Health and Diet Blog

Low Jeremy asked:




It is not surprising that food has got something to do with the causes of irritable bowel syndrome. After all, it is in the intestinal tract that we process foods. Thus, what we eat normally affects the way our intestines function.

Changes in our diet would certainly create effects on the fashion by which we digest foods. This then will change the chemical interaction involved in the processing of these crucial substances.

However, Irritable Bowel Syndrome does not deal with chemical interactions alone. It is basically a functional disorder that borders more on the abnormalities of functions that don’t often project actual or physical complications. In fact, this is the exact reason why the nature of the disease is not yet fully known. Add to it the fact that most factors involved are under subjective details, which also require subjective treatments. This alone is enough to conclude why there is lack of concrete knowledge on the true characteristics of the syndrome.

Though we know for a fact that all these contribute to the development of the syndrome and the consequential attacks of symptoms, the medical community cannot still provide a comprehensive treatment plan for all patients to eliminate IBS.

Thus, any activities that would result to the removal of these factors will create lesser chances of triggering the attacks.

One best way of doing this is through following of a diet plan that would remove problematic foods while supplementing them with foods helpful in improving the symptoms.

While foods may not actually act as root causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, their effects are still substantial enough. It is good to note however that there is no fixed formula for creating the diet for Irritable Bowel syndrome. The results will always lie on the strategic combination of foods to promote lesser symptoms and healthier intestinal tract.

Trigger foods are obviously those who create tension in the stomach which then causes it to function in an abnormal manner. Some of the trigger foods are those which have high fat content while very low in fiber content. Oils, cream, poultry skin, fried foods, and coconut milk are among the most common foods that cause problems.

Fats are known to create a slower digestion in the stomach. The more time it takes the intestinal bacteria to digest foods, the higher the risk of creating gas thus, most patients of Irritable Bowel syndrome suffer from intestinal gas which in itself is also associated with diarrhea, bloating, constipation and other major symptoms.

Foods with high caffeine content like coffee, chocolate, and carbonate rinks are also known to trigger Irritable Bowel syndrome. Therefore, these must be eliminated from your list of foods so that you can get around from the likelihood of stimulating the rise of abdominal complications.

Meanwhile, to facilitate better movements of the stool in the colon, it is best that you take extra amounts of dietary fiber. This is especially true for those who suffer from constipation-dominant irritable bowel.

Constipation is marked by compacted stool or too loose stool. Fiber acts as the neutralizer since it adds bulk to the stool to administer easier expulsion from the system.

Fiber can be acquired from natural resources such as vegetables and fruits, nuts, brown rice, figs, peas, French bread, raisings, soybeans, and a number of others.

Nick Mutt asked:




Chronic constipation is a problem that in itself becomes a cause of several other diseases like appendicitis, rheumatism, arthritis, high blood pressure, cataract and cancer.

Constipation is a common disorder that causes disturbance in the digestion system. It is a condition in which bowel movements are not proper. And the result is that it gives rise to toxins that get mixed with the blood and are carried to all parts of the body.

Chronic constipation is a problem that in itself becomes a cause of several other diseases like appendicitis, rheumatism, arthritis, high blood pressure, cataract and cancer.

Constipation Relief through Fruit Juice

Apple Juice and Prune Juice – Prepare fresh apple juice for best result in curing constipation. If you have a juicer you can prepare fresh apple juice and drink 3-4 glasses a day. To speed up the laxative effects of apple juice, take the below combination first thing in the morning before you have breakfast,

Step 1 – Drink 2-3 cups of prune juice.

Step 2 – After half hour, drink one cup of apple juice

Step 3 – One hour later drink another cup of apple juice

Now be prepared to head for the bathroom after you drink your prune juice and your first glass of apple juice. You may need to head to the bathroom soon after you drink prune juice.

Prune juice by itself is very beneficial for constipation. It is a safe, gentle and an effective natural laxative. Drink a cup of prune juice in the morning and a cup in the evening. Prune juice contain the substance dihydrophenylisatin, which is responsible for the laxative action.

If you add prune juice to your diet, do not drink as much of it as you would when you have constipation. Drink half glass in the morning and perhaps half glass in the evening.

Home Remedies for Constipation

• Eat guava with seeds, which provides adequate amount of fiber to the diet and aids in normal evacuation of the bowels. Consume about 1-2 guavas on a daily basis. It will prevent constipation.

• Papaya, figs, grapes and orange are natural effective laxatives. They are beneficial in constipation cure.

