Diverticulosis

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The Finger Squeeze Test

Assume that your left forefinger is a small stool and that your left wrist is a large bulky stool. Now assume that your right hand is your colon which can squeeze down at only certain maximum force.
  • Squeeze your left forefinger as hard as you can. It can almost hurt if you squeeze hard enough.
  • Then squeeze your left wrist with the same force. You can generate much less pressure on the wrist. The high pressure is dissipated over the larger bulk of the wrist.
Analysis: You have just proven that bulking up the stool with adequate fiber reduces pressure within the colon, which in turn, prevents diverticuli from forming or, perhaps, even preventing colon bacteria from being driven into the colon wall, causing diverticulitis. It is the high colon pressures that result in small, hard pellet stools and constipation.
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