Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Natural Remedies

As you may already know, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not only an unpleasant condition, but it can also be an extremely painful one which causes constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Even though various drugs can provide sufferers with a great deal of relief, many people are now turning towards some of the natural remedies instead. These can range from changing your diet to managing stress levels, and it’s important to realize just how much relief can be found by changing certain eating habits.

Diets and Eating Habits

It is certainly no secret that certain foods can make the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome noticeably worse. Ideally, if you suffer from this condition then you should make every effort to avoid foods which are excessively spicy or greasy. Likewise, depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may need to reduce your intake of high fiber foods as these are known to cause stomach cramps, bloating, and excessive gas. Interestingly enough however, some people have found that increasing fiber intake has been beneficial in terms of reducing the severity of their symptoms. If you choose to increase the amount of fiber in your diet, you can do so either by taking supplements or by increasing the amount of certain foods you eat, such as broccoli and beans. However, if you start including more of these food types to your meals it should be done gradually. Remember, one shouldn’t only focus on what you eat, but also on how you eat, in that you should never overindulge. You should also aim to eat at the same time every day in order to regulate your bowl movements.

Keeping a Food Journal

Because certain foods can irritate the condition worse than others, it’s advisable to keep a food journal in order to establish which foods tend to make your condition worse. In other words, whenever you sit down to a meal you should keep track of what foods are included in the meal so that you can see which foods trigger your condition so that you can then avoid them in future.

The Importance of Water and Physical Exercise

Whenever a person is suffering from diarrhea, it’s imperative that you consume at least 64oz. of water per day in order to prevent yourself from becoming dehydrated. Additionally, if you’re suffering from constipation, then you should also make sure you drink an adequate amount of water as this can help to soften stools.

While regular exercise is something which everyone should do, it’s of particular importance to those suffering from IBS, in that it helps to keep your body functioning as it should be. Furthermore, research has shown that physical exercise causes the brain to produce endorphins, and this has a direct impact on stress levels, bearing in mind that stress is known to make the condition worse.

Medication

Far too many people who suffer from IBS tend to use over-the-counter medications without consulting with a doctor first, and this is something that you should avoid at all costs. Admittedly, if you suffer from constipation then it can be extremely tempting to take the first laxatives you get your hands on, but you need to bear in mind that many such medications have the potential for making your condition worse. If you feel that you need medication then you should always go and discuss your circumstances with a doctor. Alternatively, you need to bear in mind that there are many natural remedies available which can also offer you a great deal of relief.

Things You Should Know and Do if You Have a Food Intolerance

Do you think you might have a food intolerance? Well, you wouldn’t be alone. There are claims that anywhere between 40% and 70% of the population suffer from at least one food intolerance.

The symptoms can be rather vague: intestinal upset, fatigue, headaches, and some reactions that seem more allergic than anything else. They can also show up hours or even days after consuming the problem food, making it very difficult to identify the cause of your ailments. To be sure of what you’re dealing with, seek the help of a physician. Let your doctor know what your body is experiencing. He or she can then refer you to a nutritionist or other food intolerance specialist to ensure that you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs.

Wheat and lactose intolerance are common complaints. There are special tests that can be used to determine whether a person suffers from these conditions. If wheat intolerance is detected, you should also be checked for celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, since gluten is a wheat protein.

Of course, any intolerance will require adjustments in the way you eat. Be sure to inform your friends and family of your diagnosis so they can plan meals appropriately. Caretakers and schools should be informed if a child is found to have a food intolerance.

What changes can you make to ensure that you or your loved ones are safe from problem foods and substances? First, become a great food label reader! Every country in the European Union is required to display certain nutritional facts on prepackaged food labels. These foods must be clearly marked if they contain certain ingredients in concentrations higher than 10 mg/kg or liter.

These ingredients are tree nuts, peanuts, seafood, milk, eggs, fish, gluten, soya, celery, sesame seeds, mustard, sulphites, and lupin.

