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A 47-year-old member asked:

How much metamucil to prevent diverticulitis?

2 doctor answers6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Eric Kaplan
Colon and Rectal Surgery 44 years experience
If you eat: Adequate fiber in your diet, ie fruits vegetables salads, whole grains, don't waste your money on metamucil or other fiber substitutes and don't forget to drink 80-100 oz of caffeine free/alcohol free fluid daily. Fluid is necessary for fiber to work properly. Even so this will not prevent 100% of the cases of diverticulitis but it will reduces your chances.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Harold Peltan
Ophthalmology 30 years experience
Agree. Also, some people (like me) take Metamucil in order to help get enough fiber in the diet. Be sure to drink an extra glass of water after you take the Metamucil. Many doctors advise not straining on the toilet in order to help prevent diverticulosis, which can sometimes lead to diverticulitis.
Sep 10, 2013
Dr. Leonard Metildi
General Surgery 47 years experience
3 doses a day: Though i think that a high fiber diet &/or metamucil prevents diverticulitis, it is not conclusively proven. Diverticulitis is a peridiverticular infection while diverticulosis is the condition of having diverticulae. 3 doses of metamucil a day will prevent the formation of diverticulae.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Jun 15, 2020
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