Restore balance to prevent painful flare-ups
Your gut contains hundreds of different types of bacteria, along with viruses and fungi, that make up your microbiome. This community of microorganisms plays a crucial role in maintaining your digestive health, immune system, and overall wellbeing. However, when this delicate balance is disrupted – a condition known as dysbiosis – it can lead to various health issues, including an increased risk of developing Diverticular Disease and diverticulitis.
What is dysbiosis?
Dysbiosis occurs when there is an imbalance in the gut, especially between the good and bad bacteria in the gut. Recent research has shown that dysbiosis plays a central role in the development of diverticular disease symptoms. When harmful bacteria overpopulate or the gut microbiota loses diversity, the bowel’s protective lining becomes compromised, allowing pathogens to trigger inflammation. This can weaken the gut wall, increasing the risk of diverticular pockets developing and those pockets becoming infected, leading to diverticulitis.
There are three types of dysbiosis. In most cases, you can have all three types of dysbiosis. This is not uncommon. These types of dysbiosis include:
- Loss of good bacteria – often due to poor diet, antibiotic overuse, or stress.
- Overgrowth of harmful bacteria – driven by low stomach acid, slow bowel movements, or prolonged medication use (e.g., antibiotics or PPIs).
- Loss of microbial diversity – resulting in a weakened gut environment that’s prone to disease.
What causes dysbiosis?
There is rarely one single ‘root cause’ to dysbiosis but the following factors can all contribute:
- Low fibre intake – fibre is essential for maintaining a healthy gut and preventing pathogenic overgrowth.
- Stress – physical and emotional stress can lower immune defences, allowing harmful bacteria to thrive.
- Medications – antibiotics, proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), and other medications can disturb the gut microbiome.
- Poor digestion – low stomach acid and slow bowel motility can lead to bacterial overgrowth.
Prolonged dysbiosis can weaken the bowel walls, making them more vulnerable to diverticular pockets, inflammation, and bacterial translocation. This increases the risk of diverticulitis, where these pockets become inflamed, leading to pain, infection, and complications like bowel rupture.
Addressing dysbiosis to prevent diverticulitis
To prevent and manage diverticulitis, restoring balance in the gut microbiota is crucial. Try the following to address dysbiosis:
- Increase fibre intake – aim for 30g of fibre per day from sources like lentils, leafy greens, and whole grains to promote healthy bowel movements and reduce inflammation.
- Take probiotics – our Live Bacteria capsules can help restore gut balance and prevent harmful bacteria from overgrowing. Take one capsule twice daily before meals with a small glass of cold water.
- Use activated charcoal – periodically cleansing the bowel with our activated Charcoal capsules can reduce the build-up of toxins and pathogens. You can read how to carry out our recommended 5-day Charcoal cleanse here.
- Avoid processed foods and excessive sugars – these can fuel harmful bacteria and contribute to dysbiosis.
- Manage stress – try mindfulness, physical activity, and other stress-reducing techniques to help support overall gut health.
By restoring gut balance and maintaining bowel hygiene, you can significantly reduce the risk of diverticulitis flare-ups and improve long-term digestive health.
For more information and advice, download our free Diverticular Disease Fact Sheet. If you have a question about a digestive and gut health issue or would like to know more about a tailored supplement protocol, please get in touch.