It’s best to check the ingredients of everything you purchase prepackaged. Please note that foods which are not prepackaged, like most deli or bakery items, aren’t subject to the same labeling requirements. If your intolerance is severe, you should avoid foods that might be exposed to other foods you’re susceptible to during preparation.

You can also look for supermarket lists or specialty stores that sell foods which are free from certain problematic ingredients. Wheat, gluten, and dairy-free alternatives are becoming easier to find as there is more awareness about these intolerances. And some of them are really delicious!

Of course, you could always go online to look for the foods you need. It’s easy to find nutritional information that way. Just be sure to check the labels as well, since recipes can change without warning. The web is also a great source for recipes that are “free from” whatever it is you need to avoid. Honestly, it doesn’t have to be difficult!

All About Food Intolerance

Food intolerance is becoming much more of a household phrase these days. For those who haven’t thought about it much or never had a reason to look into it, this is a basic guide to what it is, what some of the most common intolerances are, and some other related information.

Food intolerances can come from a variety of sources. For example, some people can’t tolerate citrus fruits or other acidic foods. The food intolerances that trouble most people are chemicals (such as aspartame or preservatives), natural compounds (like caffeine), wheat and gluten, and, of course, lactose.

Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish a food intolerance from a food allergy. Their symptoms can be quite similar, but actually they are completely different bodily responses. A food intolerance is a digestive system problem.

If you have a food intolerance, you might experience headaches, gastrointestinal problems, or weight gain. (Wine, cheese and chocolate are notorious headache causers.) Gastrointestinal issues can include gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea, which are sometimes mistaken for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You might also have allergy-like symptoms such as a runny nose, hives, or difficulty breathing.

Lactose intolerance is one of the most common things people suffer from. It is caused by a shortage of the lactase enzyme. Instead of digesting lactose normally, people with too little lactase can’t process milk sugars properly. When they consume dairy products, the result is fatigue, nausea, and a host of other digestive problems such as gas and bloating.

How serious is lactose intolerance? Children younger than two are especially susceptible to it. These children often need a special non-dairy formula to ensure proper nutrition. Most adults with lactose intolerance (5% of all adults in Ireland and the UK) can tolerate a tiny amount of dairy in their diets. Others can tolerate none at all.

Though more rare, foods that contain artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavor enhancers, and colors sometimes trigger painful symptoms in people with an intolerance to such substances.

Another very common intolerance is wheat or gluten intolerance. (Gluten is a protein found in wheat.) These conditions have gotten a lot of press lately, and for good reason: gluten intolerance, also called celiac disease in its most serious form, has been linked to behavioral problems, weight gain, and even autism.

Celiac disease is an incurable condition that causes the immune system to attack a person’s own body. In this case, the autoimmune response is triggered by eating foods that contain gluten. Celiac disease can cause all of the symptoms of food intolerance, plus stunted growth and skin conditions. Left unchecked, it can eventually cause bone disease, anemia, and even cancer.

Unfortunately, gluten is found in all wheat products, and even in some products made from barley, rye, and oats. That means that people with gluten intolerance need to avoid certain alcohols, like beer. Wheat can also be found in unexpected places. It’s often used as a filler in ground meat and sausage.

There are many gluten-free and wheat-free breads, pastas, and cereals – but they’re not created equal. Just because a product is gluten-free doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe for people with wheat intolerance. Gluten-free products can contain other wheat substances. Likewise, wheat-free products might contain barley, rye, or oats.

Basically, people who suffer from a gluten intolerance must become very good label readers!

If you suspect wheat, gluten, or any other intolerance, speak with your doctor as soon as you can. They will make a firm diagnosis and give you dietary guidelines to follow.

There is a great food intolerance test on the market that I would recommend to anyone who thinks they may be affected by one or several food products. It takes the guesswork out of figuring out what is causing the problem.

If you find out you do have an intolerance, seek nutrition guidance, as when patients attempt to cut out the offending food group, it can cause malnourishment. For example, some people avoid dairy products altogether because of their lactose intolerance. Without a good substitute, they risk calcium deficiency.

What is a Food Intolerance?

