Q I like meat and rarely eat vegetables. How important is dietary fiber for diverticula?
A Dietary fiber is the most important nutrient in diverticulosis management. Sufficient fiber softens stools and lowers colon internal pressure, directly helping to prevent diverticulitis and symptom worsening.
Detailed Answer
Soluble fiber retains moisture in the stool to soften it, while insoluble fiber increases stool bulk to speed colon transit. The recommended daily fiber intake is 25–30g, but many people on Western or meat-centered diets consume less than half of this. Continuous fiber deficiency leads to chronic constipation, raising colon internal pressure and worsening diverticulosis.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Korean medicine emphasizes the principle of moistening the intestine and promoting defecation (潤腸通便)—moistening the intestine to facilitate smooth passage of stool. Combining improved dietary fiber intake with herbal medicine treatment that moistens the intestinal mucosa further enhances the effect of relieving constipation.
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