Most People Develop Diverticulosis in Their Gut by Age 80 … So What Is It?

It's not something people often talk about at the dinner table, but your gut health plays a huge role in your overall well-being. And one of the most common conditions affecting the large intestine is diverticular disease .

Diverticular disease or diverticulosis is where small bulges or pouches (called diverticula) form in the wall of the colon, often due to a weakening in the muscle layer.

These pouches are usually harmless, but in some cases they can become inflamed or infected – a condition known by the slightly different name of diverticulitis.

Around 70% of people in western countries will have developed diverticular disease by the time they reach 80.

It's also increasingly showing up in younger adults , which may be linked to the low-fiber, highly processed nature of man