Colitis, Diverticulitis, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Even though these diseases are different, they are treated very much the same as far as food enzyme to consume and avoid.
 
Diverticula are a pea or grape size protrusion in the intestinal wall. Without sufficient fiber to soften and add bulk, constipation will occur and stools are harder to pass.  This pressure creates weak points in the wall of the colon. Symptoms can be mild to chronic and usually are accompanied with sharp pain on the left side of the abdomen, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, bloating. Drinking a lot of water, and consuming adequate amounts of fiber correctly in the diet is the key to controlling this disorder.
 
Colitis can quickly turn into diverticulitis if not treated correctly. With colitis, the mucous membrane lining the colon becomes inflamed and develops ulcers which can cause bloody diarrhea, gas, pain, bloating and many times hard stools. When the colon muscles are working extra hard to move the stools, the mucous lining of the colon wall can bulge out into a pouch like projection called diverticula.
 
IBS also known as spastic colon can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract also known as reflux, because it can affect from the mouth to the colon. As in the above two conditions, food greatly affects the pain threshold. The normal muscular contractions of the digestive tract become irregular which interferes with the normal movement of food and bowel movements. This in turn leads to the accumulation of mucus and toxins in the intestines. This in turn can cause an obstruction in the digestive tract, trapping gas and stools and causes bloating, pain and constipation.
 
Foods to avoid with these conditions would be: alcohol, caffeine, carbonated beverages, red meat, citrus fruits, apples ( apple sauce is fine), grapes, melon ( watermelon is fine), corn, broccoli, iceberg lettuce, white potato (red potato is fine), tomato (white or purple are fine), onion, peppers, cucumber, chocolate, white refined simple carbohydrates and sugars, fried foods, spicy sauces, all dairy products ( use rice milk or almond milk), nuts & seeds (almond butters are fine), and any food additives such as sorbitol, sucralose, mannitol etc. In initially bad cases in any of these conditions, wheat can initially be eliminated and put back in once the condition is under control. Eat Papaya every day it aids in healing and digestion as does peppermint (not the candy).