Sometimes our bodies cannot tolerate the foods we eat. This is known as food intolerance. When people consume foods that they’re sensitive to, such as dairy products for lactose intolerant individuals, their bodies have a negative physical reaction. The effects show up every time the food is consumed. If large quantities of the food are ingested, symptoms can be severe.

Food intolerance is sometimes mistaken for food allergies. But food allergies cause the person’s immune system to sit up and take notice. Food intolerance doesn’t involve the immune system. Neither is it linked to contaminated or spoiled foods; those cause food poisoning, not intolerance.

Additionally, food intolerance describes only the adverse physical reaction to the ingestion of certain foods. It does not address psychological reactions to food.

The Causes of Food Intolerance

Food intolerance is caused by the inability to digest certain types of food, usually due to insufficient amounts of the chemicals or enzymes needed to digest a particular food.

Lactose intolerance is very common. People who suffer from this condition don’t have enough of the enzyme called ‘lactase’. Therefore, their bodies can’t break down the lactose, or milk sugar, in dairy products.

Common symptoms of lactose intolerance include intestinal distress, gas, bloating, and bowel irregularities.

Other people can’t process alcohol because they don’t have enough of the enzyme ‘alcohol dehydrogenase’. They can become ill if they consume even a single alcoholic beverage.

The additives, flavor enhancers, and preservatives in processed foods are another common source of food intolerance. MSGs, caffeine, benzoates, and aspartame cause pain and fatigue in sensitive individuals.

Sometimes enzyme deficiencies can cause toxins to build in the system. Enzyme deficiencies can also stimulate the production of histamines. The human body normally produces histamines in response to allergens. In such cases, food intolerance can masquerade as an allergic reaction.

Who Suffers from Food Intolerance?

If your parents have food intolerances, chances are good that you’ll have them too. Ethnicity plays a role, too. Only 10% of northern and western Europeans suffer from lactose intolerance. Persons of Asian, African, Greek, and Native American descent are much more susceptible; lactose intolerance affects 70-90% of their population.

Newborns tend to produce more lactase, so they can digest lactose easier than adults and older children. The symptoms of lactose intolerance can appear in children as young as two, but many people develop it later in life. Gastroenteritis sometimes causes a dip in lactase levels, bringing on a temporary intolerance to dairy products. Children face a high risk of lactose intolerance following gastroenteritis. Half of all Asians are affected by alcohol intolerance.

What are the Symptoms of Food Intolerance?

The symptoms of food intolerance center on the digestive system. Sufferers may experience stomach pain, bloating, nausea, or loose stools. These symptoms are seldom life-threatening, but they can make a person miserable. They can manifest anywhere from a few hours to a few days after the food is consumed.

Food intolerance symptoms can become quite severe if a large quantity of the food has been consumed. People with a slight enzyme deficiency typically don’t experience symptoms as acutely as people with a larger deficit. Alcohol intolerance causes redness of the face, nausea, irregular heartbeat, headaches, and dizziness.

How is a Diagnosis Made?

Trial and error is the simplest way to test for food intolerance. This is done by removing one food from the diet for a while and monitoring symptoms for improvement. If symptoms decrease, the food is then reintroduced. A return of symptoms will reveal whether or not that food was the culprit.

Further tests are used to diagnose lactose intolerance. For example, your physician might recommend a test to measure the amount of hydrogen in your breath; a stool acidity test; or a blood glucose test to determine how well the patient digests milk sugar.

How is Food Intolerance Treated?

Food intolerance is usually controlled by removing the troublesome food from the person’s diet. For instance, lactose intolerant individuals can replace regular milk with soy milk.

If the intolerance is mild to moderate, the affected person can try eating only very limited amounts of the food in question. Mild lactose intolerance can be managed through the use of lactase enzyme supplements.

If foods are removed from one’s diet, they should be replaced with nutritious alternatives. It’s crucial to avoid malnutrition, especially in growing children. If you have questions about suitable food replacements, speak with your nutrition specialist.

The only real way to find out what intolerance you may have is to take a food intolerance test.