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Irritable
Bowel Syndrome
Irritable
bowel syndrome is a disorder in which there is pain in the
colon and a disorder of bowel habit. It is also known as
the irritable colon syndrome, spastic colon and mucous colitis.
Although there is no inflammation present, the muscles in
the colon fail to function properly and cause abdominal
aching or pain, diarrhoea alternating with constipation,
bloating, flatulence, nausea, abdominal rumbling, mucous
in the stools, ribbon or pebble-like bowel movements, never
feeling the rectum is completely cleared and even anxiety
and depression. Those who have the condition may find their
digestive systems always seem to give some kind of trouble.
The symptoms may persist over years, even with treatment,
or come and go.
IBS
can be provoked by a number of factors such as food intolerance,
an unbalanced diet, tea, coffee, alcohol, bowel bacteria
overgrowth, candida and bran. Stress and other physiological
factors are also thought to play a major role. Anything
that suppresses the immune system, which really begins in
the intestines as it is a major line of defence against
disease and foreign proteins, or anything that upsets the
bowel flora and allows the 'bad' bacteria to overgrow the
'good' bacteria (like acidophilus) can cause IBS. Emotionally,
this illness may be connected to "irritability" and low-level
anger. To deal successfully with this condition, you may
need to combine various treatments with a change in diet
and lifestyle.
Food
Intolerance
Many studies have shown that this is a significant
causative factor in IBS. The offending foods which provoked
symptoms were, in order of frequency:
- wheat
- corn
- dairy products
- coffee, tea
- citrus fruits
If
you are sensitive to these foods, and you eat them, your
body doesn't quite know what to do with them, as often the
right digestive enzymes to process them are missing (read
about this further below), so the food begins to irritate
wherever it passes, and can trigger a whole range of problems.
It may be worthwhile cutting down on these foods one at
a time to see if that makes a difference, or consider a
modified exclusion diet. Keep a diary to record what events
bring on irritable bowel symptoms and which foods and drinks
you should avoid. Maintain a healthy, balanced diet high
in fibre, especially flax fibre, grains, fruit and vegetables.
Try easy-to-digest foods such as rice, bananas, sweet potatoes
and steamed green and yellow vegetables. Steer clear of
chewing gum containing sorbitol and greasy or spicy foods
and too much meat as they can cause further irritation or
may be difficult to digest.
Digestive
Enzyme Deficiency
There is considerable evidence to show that the supplements
of pancreatic enzymes and bile acids can be of benefit in
alleviating the symptoms of IBS in people who have diminished
digestive enzyme function. People with food sensitivities
or even mild allergies are prime targets for digestive enzymes,
as they don't make a particular enzyme to break down a particular
food, for example dairy products. Enzymes for allergic individuals
are available so you can help ease your sensitivity.
When
you eat food, your stomach is meant to produce all kinds
of enzymes so it can break down the food into individual
particles of amino acids and nutrients so your body can
use them as fuel. However, as our diets are consisting of
conveniently processed and junk food, digestive problems
are becoming more of a problem. We just do not make the
right sort of enzymes to break these foods down - our bodies
have not developed with this in mind. So what happens? The
food we eat doesn't break down properly - instead it ends
up fermenting in the intestines, causing bloating, gas and
pain. Then the body can treat any particles of undigested
food that may have floated through any perforations in the
intestines as a potential pathogen, so initiates the immune
system to jump into action and attack it. This constant
immune response takes a lot of the body's energy, so therefore
someone suffering this situation is likely to be feeling
very low in energy, fatigued, irritable, and generally unwell.
To add to this, any 'toxic' substances that are not digested
properly or sent to the liver for processing can float through
the blood and arrive under the surface of the skin.
So
with nothing really happening each time you eat food, it's
no surprise that digestive problems can so easily cause
a range of conditions such as impaired immunity, skin problems,
intestinal and bowel problems, allergies, weight problems
and more.
These problems can easily be averted simply
by taking digestive enzymes with your food. They help to
break food down effectively so it can actually be utilised
in your body to help provide all the right ingredients for
all our daily functions - which is the whole reason behind
why we eat food in the first place! Most people are surprised
when they start taking digestive enzymes that all kinds
of other seemingly unrelated problems they had start to
disappear. We are essentially a product of what we put into
our body, so if we can correctly use the food we eat as
fuel, then it seems obvious that all our other body functions
will also be able to work properly. Try any of our
current brands of DigestiveEnzymes with each meal
or Good Health Natural Digestion if you
have food sensitivities or allergies.
Tea,
Coffee and Alcohol
These are known to affect gastrointestinal motility and
function, and can produce the same symptoms as IBS. If you
have IBS or any other problems, it would be wise to limit
your intake, and increase water intake - particularly when
you wake up and in between meals so you don't dilute stomach
juices with food.
Infective
and Parasitic Organisms
such as giardia, threadworms, ascaria and amoebae can produce
pain and diarrhoea similar to the symptoms of IBS. It also
means you are probably not absorbing many nutrients from
your food, as the parasites are feeding off them instead.
