What Should You Eat if You Have IBS

Unlike the diet for gastritis, the irritable bowel syndrome died is quite tricky. Especially because, as I said before, there are two types of syndromes (diarrhea or constipation) and practically each person has a specific reaction to the same type of food. So it would’ve been better if you did everything you could to prevent it… but you are here now and you have to deal with it, right?

As I said, te influence of diet is unique to each individual and there is no generalized dietary advice that will work for everyone, unfortunately. A doctor can take a brief dietary history and with a 2-3 week diary of dietary intake, symptoms, and any associated factors (like daily obligations, stressors, poor sleep, medications etc) can help identify dietary and/or other factors that may impact symptoms.

Usually, there are a few rules of thumb when it comes to the irritable bowel syndrome diet:

Eating too much of some types of sugar that are poorly absorbed by the bowel can also cause cramping or diarrhea. Examples include sorbitol – commonly used as a sweetener in many dietetic foods, candies, and gums; and fructose – also used as a sweetener and found naturally in honey as well as some fruits.

Also, meals that are too large or high in fat, fried foods, coffee, caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes will never help improve your colon condition and ameliorate the IBS symptoms, so you’d better cut them off completely until you get the chance to go and see a medic to discuss with him about your diet. Keep your chin up and stay healthy!

Things to Do for a Happy, Healthy Abdomen

I kept saying it: preventing is much easier than curing. Trust me, please, even if you are young and nothing bad seems to be possible to happen to you. I was just like you when I started to destroy my life bit by bit and now, at only 24 years old, I am trying hard to get it back on track and enjoy a painless, colon-healthy life. So please, invest just a little time in reading the following tips and try to follow them and you will be thankful at 60, when everybody else will have lots of problems. Because a healthy abdomen can't be had without a bit of interest from you.

So, if you want to reduce the risks of colon cancer or other complications, as well as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), here are a few easy steps you should follow as often as possible:

• Healthy diet: All research suggests that eating a diet rich in fiber and calcium may help prevent colon cancer and other diseases. Whole grains from breads and cereals, as well as nuts, fruits, vegetables and beans may also have protective effects (even though consumption of these foods is not recommended if you are having colon problems).

• While the cancer-fighting mechanisms in various foods are not completely understood, researchers continue to work on the connection between cancer and diet, with promising results. Studies show that calcium, vitamin D and folic acid (which can be found in cabbage) may keep colon cancer at bay. On the other hand, a diet high in saturated fat combined with a sedentary lifestyle may increase the risk of colo-rectal cancer.
  

• Exercise regularly: Scientific evidence supports the conclusion that regular physical activity can reduce the risk of several cancers — particularly colon cancer — among men and women. A 1997 study by the Harvard School of Public Health determined that regular moderate exercise, such as a daily hour-long walk, reduced the risk of developing colon cancer by almost 50 percent. However, it was recently discovered that the so called “good" walk right after dinner, is actually a real pain for your abdomen and digestive system and actually harms both digestion and colon. So try to take a little break between eating and walking.

• Quit smoking: Countless studies and researches have linked cigarette smoking to colon cancer (among other types of cancer, of course). The studies also found that smoking at a young age increases one's lifetime risk of colorectal cancer. And since your risk increases the longer you smoke, it's never too late to stop. Not to mention that, among with the decrease in IBS or other colon related problems, you will also reduce chances of getting other problems related to smoking.

• Limit alcohol drinking: Excessive alcohol consumption may increase your risk for colon cancer. Alcohol has also been linked to other gastrointestinal cancers. So if you drink, do so only in moderation and try to stay away from very strong alcoholic beverages.

• One aspirin: People who take aspirin regularly to keep their hearts healthy may reduce their risk of cancer. Taking an aspirin every other day for 20 years may cut the risk of colon cancer almost in half, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. In addition, research conducted by doctors from St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York shows that a combination of aspirin and cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins may nip cells in the earliest stages of cancer.
  

So, as you can see, it's nothing too difficult: just a few easy steps that can be done if you care at least a bit about your health. And trust me, you should: it's much easier to prevent than to cure! I know.