• You may also consume about four or five dry figs soaked in water overnight. It is another good remedy for constipation.

• Bael fruit is very effective in treating constipation. Consume it everyday for about 2-3 months.

• Another important home remedy for constipation is spinach. You can eat it either raw or prepare its juice. Mix 100 ml spinach juice with an equal quantity of water and drink it twice a day.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. Nick Mutt is an active writer on alternative health and has published many ebooks on natural health. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

Dr Rick asked:




Leaky gut syndrome used to be only something you would hear about, amongst the “alternative” medicine community. But more and more, main stream medicine is finding out this may be the begining of many diseases we see today.

There is truth in the old saying, “Death begins in the intestines. ” Your intestines play an important role not only in your digestion, but in many biological functions. Your intestinal tract harbors many different types of bacteria. It is estimated that there is between 300-500 different types of beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract. When the balance between “good” and “bad” bacteria is lost, this is called dysbiosis. When dysbiosis is present, immune system functions become less efficient, yeast, or candida over growth may occur, inflammation in the intestinal tract may occur, as well as through out your body if the inflammation then leads to a hyper-permeable intestinal wall (leaky gut).

Research has implicated intestinal dysbiosis as contributing to vitamin B12 deficiency(pernicious anemia), irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, colon and breast cancer, psoriasis, eczema, cystic acne, and chronic fatigue syndrome, high cholesterol, food allergies, and more!

Some of the causes of leaky gut syndrome may be,

Antibiotic use

Anti inflammatory drugs (yes even the NSAIDs.. especially the NSAIDs)

Processed foods

Stress

Lack of fiber in the diet

Hypochlorhydria (as you age the strength of your stomach acid declines, causing improper nutritional absorption as well as many other imbalances. Even people that suffer from acid reflux may actually have Hypochlorhydria)

It is not enough just to simply replenish your friendly bacteria, or, intestinal flora with a supplement. Once you have hit the stage of leaky gut, the intestinal walls need to be healed as well. The longer the problem is left untreated, the more severe the damage, and the more difficult it is to correct. Fortunately testing for this is simple, non invasive and inexpensive.

Whether I am seeing a patient for arthritis, yeast infections, weight gain, fibromyalgia, or high cholesterol, I run a metabolic test to determine how well their body is functioning. If your foundation is not strong, it is difficult to obtain lasting results, no matter how great the treatment, drug, diet, or therapy is. Most of us think we are functioning well, if we have no symptoms of disease, but symptoms are often a more advanced sign that an imbalance is in place. Symptoms may also seem unrelated to the imbalance, and then go untreated, hoping it will just “go away on its own.” It may go away, but, that does not mean the imbalance has resolved itself.

If you suffer from:

Food allergies (most of these are hidden but add to your inflammation)

Irritable bowel syndrome

Chronic intestinal inflammation

Yeast infections

Fibromyalgia

Chronic fatigue

Eczema

Gas, bloat, or flatulence

or

Use antacids

Use antibiotics

Use NSAID or anti inflammatory drugs

You may be at risk for leaky guy syndrome.

When tested, if you find signs of leaky gut syndrome, or Hypochlorhydria, or dysbiosis, you can work with your health care practitioner to correct the problem. The secret to a long life and good health is not in symptom management, it’s in keeping your body balanced, and working in optimal condition. To find out more about leaky gut syndrome, or metabolic testing, click here.

If you pay attention to your body, you can have more energy, lose weight, stay healthy, and live a longer, happier life. It all starts with small adjustments, and little steps.

Chung Leong Yu asked:




Here is a fact that you should take note of. What do you look at first when you meet somebody? You look at their face first right? For example you meet up with old friends, colleagues, your neighbor or new friends, most of the time you will focus your attention on their faces first.

The point is that the face is very important and that is also why so many people are looking for ways to lose face fat. Any weight loss will show on the face first and when people look at your face, they will straight away notice changes. Plus, influences from the media and the entertaining world also create an impact on how a pretty or sexy face should look like. If you just would flip through the magazines, the faces of the models are all very slim and well defined with high cheekbones, sharp nose and a lean face.

Well, since so many people is looking for the answer to lose fat in their faces, here is a couple of tips on how to lose face fat. Before we move on to that, lets understand that there is no such thing a spot reduction. This means that if you are looking at a miracle pill or gadget that can get your cheeks down, you will be disappointed.

If you want to lose face fat, you have to begin with losing weight. This means losing excess water retention and also losing body fat. Usually, when a person loses weight, it is very noticeable that his face also gets sharper and leaner. Usually the face will slim down first because excess water is gone. Follow these simple steps to lose weight and you will get a lean, healthy and toned face.