Bowel
Overgrowth
The human colon contains large numbers of bacteria which
live there and perform all kinds of vital functions. The
number of organisms in colonic and faecal material has been
estimated at ten billion per gram, which means we have more
microbial cells in our bodies than we have human cells.
Microbial mass makes up approximately half of all the stools
we pass. It is therefore understandable that any disruption
in colonic bacteria can cause altered bowel function. Antibiotics
kill all bacteria - they are not selective, so the good
bacteria have to be able to grow back faster than the bad
bacteria to prevent thrush and other bacterial overgrowths
from occuring. Unfortunately this doesn't happen very often,
unless people take acidophilus capsules during and after
their course of antibiotics. Long-term antibiotic use puts
individuals at risk of IBS.
Abnormal bowel bacteria overgrowth is best
treated by cleaning up the diet, ensuring adequate fresh
fruit and vegetable fibre, adequate fluids, ensuring regular
bowel motions, avoiding antibiotics if possible, and taking
supplements of lactobaccillus. Abnormal bacteria
can flourish in the upper part of the bowel and produce
abdominal pain, bloating and wind. Lack of acid production
and a tendency to constipation are the most common predisposing
factors. This can be a common cause of poor digestion in
the elderly.
Candida
Overgrowth
The yeast 'candida albicans' has been isolated in the stools
of up to fifty percent of the population. Antibiotics, disruption
of digestive processes, eating too much refined carbohydrates
and simple sugars and the use of the Pill, oestrogens and
steroids all predispose to candida overgrowth in the large
bowel. Try Twinlab Yeast Fighters to help eliminate this
problem.
Candida
Allergy
Apart from the simple matter of overgrowth with candida,
some people are hypersensitive to candida at various places
in their body, mainly in the gastrointestinal tract, the
mouth and the vagina. Some people with the symptoms of IBS
are allergic to yeast. A low yeast and low carbohydrate
diet and acidophilus can improve symptoms - ask for our
Candida Diet Program Sheet
Bran
There
has been a substantial move towards the addition of wheat
bran fibre to our diet, often without a reduction in the
amount of refined carbohydrate being eaten. Adding bran
to a junk-food diet is a negative piece of health advice,
because our convenience food diets are already nutrient
deficient and bran binds any nutrients together to be passed
out through the bowel, so it further compromises the absorption
of any nutrients that may be present. Certain individuals
who appear to be wheat sensitive have a worsening of their
IBS symptoms when they move over to a wholefood diet or
add wheat bran to their normal diet. In these situations,
it is worth avoiding stimulating laxatives and choose bulky
laxatives such as linseed (flax fibre), rice bran, or psyllium
husks.
If
you are looking at bulking up your diet, we recommend flax
fibre and psyllium. These are available separately or as
mixtures, and they act as an 'intestinal broom' and sweep
out old congestion from the nooks and crannies, as well
as bulk up the stools to make passing them much easier.
These types of fibre work both ways for IBS - if you are
constipated, it helps to bulk the stools, and if you are
experiencing diarrhoea, it helps absorb excess fluid to
firm the stools.
Premenstrual
Exacerbations
A certain percentage of women with IBS have a premenstrual
worsening of their symptoms, which are often attributable
to food intolerance and a failure to maintain adequate magnesium
and B6 intakes as well as hormonal imbalances.
Stress
The gut is very sensitive to stress, so when someone is
particularly stressed, they might develop an irritable bowel
which settles when they deal with the stress. Stress also
prevents the digestive process from 'switching on', so therefore
the food will just sit fermenting in the intestines, causing
the typical irritable bowel symptoms. Obviously this is
a fairly major trigger for IBS, so it is very important
to take steps to reduce stress in your everyday routine.
Supplementation
Program for Irritable Bowel
- Lactobacillus
Acidophilus (2 billion) - this is one of the
most important beneficial bacteria which promotes the
breakdown of proteins, removes endotoxins from the gut
and balances the acid-base of the gut. These bacteria
live on the gut lining, and help fight against the bad
bacteria, such as candida, as well as protecting against
'Leaky Gut Syndrome'. *FOS - (300mg) this nutrient is
the 'food' that the acidophilus need to be able to multiply.
Conveniently, it suppresses unfriendly bacterial growth
at the same time. It also protects the cells lining the
gut.
- Glutamine
(1000mg) - This is the primary nutrient for
the gut lining and is essential if there are food allergies,
inflammatory conditions and infections present. Glutamine
helps the mucus lining of the gut to heal itself and be
able to absorb nutrients properly, because of its amazing
ability with tissue repair and growth. The mucus lining
acts as a barrier in the gut - preventing bacteria from
floating through the walls and into the blood stream to
play havoc with the rest of the body. Recent research
has shown that glutamine reverses damaged mucus membranes
in the gut and that a deficiency of glutamine can cause
ulcers in the intestines. It also has an immune-stimulating
effect which attacks micro-organisms before they can attack
the gut and cause inflammation through deeper layers into
the body.
