Originally Posted by Benay

Diverticulosis refers to the small bulging pockets that develop and line the large intestines as we age. Since everyone is different (that goes without saying), some people have none, some a few on the left side, others have them throughout the large bowel. The pockets also vary in size. Food can get 'stuck' in those pockets. This is especially true for people who suffer from constipation. No matter how long you chew, there will always be small 'chunks' of the nut that must pass through the colon with the possibility of getting 'caught' in a diverticula. Same with seeds. They stay put, cause friction, which causes inflammation and then infection which is very painful. This is now called 'diverticulitis.' Antibiotics are necessary to clear up the infection. (A friend had to have a bowel resection after eating too much popcorn at the movies. Too many of her diverticula had become infected.)

To prevent this process from starting, sufferers are told to avoid nuts and seeds which are the primary cause (along with things like popcorn) of the problem. So for people with diverticulosis the 2 rungs of the Atkins ladder to avoid are the berries, nuts and seeds.