Popcorn and nuts back on the menu for diverticular disease

Sep 18, 2008 10:27 AM

For years, people with a common digestion disorder have been told to avoid foods like nuts, corn, and seeds. But new research shows that advice may have been over-cautious.

Diverticular disease happens when the wall of the colon bulges out to forms small pouches. This happens to about half of Americans over the age of 60. Often, it doesn't cause any symptoms, but for some people the pouches bleed or get infected. This can cause bloating and painful stomach cramps.

Mostly, people with diverticular disease don't need medication. They are usually advised to eat a healthy diet with plenty of fiber. A low-fiber diet is thought to be one of the causes of diverticular disease.

Doctors often advise people with diverticular disease to avoid foods like nuts, maize, popcorn, and seeds. That's because they're concerned that these foods could get stuck in the pouches and cause inflammation or bleeding. When the pouches in the intestine get inflamed, it's called diverticulitis.

But nuts, seeds, and corn are all useful forms of protein, and often include healthy oils and other nutrients. Doctors have become concerned that people with diverticular disease might be missing out on these healthy foods unnecessarily.

So, researchers looked at the diets of lots of people with diverticular disease, to see if the people who ate nuts, seeds, and corn regularly were more likely to get diverticulitis. The results showed that these foods don't seem to increase your chances of having problems.

What you need to know. Most people with diverticular disease can enjoy a bowl of popcorn or a handful of nuts without storing up trouble. But choose healthy unsalted, fat-free varieties to get the health benefits.

—Anna Sayburn, Patient editor, BMJ Group

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