Thursday, October 28, 2010

Taming America's tummy aches

Greetings,
This is a little long, but I know people who are living with this problem.  
Got a question for you? 
Do you think it's better to look for a natural solution first -  or should you always run to your doctor's office every time you don't feel well?
Look, we're not saying you should always avoid the traditional medical route, but it's not always best to only go that direction. 
A wise man I know once told me that you need to look at the underlining cause of the problem, not just mask the symptoms with drugs!
 Let us know what you think - or if this helped.


Enjoy

Lou & Debbie

Taming America's tummy aches
Dr. Julian Whitaker  © 2010
Abdominal pain, bloating, gas, cramping, diarrhea and constipation are a fact of life for the millions of Americans who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. Also known as spastic colon and nervous indigestion, IBS is usually diagnosed only after a doctor has  ruled out more serious conditions such as ulcerative colitis or colon cancer.

Although IBS is not life-threatening, it is uncomfortable to say the least and downright inconvenient. For many people the symptoms are so severe that they have to plan their outings and day-to-day activities around trips to the bathroom.

What causes IBS?


Despite its prevalence, no one is certain what causes IBS. Emotional distress was once thought to be the culprit – patients were often told it was "all in their heads." While it's true that stress and anxiety worsen the condition, physicians now know the problem is in the gut, not the head.

Some research suggests that the muscles and nerves in the colons of IBS sufferers may be hypersensitive, and as a result, they respond strongly to stimuli that would not bother most people.

Common conventional treatments

Not surprisingly, conventional treatment for IBS consists primarily of prescription drugs. These include tranquilizers and antidepressants, which can improve IBS symptoms but have a host of other complications including addiction, anxiety, nausea and even violent behavior.

One IBS drug, Lotronex, was pulled from the market only months after it was approved by the FDA because it caused several deaths and numerous serious side effects requiring surgery or hospitalization.

Diet makes all the difference


Fortunately, there are ways to naturally manage IBS. Most digestive difficulties can be treated with dietary modifications.

The first step toward controlling IBS symptoms is to eat more fiber from vegetables, beans, peas and fruits. Fiber is important not only for stool formation, but also for the overall health of your gastrointestinal, or GI, tract. Aim for at least 30 grams daily.

Second, limit your intake of caffeine. Caffeine is a powerful GI tract irritant that can be especially problematic for IBS sufferers.

Also, cut back on excess sugars and starches. They're a favorite food of the bacteria that reside in the gut, which is why they cause gas and bloating. Beware also of artificial or low-cal sweeteners such as aspartame, sorbitol and mannitol, which can cause diarrhea.

Eliminate IBS triggers


If these simple changes don't dramatically improve your symptoms, your next line of defense is to identify which foods irritate your system and cut them out of your diet.

Among the most common IBS offenders are:

dairy products - wheat - eggs - citrus - corn - peanuts



The best way to identify triggers is to try an elimination diet. The idea of an elimination diet is to eat non-allergenic meals for at least one week to clear your system, then add in new foods every few days and observe your reaction to them.

A standard elimination diet may consist of:

chicken - rice - potatoes - bananas - apples - a variety of vegetables (except corn)


Only these foods – fresh, not processed – should be eaten for seven days. As you slowly reintroduce other foods, keep a detailed diary to help you pinpoint which ones produce symptoms.

The mind-body connection

The colon is controlled partly by the nervous system, which explains why bowel evacuation is a normal part of the body's response in a high-stress, fight-or-flight situation. So it makes sense that chronic stress and anxiety can dramatically affect everyday bowel health.

Learning to relax can make a huge difference in alleviating IBS symptoms. In one study, adults with IBS were split into two groups, and one group practiced a relaxation technique twice a day for 15 minutes. After six weeks, researchers found that participants in the relaxation group reported significantly reduced symptoms, with particular improvement in diarrhea and bloating.

Amino acids to the rescue

If anxiety is contributing to your IBS symptoms, give gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, a try. This amino acid binds to receptor sites in the brain, blocking "excitatory" neurotransmitters and keeping you on an even keel. GABA, which is available in health food stores, is safe, nontoxic and non-habit forming.

For quick relief during an acute episode, open a capsule and stir it into water. For chronic anxiety, take 750 mg 1-3 times per day as needed. Because amino acids are best absorbed on an empty stomach, you should take them 30 minutes before or two hours after meals.

You should also consider glutamine. The most prevalent amino acid in the body, glutamine is renowned for its healing properties in the  gut. It aids in the production of enterocytes – cells that line the intestinal tract and play a key role in controlling the absorption of nutrients and prohibiting improperly digested proteins from entering the bloodstream. The recommended dose is 2-3 g daily.

Other ways to restore digestive health

Several other supplements have proven effective when it comes to treating IBS. They can be found in most health food stores.

Probiotics: Stress, medications, and poor diet can reduce "friendly" bacteria in your intestines, worsening symptoms of IBS. Clinical studies show that probiotic supplements help normalize the bacterial makeup of the intestinal tract, alleviating bloating, constipation, diarrhea and other GI disturbances that often accompany IBS. Use as directed.

Artichoke leaf extract:
A growing body of evidence suggests that artichoke leaf extract is a valuable therapy in the treatment of IBS. After a six-week study, researchers in the United Kingdom reported that IBS patients taking artichoke leaf extract had significant reductions in the severity of their symptoms. Furthermore, 96 percent of the patients rated artichoke leaf extract as "better than or equal to" previous therapies they had tried. The suggested dose is 600-1,800 mg daily, in divided doses with meals.

Peppermint: (Mentha piperita) is particularly beneficial for gas and bloating because it helps relax muscles in the intestines. The preferred form of peppermint is enteric-coated capsules. They break down in the intestines, not in the stomach, where they could cause heartburn. Take 1-2 capsules (each containing 0.2 mL of peppermint oil), two or three times a day, preferably between meals.
As most physicians are quick to point out, there is no sure cure for IBS. However, I am confident that through diet modification, stress control and the use of targeted supplements, you can achieve dramatic, long-term relief.

Julian Whitaker, M.D., known as America's Wellness Doctor, is founder of the Whitaker Wellness Institute, which has treated more than 45,000 patients as the largest alternative medicine clinic in the country. Author of the monthly newsletter "Health & Healing" and 13 books, including "Reversing Diabetes" and "Reversing Heart Disease," Dr. Whitaker is a proponent of freedom of choice in medicine and founder of the nonprofit Freedom of Health Foundation.

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