I used to have mysterious pains and intermittent constipation with rather explosive and very painful resolutions of it. I thought I was eating a healthy diet, though I was putting on weight all the time. My doctor just said 'indigestion' when I asked about it - but the antacids did nothing at all.

Then I started Atkins - and no it isn't all fried foods.

You start off eating about one pound of vegetables a day and then increase it.

Since stopping eating flour and other grains my insides have never been happier. No more screaming, no more bleeding.

Our 'natural' diet included lots of vegetables. It might not help anyone with the diverticuli already - the damage is done, I suspect, but it might help the 'genetically predisposed' or those in the same household eating the same foods to avoid the problem.