It's estimated that about half of all Americans in the senior set, ages 60 to 80, have this condition.
Diverticulosis occurs when small pouches bulge out in the colon at certain weak points or spots.
A diet too low in fiber appears to be the problem behind diverticulosis. A high fiber diet can help keep things moving, so to speak, preventing waste products from becoming hard as a rock and easier to move out. Reducing the constipation can help reduce the pressure in the colon. Many people may have diverticulosis and not suffer any symptoms or problems. I think what your mother may be referring to is not just chowing down on more vegetables but the need to increase the fiber in her diet.