Image credit: hypnofitmaui.com

What Should You Eat if You Have Gastritis

I have generally talked only about irritable bowel syndrome until today and I think we should take a break from it and focus on other abdominal problems. We’re keeping in the same area and today are talking about gastritis.

There are two types of gastritis – low acidity and high acidity and obviously the treatment and diet for each is completely different. Since my gastritis is caused by high acidity, that’s what we are going to talk about right now – diet and permitted foods, to be more specific.

Unlike diets for colon related problems, diets for gastritis are pretty permissive. There is a general rule of thumb here, though, which is usually ignored by the busiest doctors: there are different types of food which could do wonders for some patients, while others might feel sick after consuming them. So the basic idea is that if you feel that your pain is getting worse after eating a specific product, don’t eat that anymore until your gastritis is gone, even if your doctor told you it could be a good thing to eat.

For example, I ate milk and other milk-based products and had no problems (they even calmed my abdomen), but other people I know having gastritis have a bad reaction to milk consumption. So always test before you stock and be ready to listen to your body.

However, there are some things (just like milk) which generally are good for fighting against gastritis. As I said, just to make things clear: these types of food should NOT be used in fighting against the irritable bowel syndrome!

You can usually eat any of the following: tea, milk, dry biscuits (digestive ones are even better), a little butter, egg yolk (very, very healthy), steam vegetables or meat, different kinds of soups, pasta, all sorts of purees (excluding spinach). Coffee drinking is, but no more than one cup a day.

You should try to avoid eating fresh bread, cakes shaped, oily meat, cabbage, prunes, strong tea, cocoa, spices, salt, grapes and other citric fruits or things like French fries, hamburgers or other junk food, peas, beans or other things that lead to constipation. Cabbage could also harm you and alcohol is a big No-No.

When you have problems with gastritis, the best thing to do would be to always carry dry biscuits with you and whenever you start feeling the burning down your throat or inside the stomach, eat no more than 2-3 pieces. That should calm you down and help reducing the acidity in your stomach. And also be prepared for seasonal pain: I have bigger problems during spring and autumn. Stay healthy!

Note: If you are interested in a seven-day diet plan for gastritis, please check my Gastritis Food Program.

Detox - Scam or Not?

You must have heard it everywhere, even though it’s not necessary related to colon problems or other abdomen-related diseases and such. Detoxification of your organism is something you should do, right? Sounds pretty clear, but a few people have some things against such practices and try to fight against them. Although there are some points here, I strongly disagree with this opinion. But it’s worth a read, since it’s always good to know both faces of the problem when deciding a solution. So, without further ado, here it is:

It's an irrational concept, yet an intriguing idea, that modern life so fills us with poisons from polluted air and food additives that we need to be periodically "cleaned out" ("detoxified"). Never mind that natural chemicals in our foods are thousands of times more potent than additives, or that most Americans are healthier, live longer, and can choose from the most healthful food supply ever available.

The elaborate, manipulative hoax of "detoxification" is gaining ground. Many people sincerely believe that their intestines, colon, and blood stream are subject to "clogging" by undigested foods and poisons. Food faddists seem to have a special fascination with bowels, colons, and body wastes.

The supposed need to detox is promoted through extensive writings, advertisements and door-to-door pitches. This usually involves fasting several times a year for a few days while taking laxatives or diuretics to "clean out the system."

Some entrepreneurs claim that detoxing is a great way to jump-start a diet by losing 5 or 10 pounds before you even begin the diet itself. And if their scheme is not about weight loss, "rejuvenation" is typically recommended afterward. People who are persuaded that these activities will restore vigorous youth can wind up hooked on an herbal regimen that costs several hundred dollars a month.

Full article here.

My Quest to Be Healthy

I have decided to tell you about my personal fight against my abdomen related problems. I have had lots of problems during the past years, even though I am apparently too young to have all these problems (I’m 24).

I have had problems with gastritis, duodenal ulcer – these two kind of managed to get away following countless nights of pain and lack of sleeping and a healthy dose of diet, exercise and medical treatment. However, I now have another abdominal-related problem which also very hard to come by: I have incredible pains and discomfort because of an irritable bowel syndrome which is bugging me for quite a while and, because I kind of lost interest in my health for a while, started to get worse.

