CORE AREA 1 FOOD STUDIES Disorder Description Causes
Diverticular disease
Small pouches (diverticula) develop in the walls of the intestine. They
usually go unnoticed until they fill with food waste. Bacteria acts on the food waste and produces acids and gases that inflame diverticula.
Large intestine
Diverticula Wall of large intestine
Inflamed diverticulum
Diverticular disease
Bowel cancer (colon/rectum cancer)
Starts as polyps (growths) on the bowel wall. Most polyps are not cancerous, but over time some can develop into colon cancer, which is often fatal if detected at the later stages.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
The bowel has irregular muscle contractions (spasms)
• Lack of dietary fibre • Insufficient water intake • A diet high in saturated fat
Did you know
The National Screening Service has introduced free bowel screening for people aged between 60–69 to test for bowel cancer and reduce the risk of mortality from this disease.
• The exact cause is unknown. It is often associated with a diet lacking in fibre.
• Sufferers may also have trigger foods that heighten symptoms, e.g. spicy food or citrus fruits
How to reduce the risk of developing bowel disorders • Follow a diet high in dietary fibre. • Drink approximately two litres of water per day.
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• Changes in bowel habits, e.g. going to the toilet more often