- Glucosomine
(500mg) - you might think this ingredient is
more relevant to joint problems, but it is just as important
with intestinal healing. Glucosomine's action is to help
in the manufacture of connective tissue which holds cells
together, and it has a particularly good effect with cartilage
and also intestinal mucosa. It helps to protect the deeper
layers of tissue from acid, enzymes and unfriendly bacteria,
and plays a role in the growth of friendly bifidobacteria.
- Slippery
Elm (200mg) - this helps to soothe and protect
any inflamed mucus lining from the throat to the colon.
- Pectin
(1000mg) - this is a non-irritating fibre that
helps speed up transit time of the intestinal contents.
Reduced sitting and waiting time in the intestines means
there is less chance of unfriendly bacteria multiplying,
and less chance of fermentation, causing flatulence and
gas.
- Fennel
(200mg) - this is a herb normally used to calm
stomach upsets, reducing gas, and supporting a weak digestive
system.
- Selenium
- this supports the immune system, and is a
component of the powerful gut antioxidant - glutathione.
It is also very helpful for inflamed intestinal mucosa.
* Digestive Enzymes
$NZ20-25 or Good Health Natural
Digestion $NZ19.90 - the need for digestive
enzymes was outlined above . Remember,
these are what we need to break down food properly to enhance
nutrient absorption, and to prevent bloating, gas etc from
fermenting food. Especially good for food intolerances.
Take one or more with meals as required.
* Probiotics
Probiotic bacteria may help with the symptoms of food allergies, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive issues. This product is the ideal companion for virtually any treatment plan you are following – everyone needs probiotics!
Bifidobacterium are gram-positive anaerobic organisms, which occupy the large intestine and assist in a range of functions including the symptomatic relief of medically diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
*Good
Health Colon Health
- this is an ideal maintenance formula, as it helps
cleanse toxic matter and repopulate the bowel with good
bacteria. It has a mild laxative effect, so encourages regularity.
Contains psyllium for bulking stools and
providing a protective coating along the digestive system;
barley grass for helping with detoxification
in the bowel, protecting cells against damage, and reducing
inflammation; cascara in a very small
amount so it is not irritating, but instead helps to increase
the muscular activity of the colon to pass waste thoroughly;
bentonite is a finely powdered volcanic
ash that helps absorb toxic matter and pass it out; aloe
vera has amazing healing properties in the digestive
system, allowing damaged cells and lesions to heal and therefore
reducing irritation; fennel for reducing
wind, spasms, heartburn etc, acidophilus in
a much smaller dose than in the Colon Eze, but is effective
as an intestinal maintenance formula; and garlic
to aid against bacterial and parasitic buildup.
Simply take one tablet at night so it can work while you
are asleep.
If you were to
take these products together, you would expect to
see some rapid improvement in symptoms in only a few days.
We have had some fantastic results with these products in
under a week, and although we can't guarantee the same results
for everyone, the combination of the three products is going
to be doing some wonderful healing in your bowel and intestines.
Other
products you can also use:
- Flax fibre, or any of the fibre powders we have in stock.
There are a variety of flavours, including non-flavoured,
and a variety of mixtures containing flax, psyllium, rice
bran, slippery elm and so on.
- Aloe Vera Juice - softens stools and has a healing effect.
Popular tonic for IBS especially. Learn more about aloe
vera in our Good Health Products section.
- Internal Cleansing formulas - every six months try to
do a thorough internal cleanse so you know your body machine
is clean and free from rusting and congestion. Old waste
that may be trapped in a little intestinal pocket can
rot away and cause irritation, pain, gas, ulcers, feed
parasites and more, so it is important to prevent such
buildup. Learn more.
- Colostrum - this is particularly good for healing the
small perforations in the gut that allow food particles
to float through and cause an immune response (Leaky Gut
Syndrome). Learn more about colostrum.
Some
lifestyle and dietary advice in brief:
- Avoid stress. Resting during an attack of irritable
bowel is important. Use a heated wheat bag to help reduce
abdominal pain.
- Make sure bowels move daily.
- Drink plenty of water, herb teas and fresh juices.
- Diet should consist of mainly non-acidic fresh vegetables,
such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery,
spinach.
- Avoid spicy foods, fried and greasy foods, pepper, tobacco,
caffeine, alcohol, dairy products, margarine, all carbonated
beverages, chocolate, animal products and meat. However,
white fish from clear water is allowed.
- Steam, boil or bake your foods, and limit wheat intake.
- Mucous forming foods such as processed foods, dairy
products, wheat, gluten and sugar should be avoided.
Good luck, and
if you need any further help, please contact us:
Belinda Hope,
Clinical Nutritionist
Absolute Health NZ, Meadowbank, Auckland.
Ph 09 5218920
email belinda@absolutehealth.co.nz
www.absolutehealth.co.nz
(some
extracts from "Nutritional Medicine" by Dr Stephen Davies
& Dr Alan Stewart, & "Prescription for Nutritional
Healing" by JF Balch)
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