(August 26, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Eating popcorn, nuts, and corn does not increase the risk of diverticular disease in men and may even be protective, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Here are some tips for evaluating acute diverticulitis from the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons:

•    Initial evaluation should include a problem-specific history and physical examination. Also, a complete blood count, urinalysis, and plain abdominal radiographs may be useful in some scenarios.

•    CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis is often the most appropriate imaging modality.

•    Contrast enema x-ray, cystography, ultrasound, and endoscopy are sometimes useful.

Researchers from the University of Washington looked at the association between the consumption of nuts, corn, and popcorn and diverticular disease among nearly 50,000 men aged 40 to 75. Participants were followed between 1986 and 2004 regarding their medical status and diet.

After adjusting for risk factors, men with the highest consumption of nuts were 20% less likely to develop diverticulitis than those with the lowest consumption. Those with the highest intake of popcorn had a 28% lower risk compared with those who ate the least popcorn. There was no link between corn consumption and diverticulitis risk.

Today's research demonstrates the falsity of the long-held belief that eating corn, popcorn, or nuts increases the risk for diverticular disease. In fact, eating nuts and popcorn may be protective.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.