Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “My son was recently rushed to the hospital with severe pain. He was later diagnosed with diverticulitis. He is back at home and wants to avoid going through another episode like he had. What, if any supplements should he take?” — Linda B., Raleigh, NC

A. Dear Linda, Diverticulosis happens when pouches (called diverticula) form in the wall of the large intestine. Diverticula are common, especially after age 40. In fact, a person may never even know they have these pouches because they seldom cause any problems. However, if these small, bulging pouches become inflamed or infected, it causes diverticulitis. An individual suffering from diverticulitis may experience abdominal pain or tenderness, fever, and changes in bowel habits.

Exactly how diverticula become inflamed or infected isn’t clear. One theory is that increased pressure in the colon can weaken the walls of the pouches, leading to infection. Another is that the narrow openings of the pouches may trap fecal matter, which can lead to infection. Or an obstruction in the narrow opening of a pouch may reduce blood supply to the area, which leads to inflammation. In the past, doctors thought that nuts, seeds, popcorn and corn played a role in causing diverticulitis by getting trapped in the pouches. However, research has shown that these foods aren’t associated with an increased risk of diverticulitis.

While I do have some recommendations that may help prevent future episodes, I would strongly encourage your son to discuss the use of dietary supplementation with his physician.

I believe that taking a blend of highly-bioavailable curcumin and boswellia extracts daily is the best place to start. Curcumin and boswellia are traditional botanicals that do an excellent job relieving pain and inflammation, as well as healing the mucous membrane. The combination also benefits lung, heart and brain health as well, so it is a good product to use on an ongoing basis. I would suggest approximately 1,450 mg of this curcumin-boswellia combination daily.

Make sure the product you choose features curcumin that has excellent absorption and has been proven in published human studies. The best form I have ever found uses micronized curcumin blended with turmeric essential oils in a patented process. This curcumin has been shown in published human studies to be up to 10 times better absorbed than plain curcumin. Also make sure that the boswellia is screened to less than 5% beta boswellic acid and standardized to 10% acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA), the most active component of boswellia.

I would also recommend a good probiotic. Probiotics, also called ‘beneficial bacteria’, typically colonize in the intestines and are not only beneficial for intestinal health, but overall health as well. Look for a probiotic product that contains species, like Lactobacillus paracasei, which help to keep the immune system running smoothly and the numbers of harmful bacteria in check. I especially like probiotics blended with a clinically studied, encapsulated DGL, which stands for “deglycyrrhizinated licorice.” This extract of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a strong antioxidant, works as an antimicrobial agent, and helps reduce inflammation. The reason these licorice extracts are known as “DGL” is because they are free of glycyrrhizinic acid, which can raise blood pressure. DGL helps keep the stomach and intestinal mucosal lining strong and intact. Look for a product that contains a DGL extract standardized to contain 3.5% glabridin, with greater than 10% total flavonoids per dose. I would suggest taking this blend twice daily.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally