More Fiber = Lower Diverticular Risk

In a new study published this week in BMJ, analyzing data from the ongoing European Prospective Investigation into Cancer & Nutrition (EPIC), the authors followed 47,033 participants for 11+years, 15,459 of who self-reported as vegetarians.  When all was said and done, vegetarians had a one third lower risk of hospitalization for and death from diverticular disease.  

But a vegetarian diet isn't for everyone.  What if you have just have to have an (occasional) animal source of protein.  Make sure you also consume at least 25.5g/d of fiber if you're female and 26.1g/d if you're male.  Why?  Compared to those in the lowest quintile for fiber consumption (less than 14g/d for both men & women), those in the highest quintile also demonstrated a similar inverse association with diverticular disease.

So choose wisely.  Eat the colors of the rainbow every day, including at least 5 servings each of fruits & vegetables to minimize your risk for diverticular disease and death.