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Diverticulosis & Nuts

Should people with diverticulosis avoid nuts, seeds, and popcorn?

December 11, 2010 |
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Diverticulosis & Nuts, 5.0 out of 5 based on 2 ratings

Sources Cited

W. Marcason. What is the latest research regarding the avoidance of nuts, seeds, corn, and popcorn in diverticular disease? J Am Diet Assoc, 108(11):1956, 2008.

Acknowledgements

Transcript

Still, nuts are the best source of fat, but what if you have diverticulosis? Doctor typically tell patients with diverticulosis that they should avoid nuts.
Diverticulosis is a disease caused by inadequate dietary fiber intake. If you don’t get enough vitamin C, you can develop scurvy; if you don’t get enough fiber, you can develop diverticulosis, outpouchings from your colon. When we don’t eat enough fiber every day to soften and bulk up our stool we may have to strain during a bowel movement, and after a lifetime of straining, you can literally blow out these pockets from our colon.
More than half of older Americans have diverticulosis, because people don’t eat enough plant foods, the only place fiber is found.
This is what they look like on the inside. This is what they look like on the outside. That should be a smooth round tube. If one of these offshoot blow-out tunnels gets inflamed, though, it looks more like this and this. You don’t have to be a doctor to realize that is not what our colon should look like. Ånd if we keep it up, it can eat right through and we can blow a hole in our colon and, die, all because we ate too many refined foods and animals and not enough whole plants.
But, back to the original question though. Sometimes on autopsy, you can find nuts, seeds, or pieces of corn or popcorn stuck in those pockets, which led to this theory that they be what triggered the inflammation. So the conventional wisdom has been to tell elderly folks to stay away from these foods. But at the same time, the lack of plant foods caused the whole problem in the first place, so do we really want to tell people to cut down?
Well, what does the latest research show? Stay away from these foods: Fact, or fiction???
According to a landmark new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, not only fiction, but those with diverticulosis eating nuts and popcorn had lower rates of inflammation.

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by veganmontreal.

To help out on the site please email volunteer@nutritionfacts.org

Dr. Michael Greger

Doctor's Note

Please feel free to post any ask-the-doctor type questions here in the comments section and I’d be happy to try to answer them. And check out theother videos about fiber. Also, there are 1,449 other subjects covered in the rest of my videos--please feel free to explore them as well!

For some context, please check out my associated blog posts: Bowel Movements: The Scoop on Poop, Cholesterol Lowering in a Nut Shell, and Optimal Phytosterol Dose and Source.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/mgreger/ Michael Greger M.D.

    Please feel free to post any ask-the-doctor type questions here in the comments section and I’d be happy to try to answer them. And check out the other videos about fiber. Also, there are 1,449 other subjects covered in the rest of my videos–please feel free to explore them as well!

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/grasshopper/ grasshopper

    i’ve been a vegetarian, eating whole plant foods since the age of 21. i am lactose intolerant, but didn’t discover that till i was 18. at age 53, i was diagnosed with extensive diverticulosis and internal hemroids. i am confused as to why i have this condition after eating a plant-based high fibre diet for over 30 years, and have always had regular bowel movements? could the damage have occured in the first 20 years of my life? i soak and grind my nuts to ease digestion(food is undigested in the stool), and perhaps ease the bleeding of internal hemroids. Any ideas?

    • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/drdons/ DrDons

      I would guess that either that the damage started earlier or for some reason you have a tendency to get diverticuli. Studies of populations who consume high fiber diets since birth show almost no diverticuli, appendicitis, and colon cancer. I believe that following a low fat whole plant based diet with B12 supplementation will be the best bet in avoiding problems in the future. Once some problems have developed and persisted despite us giving our bodies a chance to heal they sometimes need to be evaluated and fixed such as “banding” for internal hemorrhoids or we have to “learn to live with” problems that aren’t necessary to fix… it is often difficult to decide what to do. It is important for you to work with your physician(s) to make the best choice for yourself.

      • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/grasshopper/ grasshopper

        thank you for your reply. i have tried banding 5 times to no avail. however, i’ve just been diagnosed with IBS. i suspect i am intolerant to all foods, but i suspect citric acid is a trigger that creates pain, and it is in my liquid B12 supplement. Can you recommend a B12 product without anything else?

        • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/drdons/ DrDons

          I don’t have a B12 product that I can recommend. Sounds like you are still having GI problems. These can be incredibly difficult to sort out. You might be interested in the December 2002 newsletter article by Dr. John McDougall titled, The Diet for the Desperate. Go to his website and follow the link Newsletter Archives to get to December 2002 and then the article. Good luck.

          • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/grasshopper/ grasshopper

            Thank you for the link to dr. mcDougall, this is a very clear elimination diet. i spent january on a 4 day rotation diet of botannical food groups, and strongly suspect that roasted nuts and seeds are problematic. in february i eliminated them from my diet and lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks. i’m 5’7″ and 113 pounds, too thin! i’m concerned about the lack of fat in my diet. do you know of other vegan choices for healthy fat and putting weight on?

          • AlexanderBerenyi

             Avocado.

      • http://twitter.com/museredux museredux

        So we might also be looking at the probiotic benefits of fiber. Any studies comparing breast fed vs formula populations?

    • AlexanderBerenyi

      A High-Fiber Diet Does Not Protect Against Asymptomatic Diverticulosis
      http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016508511015095

      “Compared to individuals with 15 bower movements per week had a 70% greater risk for diverticulosis. Neither physical inactivity nor intake of fat or red meat was associated with diverticulosis.

      Conclusion:
      A high-fiber diet and increased frequency of bowel movements are associated with greater, rather than lower, prevalence of diverticulosis. Hypotheses regarding risk factors for asymptomatic diverticulosis should be reconsidered.”

    • Cindy

      DAIRY !?!

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/chewy/ chewy

    is air popped popcorn ok to eat daily?

    • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/mgreger/ Michael Greger M.D.

      One of my favorite snacks! I like to sprinkle nutritional yeast on mine. What’s everyone’s favorite topping?

      • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/chewy/ chewy

        so dr.greger, are plain brown rice cakes and plain puffed whole grain brown rice cereal ok to eat?not harmful foods despite the glycemic index….

      • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/thea/ Thea

        re: “What’s everyone’s favorite topping?”

        I too like nutritional yeast, but it doesn’t stick to the popcorn by itself. How do you really eat it/get the powder to stick?

        I tried spraying water on the popcorn and the putting the nutritional yeast on, but this only gave marginal success in getting the nut yeast to stick and the water wasn’t very appetizing on the popcorn. (I did try a fine-mist sprayer, but it didn’t really work.)

        Then, a few weeks ago I was watching videos on the PCRM 21 Day Kickstart program for India. The cook from India was doing a demo and had made some cashew paste as part of the recipe. The cook said that she thought that the cashew paste smelled like ghee, which is clarified butter.

        This gave me the idea of trying it on my popcorn. So, I put some cashews in the blender. Add just enough water to make a few of the top cashews float. Then I add a TON of nutritional yeast and bit of salt. Blend on turbo-high until it is very creamy. Add more water as needed to adjust for consistency and then poor over the popcorn.

        The result is *very* tasty, though it is important to make two notes: 1) it doesn’t really taste or spread like butter. 2) while this video and others show that whole nuts are generally good for you, adding nuts does add a fair number of calories. This topping means that you no longer have a low-calorie snack. But for a nice treat, perhaps while watching a special movie, this idea is a great substitute for traditional popcorn.

        For variations: I sometimes sprinkle on top various flavors of spices. MS Dash kind of thing. Or try just powdered garlic and onion on top. It will stick pretty good after pouring on the above concoction.

      • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/alexandra-georgiadis/ Alexandra Georgiadis

        Thyme!!

      • daisy

        i love my air popped popcorn plain! 
        i read your recipe for zombie popcorn,. do you  eat it often?is it fine  to eat a bowl of plain air popped popcorn everyday?the rest of my rather strict diet is based on leafy greens,other non-starchy veg,legumes and 2 pieces of fruit. i like simplicity!org air popped popcorn makes a great starch for me!fast,cheap and portable.just want to have reassurance that it is ok for the digestive tract to eat daily.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/drdons/ DrDons

    Hi Chewy, Pop corn is an excellent food. Air popped is the best, much better than the traditional approach to popping it in oil. Processed oils are high in caloric density and hence calories but contain saturated fats as well.

    • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/toxins/ Toxins

      Whats your take on non gmo corn? I have heard from non credible sources that non gmo corn, which has infested the corn supply, is a contributor to gluten allergies.

      • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/drdons/ DrDons

        Hi Toxins,
        My take is that non GMO corn is better than GMO corn. Beyond that I’m not very knowledgeable about corn vs gluten.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/chewy/ chewy

    thanks dr dons!are plain brown unsalted rice cakes(lundberg) and nature’s path plain organic puffed rice healthy options too?

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/drdons/ DrDons

    Hi Chewy, Rice cakes and cereal are good food choices but they are processed. Whenever foods are processed they usually have had fiber and nutrients removed, the complex carbohydrates have been modified for faster absorption… hence the higher glycemic index, and chemicals have often been added… just check the labels. Sometimes even the most benign sounding ingredients can have unintended consequences see two chemicals that can form benzene in sodas for instance. You can check out video http://nutritionfacts.org/videos/is-sodium-benzoate-harmful/. So the foods that you mention are alot healthier than some options but they are not as healthy as others… a nutrient rich whole food plant based diet.

    • Susandison

      thanks for your reply dr. dons! can you explain why air popped popcorn is unprocessed yet puffed 100%whole grain brown rice is considered processed?

      • daisy

        could eating puffed rice and air popped popcorn ever cause colon polyps etc.?

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/chewy/ chewy

    is air popped organic popcorn in any way harmful to the colon if eaten daily(which i do)

    • Toxins

       Air popped popcorn is by all means healthy! It is one of my favorite snacks and I would consume it everyday if i didn’t run out of kernels so often.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/drdons/ DrDons

    Of course you can overdo anything. In moderation I see no problem. The best diet is a whole plant based diet with a variety of foods.

  • Michael Greger M.D.

    Also be sure to check out my associated blog post Bowel Movements: The Scoop on Poop!

  • stacy

    DrDons, Can u give an outline of exactly what “whole food plant based diet” means?  There are so many variations on what a “whole food plant based diet” is, from starch-based, fruit-based, veg-based… McDougall, Fuhrman, Ornish, etc.  It’s enough to make one’s head spin!
    Also, regarding popcorn, aren’t the Acrylamides produced dangerous?

    And, what is the consensus on nutritional yeast?  I’d love to see a video on the pros and cons of it (dysbiosis contributor? MSG? candida etc)

    Some other suggested videos:
    -raw sauerkraut (like the one from Rejuvenative foods)

    -Probiotics: do they really help with dysbiosis?

    -digestive enzymes: are they beneficial, especially for people on a vegan or raw diet, and for those with digestive issues?

    -Food combining:  fact or fiction?

    -Macronutrients:  What is the optimal ratio (McDougall’s 10% fat or Fuhrman’s higher fat, for instance)?

  • daisy

    are air popped popcorn and puffed 100%whole grain brown rice approximately equivalent in nutrition ?

  • daisy

    could eating plain unsalted whole grain brown rice cakes cause polyps if eaten as part of a strict low fat gluten-free vegan diet(furhman/mcdougall) eating lots of vegetables raw and steamed,beans,fruit?

  • AmyD

    Dr. Greger – I’m curious about the link between diverticulitis and high-fiber diets – the study here: http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(11)01509-5/abstract?referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FDiverticulitis suggests that the more fibre we have in our diets, the more likely we are to develop this disease – do you have any other data on this?

    • anonymous

      so is popcorn perfectly safe and fine to eat?no chance of getting diverticulosis?

  • http://twitter.com/museredux museredux

    Diverticulosis can be congenital as well. It’s basically a hernia of the bowel wall.

  • Kate

    Hooray, a video online that does not have someone starring me in the eye, for 20 minutes – going on and on about an advertised product!!! I almost did not watch the video, but I am glad I did – because of the pictures and demonstrations of what can happen in diverticulosis. I like this person!

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