Diverticulitis and CBD
Diverticulitis is defined as inflammation in the diverticulum , especially in the colon, causing pain and disturbance of bowel function. It is a chronic and difficult disorder to live with. In this article we will take a look at what causes diverticulitis, foods to avoid and foods to add to your diet, and how CBD can help.
What is Diverticulitis?
To understand diverticulitis we first need to understand diverticulosis. Diverticula are abnormal pouches that develop at weak spots in your intestines, the presence of diverticula without inflammation is called diverticulosis.
What are the symptoms of Diverticulitis?
Interestingly enough, the majority of people with diverticulosis never experience symptoms. Other people develop diverticulitis and experience a whole host of symptoms including:
- Pain during/after eating, passing bowels, or passing gas (typically on the left side, but occasionally on the right). When diverticula are severely inflamed or infected, pain can be constant and severe.
- Changing bowel habits or change in stool
- Constipation and (less commonly) diarrhea
- Blood in stool
- Rectal bleeding
- Nausea/Vomiting
- More frequent urination and/or painful urination
What causes diverticulitis?
Researchers don't know exactly why diverticula develop, however one school of thought points to lack of dietary fiber. This makes sense when you think of muscles and the old adage "If you don't use it, you loose it". A diet right in fiber helps your colon to work more efficiently by helping your body produce softer stools that are easier to pass. Not having enough fiber in your diet leads to harder stools that put more pressure on the colon as it moves the stool down leading to weak spots in the muscle wall that allow diverticula to develop. This theory has been widely debated, but many researchers believe that the anecdotal and circumstantial evidence is convincing. There was a school of thought for many years that nuts and seeds in the diet became lodged in the diverticula causing flare ups, but a recent study in 2008 found no link between
nuts/seeds & diverticulitis.
That being said, may people experiencing a flare up may be advised to limit fiber intake. Fiber adds bulk to stool, causing an increase in colon contractions. This can be very painful for someone experiencing a diverticulitis flare up.
Are there risk factors for diverticulitis?
Although there is no smoking gun cause for diverticulitis, there are some risk factors to take into consideration.
- Genetic
- Being over 50
- Low fiber diet
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Certain medications
- Smoking
- Lack of exercise
Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms and have any of these risk factors.
What should I eat if I have diverticulitis?
The discussion on this is all over the map and is a hotly debated topic in some circles. Some doctors say to avoid fatty foods and foods rich in sugar, others say to avoid red meat and fried foods. The thing to remember is that this is more widely seen as an individual choice and that each person has a different experience with foods and their symptoms. No matter which diet you decide is right for you, make sure you stay well hydrated, especially during an attack. Hydration is something a lot of people overlook and pay the price for. A dehydrated digestive tract is an unhealthy digestive tract that has to work extra hard to push toxic waste out of your system. It is wise for anyone experiencing frequent symptoms or is in the midst of an attack to avoid
high-FODMAP foods such as beans, dairy, fermented foods, cabbage/brussels sprouts, onions and garlic.
How can CBD help with my diverticulitis symptoms?
Just like you have a digestive system, you also have an equally important body system called the
Endocannabinoid System. Your ECS is the air traffic controller in your body that regulates homeostasis in all other systems of the body. There are many many functions of the ECS, however one to look at when it comes to issues in the gut are the
cannabinoid receptors in between the gut and the brain. The
vagus nerve is the communication highway between the gut and the brain and is loaded with cannabinoid receptors. What this means for people who suffer from diverticulitis is activating these receptors can reduce the pain signals going to the brain. CBD also helps your body to modulate inflammatory response and is a powerful anti-inflammatory. CBD elevates the endocannabinoid 2AG, which mainly binds with CB2 receptors which your gut is loaded with. This study shows that CBD was able to reduce inflammation in the gut. It can take some time to find the right product for your personal needs, but many of my customers are loving the full spectrum oils and suppositories for diverticulitis.
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