Colonoscopy With Diverticulosis: Understanding the Diagnosis and What Comes Next

If your recent colonoscopy revealed diverticulosis, you're not alone—and you're probably left wondering what it means and what to do next. This diagnosis comes up often in routine gastrointestinal screenings, yet so many patients walk away without clear answers or actionable advice.

Let’s change that. Because diverticulosis, while common, is also a sign that your digestive health and gut microbiome may need support, especially if you’re dealing with symptoms like bloating, abdominal discomfort, irregular stools, or weight loss resistance.

Listen to the Episode Now:

Episode Player

What Is Diverticulosis?

Diverticulosis is a condition where small pouches (called diverticula) form along the lining of the colon, often in the sigmoid region. These pouches are typically discovered during a colonoscopy procedure or CT scan, especially in adults over age 50.

On its own, diverticulosis usually doesn’t cause symptoms or immediate harm. But when these pouches become inflamed, infected, or damaged, the condition can escalate into diverticulitis—a more serious disease that may cause intense abdominal pain, fever, bleeding, or even require antibiotics or surgery.

So while diverticulosis might seem minor on paper, it’s often a red flag that something deeper is going on in your gastrointestinal tract, especially when paired with poor gut health or unresolved digestive issues.

Why Is Diverticulosis So Common?

In the U.S. and other Western countries, diverticular disease is incredibly widespread. One reason? Lifestyle and diet. Research and clinical data continue to show that dietary habits, sedentary behavior, and processed food intake all play a major role in the development of this condition.

Here’s what contributes to the rise in diverticulosis and diverticulitis:

• Low fiber diets cause harder stools and slow bowel transit time. This increases pressure in the colon, which can lead to the formation of diverticula.

• Ultra-processed foods and additives irritate the colon lining and drive inflammation throughout the digestive system.

• A disrupted gut microbiome, dehydration, and poor nutrition weaken the intestinal wall, making the colon more susceptible to diverticular disease.

• Lack of physical movement, high red meat intake, and smoking further increase the risk factors.

  
  

Many cases of diverticulosis are preventable. But that starts with education, not just a handout that says “eat more fiber.”

“My Doctor Said Food Doesn’t Matter.”

(Here’s Why That’s Wrong)

This is one of the most frustrating myths in conventional gastroenterology. If you’ve had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, or even biopsy, and your doctor told you that food sensitivities, inflammation, or nutrition don’t play a role, they’re missing the bigger picture.

Functional nutrition recognizes the powerful connection between your microbiome, gut-brain axis, and overall digestive health. Your body isn’t just reacting to fiber intake—it’s responding to micronutrients, stress, toxins, inflammation, and how you digest and absorb foods.

This is why I dig deeper with my clients—because symptoms like constipation, bloating, loose stools, and weight loss resistance often tie back to more than just one food group.

Testing > Guessing: Find the Root Cause

If you're navigating chronic digestive discomfort or feel like your gut is “off,” it’s time to stop guessing and start testing.

I offer comprehensive assessments that go far beyond what a traditional healthcare provider might offer:

• Microbiome testing covering over 170 functional markers

• Food sensitivity tests to identify trigger foods

• Micronutrient panels that assess for nutrient imbalances tied to gut inflammation

• Markers for intestinal permeability, scar tissue, and adhesions

  
  

These tools help pinpoint the cause behind your symptoms—whether it’s poor gut lining integrity, chronic inflammation, or a reaction to ultra-processed foods.

Not Ready for Testing Yet?

Then let’s start with what you can control: your food and your habits.

I created Your Diet Do Over, an 8-week educational course rooted in functional nutrition that walks you through:

• How to reset your gut basics

• The connection between gut health, the gut-brain axis, and mood

• Steps to reduce inflammation through smarter food choices and stress management

• Understanding how processed foods can influence everything from digestion to skin disorders.

And no, it’s not about restriction or calorie-counting. It’s about learning what your body truly needs to heal.

You can join today at harmonywithfood.com.

Still Unsure Where to Start?

Let’s talk—no pressure.

You can schedule a free 45-minute discovery call with me. It’s a chance to walk through your history, your symptoms, and what might be going on beneath the surface.

Pick your time, choose phone or Zoom, and I’ll meet you there. Schedule now at harmonywithfood.com, just click the white “Free Call” button.

Don’t Let the System Fail You

Diverticulosis may not always turn into diverticulitis, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it.

Waiting for a full-blown infection, bleeding episode, or emergency surgery is not the goal. Prevention is powerful—and possible.

You deserve care that goes deeper than symptom suppression. You deserve answers.

If your colonoscopy shows diverticulosis, take it as your signal to get curious, not complacent. Let’s work together to support your gut, reduce your risks, and bring real healing to the table.

Schedule a Free Call WIth Meg

Episode Transcript