resultant perforation causing peritonitis which normally results in surgery. www.medicalnewstoday.com
It is suggested that around half the people in the UK have this condition by the age of 50, after which it rises to nearly 7 in 10 people by the age of 80. There were 113,983 hospital admissions due to diverticulitis in England between 2012 and 2013.
Cause and Effect
Diverticulitis is more common in older people where the elasticity and tone of the bowel wall has been compromised and often follows chronic constipation. However, it is increasingly being seen as a problem in younger people.
It is believed that insufficient fibre in the diet may be a cause. Anyone who studies Juice Therapy or nutrition will agree that a diet devoid of fibre is a major cause of many of today’s digestive problems.
Juice Pharmacy Recommendations
What to Avoid
Avoid highly processed, overcooked food, refined white sugar, red meat, dairy, alcohol, tea, coffee, sugar-laden carbonated drinks.
What to Include
Juices can be easily digested without causing any strain on the digestive tract and will minimise the amount of painful peristalsis triggered, so easing the pain. Colonic hydrotherapy is also suggested to help cleanse the colon.
Aloe vera - Added to any juice blend, aloe vera juice will help to soothe and heal inflamed and irritated tissues. Aloe vera can be a little bitter and to make the juices palatable, other fruits such as apple or pineapple can be added. Carrots are naturally sweet, so they will produce a palatable juice which can carry the flavour of aloe vera.
Banana - Pureed banana, thinned with aloe vera juice, is an ideal combination to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Cabbage - Cabbage juice has been found to be particularly healing for the surfaces of the intestines and is best blended with other juices to buffer its effects as it can be a little strong on its own.
Fibre - A diet high in natural fibre is beneficial. The easiest way to do this initially is to juice fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, with the aim of flooding the system with nutrients. www.nhs.uk
Water - Drink two litres of mineral water each day to help flush out impurities.
The Juice Recipes
Shot: The Cabbage Shot
1 Apple
¼ Small Red Cabbage
Juice and down in one.
Juice: The Rainbow Remedy - taken from Jason Vale's Super Juice Me! 28-Day Juice Plan
2 Apples
1 Carrot
1 Celery Stalk
¼ Cucumber
1 Beetroot
1 Small Handful of Red Cabbage
1 Tomato
3cm Raw Ginger
¼ Lemon
Juice all the fruits and vegetables and serve over ice.
Blends: Anti-Inflammatory Green Blend - taken from Jason Vale's Super Juice Me! 28-Day Juice Plan
¼ Medium Pineapple (peeled)
1 Pear (any hard variety)
1 Lime (peeled)
3cm Ginger
¼ Medium Cucumber
½ Celery Stick
1 Cauliflower Floret (roughly the size of a lime)
½ Medium Avocado (ripe)
3 Ice Cubes
Juice the pineapple, pear, lime, ginger, cucumber, celery and cauliflower. Add the avocado flesh and ice to a blender/booster, pour in the extracted juice and blend until smooth.
Disclaimer
Please note, it is impossible to give a definitive list as what supports one person can be a trigger food or allergen for another. You must stay your own juice detective at all times and listen to how your own body responds to certain foods and always consult with your healthcare provider when making changes to your diet which may affect your medication. Please be aware that we are not doctors, so it is important to consult with your GP or medical practitioner BEFORE making any changes to your diet. The suggestions above are not meant as an alternative to any current medical treatment so please DO NOT stop taking any medications you are on. They are also not an endorsement of their effectiveness, or a recommendation that they should be followed but instead, are provided for informational purposes. None of the information on the Natural Juice Therapy site is intended or implied to treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease.