A soothing solution The presence of colonic diverticula and its uncomfortable symptoms affects half of those in their 50s D iverticulosis is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions affecting the general population in the western world. It is estimated that over one million people are affected by diverticular disease in the UK. Approximately, 50% of all people have diverticula by the time they are 50 years of age, and nearly 70% of all people have diverticula by the time they are 80 years old. Diverticular disease is rare in people younger than 40 years, but is becoming more common. Diverticulosis is a term that is used to describe the presence of colonic diverticula, a small sac-like outpouching of mucosal and submucosal layers of the colonic (large bowel) wall. It has been suggested that a low-fibre diet plays a vital role in the development of diverticulosis, and age-related changes in the connective tissue of the colon may also lead to increased colonic rigidity. Hard to digest Low-fibre diets can reduce stool volume and predispose individuals to develop constipation that, in turn, leads to increased intraluminal pressure and colonic wall tension, causing the production of such outpouchings of the