But I began to take care of my IBS and, thinking about the fact that I’m too young for unnecessary complications, I started to follow a diet, kind-of detox programs, get medicine and hope for the best. My quest is not an easy one, but I will keep everybody updated with the things I do. Let’s hope for the best and let’s stay healthy!

Things to Know about Your Irritable Bowel Syndrome

When it comes to problems with your colon/intestines (just like with any other disease) it is best to know as much as possible about your problems, since that’s the first step into curing them. However, there are a few “must knows” when it comes to IBS – everybody has to start from somewhere, right? Here is a list with the most notable things you should know:

First of all, you can’t blame something specific for your irritable bowel syndrome: the causes vary. It can be anything from stress to a random way of living, to eating unhealthy food or lack of exercise.

It is necessary to have a specialist investigate your problems and make sure it is indeed an irritable bowel syndrome (I would recommend visiting two doctors, just to be sure you’re fighting against the right illness and you use the best weapons).

The symptoms could last for entire years, even if you stick to the diet and help your body with medicine. Support from the close ones is necessary, since there will be many moments you’ll be ready to give up to temptations (trust me it’s like that – been there, done that :D).

Fortunately, the irritable bowel syndrome rarely kills – there are very few cases in which patients who followed the treatment and diet had any complications.
Basically, that’s the secret for a healthy colon (and abdomen): a balanced lifestyle, avoiding excess of any kind (such as drinking, smoking, unhealthy, greasy food), taking your time to relax and don’t work too much, plus exercise. All doctors will tell you that these few things will help your overall health dearly.

Fibers, Must Have for a Healthy Digestive System

I kept talking about the greatness of fibers and how important these are for maintaining (or curing) our intestines, but I just figured out that I barely talked about the aliments or nutriments which will offer us fiber – and that is a very interesting aspect, because just like always in the Universe, there are GOOD fibers and BAD fibers. And we wouldn’t like to bombard our intestines with bad fibers, right?

The good fibers, or soluble fibers (as opposite to bad, insoluble fibers) are also called dietary fibers and that’s a pretty self explanatory name. These are components of the vegetables/fruits we consume and they help moving food through the digestive system, easing defecation and fighting against constipation.

Although I will have to come back to this topic and discuss more about it, an irritable bowel needs fast natural products to restore its health. You can get natural fibers from legumes (such as soy – be careful not to eat genetically modified soybeans, peas and other beans). However, you should consume these with care if you have an IBS or other problems to your intestine/colon, since beans generally tend to harm an already inflamed colon (except for soybeans, which generally do no harm).

Also, grains are a natural source of dietary fibers – oat and rye especially; fruits like berries and plums and vegetables such as carrots and broccoli. Potatoes are also a source of dietary fiber which is good for your colon, but they should never be consumed as fried potatoes since sunflower oil and other oil-cooked meals do lots of harm to our intestines!

So if you need to help your colon and help cleansing it without paying for medication, trying these natural products might help you a lot. However, do not delay a visit to the medic if things don’t get better in 7-10 days, because things would be unnecessary complicated.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Pretty Expensive!

One would believe that smoking is a habit that no only harms the body, but also costs a lot of money. Basically, the IBS can be as costly as any other bad habit. Another proof of the fact that health is the most important thing in the world!

The aggregate cost of irritable bowel syndrome in the United States only has been estimated at $1.7-$10 billion in direct medical costs, with an additional $20 billion in indirect costs! This means that, on an yearly basis, $30 billion are spent by people suffering from the IBS. Just take a second and think what the US (or any other country) could do with so much money and healthy people!

A study on Medicaid costs conducted in 2003 by the University of Georgia's College of Pharmacy and Novartis found IBS was associated in an increase of $962 in Medicaid costs in California, and $2,191 in North Carolina. IBS patients had higher costs for physician visits, outpatients visits, and prescription drugs. The study suggested the costs associated with IBS were comparable to those found in asthma patients.

So, I repeat: try to prevent! It’s not only good for yourself and your finances, but it also takes a lot of pain from friends and family! Live a healthy life, keep your body healthy and your colon happy!