Lose Face Fat Step 1: Drink lots of water.

You have to drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Drink at least nine 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Drink more than that if you are an active person and always exposed to the sun. The thing is our body has a natural protective system. When you do not drink enough water, the body will naturally think that you are stranded in a dessert and have not enough water. As a result, it will store as much water as it can to keep you living and there is when you will get bloated. Vice versa, if you drink enough water, the body will flush out all the unnecessary water because it knows that the system has enough water. Stick to plain water. Sodas and sugared drink would not help because they contain sugar and will lead to bloating too.

Lose Face Fat Step 2: Do not forget your fruits and vegetables!

Stay natural and eat at least three servings of fruits and three servings of vegetables every day. This will not only fill you up with less calories and help you stay way from junk food, fruits and vegetables also contains water that can help you stay hydrated. Plus, they are filled with fiber that gives many health benefits. Make your self a healthy fruit salad for snack instead of a chocolate bar. Choose your fruits carefully though; control the amount of bananas, grapes and pineapples because they are high in fructose. Go for apples, oranges, all sorts of berries and grapefruit because they are low GI carbs and they packed full with anti oxidants.

Lose Face Fat Step 3: Reduce the alcohol

It does not matter what alcohol you drink. Wine, brandy or beer, alcohol is still alcohol. Alcohol can cause a good amount of bloating in the body because it really dehydrates the body. It can also add inches in you belly and under your chin because one gram of alcohol contains seven calories! That is almost like drinking fat! A five ounce glass of wine has 100 calories, that means a little drinking a little bit can add inches in your waist.

Lose Face Fat Step 4: Bump up the calcium

A lot of studies have proven that taking at least 1200 milligrams of calcium from dairy if possible daily can help in fat loss. There is also a study that showed that half of the females in that study experienced reduced symptoms of PMS including water retention after consuming 1200 milligrams of calcium. So, do not eliminate dairy in your diet, have some in moderation.

Lose Face Fat Step 5: Calories out more than calories in.

This is the golden rule of fat loss. In order to lose weight, you have burn more calories than you consume. So, the easy and healthy way to do this is to burn 250 calories and reduce 250 calories from your food intake. The reason to reduce 500 calories a day is because we need to hit a reduction of 3500 calories a week and that will result to healthy recommended weight loss of one pound of body fat per week.

To burn 250 calories, just go for a simple walk or jog for 30 to 40 minutes. To reduce 250 calories, just eliminate all the junk food and excess fatty foods from your diet right now and I am sure you can reduce 250 calories. Eat healthy and eat with a mind to feed your muscles and body with good fuel!

Lose Face Fat Step 6: Control Your Salt Intake

Salt is another culprit of water retention. That is why when you snack with junk food that is high in sodium, you will feel every thirsty and your face will bloat up the next day. Avoid foods like pizza, burgers, junk food, chips and other similar foods because they are loaded with salt! When eating out, be careful of the gravy, some gravy use a lot of salt. Eat home and prepare your own food when ever possible! Sprinkle your salt, do not use your spoon, that way you can really control the amount of salt that goes into your food!

Lose Face Fat Step 7: Go For Weight Training

You have to weight train to maintain and increase lean muscle tissue. With more muscles packed in your body, your metabolism will increase and you can burn more calories and fat! Plus, with more muscles in your body, you can burn more calories while you do your cardio and even while rest because muscles are living tissues and require calories to function and survive! For optimum fat loss results and to lose fat on your face, you have to diet, do your cardio and also weight train.

So, if you want to lose fat on your face, the main objective is to lose weight. By losing body fat, you will look much leaner and have a much more cut features because fat and water under the skin is reduced.

So follow these simple steps and get on a fat loss program now. Mark my words; if you manage to lose body fat until your desired body fat, your face will look much leaner and thinner. Even your nose will look sharper!

Rudy Silva asked:




Constipation is one type of condition that you can treat yourself.  You can treat constipation in many ways such as using natural remedies or herbal laxatives.  But there is always one way to start when you really want to stop your constipation. Using fiber is one of the basic ways that you need to use to treat your constipation.  When fiber was discovered, it was first thought that it had no value in health.  But, its value was discovered not by doctors but by veterinarians. 

Plants or foods rich in fiber have cell membrane structures that are not digestible.  It is the fibers in plant walls that help plants keep the structure and strength.  Dietary fiber consists of carbohydrates where their polysaccharides were arranged in different fashions.  The four basic fibers are cellulose, pectin, hemicellulose, and lignin.  Cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin are considered insoluble fiber.  Pectin, gum, and mucilage are considered soluble fiber.

Besides helping to provide constipation health soluble fiber provides the following benefits.

“ reduces risk of heart disease

“ reduces risk of gallstones formation

“ helps to remove toxic heavy metals and toxins from your colon

“ helps to prevent appendicitis

“ regulates movement of sugar into the bloodstream during digestion

“ helps to prevent fissures

“ lowers cholesterol

“ slows absorption of fats in the intestines

“ and most importantly, help prevent the overgrowth of bad bacteria in your colon.

“ 

Eating insoluble fiber will give you natural constipation relief.  What makes insoluble fiber so beneficial is that it does not dissolve in water or during digestion.  Since your body’s enzymes do not breakdown fiber, like it does food, it remains in tack as it travels through your intestines and colon.  But one thing about eating an excess of fiber is that you could get stomach bloating caused by the breakdown of fiber.

Dietary insoluble fiber helps fecal matter travel faster through the small intestine, colon, and rectum.  It provides bulk and weight to your fecal matter.  It makes your stools larger, softer, and stimulates peristaltic movement as it moves through your colon.  When you lack fiber, your stools are thin, narrow, and short and dry.  This is the condition that causes constipation.

Insoluble fiber, like soluble fiber, slows down digestion.  It also slows down absorption of protein, starch and fat and has the ability to inhibit the action of digestive enzymes.  It also prevents the re-absorption of estrogen, cholesterol, and toxins.

Here are some of the foods that you need to eat if you want to treat your constipation.  Use vegetables, wheat, and wheat bran.  This type of fiber is considered an anti-carcinogen and a digestive aid.  It is credited with preventing colon cancer and colon diseases.

Here is a list of good Insoluble fiber:

“ Bananas

“ Broccoli

“ Brown rice

“ Brussels sprouts

“ Cauliflower

“ Cabbage

“ Corn

“ Lentils

“ Potatoes

“ Spinach wheat germ

“ Whole wheat bread

“ Whole wheat crackers

Here are some other foods that you can use to get natural constipation relief:

Oranges, grapefruit, nectarines, peaches, tangerines, apples, berries, apricots, bananas, figs, prunes

Zucchini, turnips, okra, cabbage, peas, sweet potatoes

Carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, eggplant, okra, Zucchini, greens

Barley, chickpeas, split peas, pinto beans, kidney beans, navy beans, potatoes

Foods rich in fiber contain both soluble and insoluble fiber.  Some foods contain more of one than the other.  Dietary fiber is a necessity for a disease free life.  Without eating fiber food, constipation set in, then disease comes.  Many people who develop illnesses don’t eat the required amount of fiber foods.  Start now to increase your consumption of fiber foods.  Start treating constipation now.

Juana Cruz asked:




Constant heartburn attacks are a problem to some. Just imagine what it would be like to stop in the middle of a task because a burning sensation suddenly creeps up to your chestbone, to your esophagus, to your throat, and sometimes even to your mouth. The pain can strike anytime, even at night. Which is why it is no wonder why many heartburn sufferers want to find out how to cure their condition once and for all.

There are many cures to constant heartburn, varying from surgical procedures to medicines. Here are some of the treatment options to consider.

1. Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication is a common type of heartburn surgery which involves tightening the walls of the esophagus and adding pressure to the lower esophagus muscle in order to prevent stomach contents from reaching the throat. Another method focuses on tightening the esophagus valve to keep acids from burning the esophageal lining.

2. Intraluminal endoscopic surgery is about using an optical, tubular instrument which is inserted inside the part of the patient’s body to let the doctor get a better view of it. This procedure is much faster and has a shorter recovery rate, which is why many patients want this kind of surgery.

3. Antacids are taken to neutralize the acids and promote the body’s defenses by helping increase the production of micous and bicarbonate. These medicines are aimed to relieve mild symptoms of heartburn, and are bought without the doctor’s prescription.

4. Histamine blockers are made to block the actions of histamine, a chemical which helps promote the production of stomach acids. They are for the relief of frequent cases of heartburn, but you have to wait for thirty to ninety minutes before these drugs could take effect. Then, the effect will only last for six to twenty-four hours. For patients with more serious cases of heartburn, they have to take two dosages a day.

5. Proton pump inhibitors reduce the acids in the stomach by reacting with cells responsible for producing stomach acids. You should note, though, that they are found to cause side effects like

diarrhea, headache, itching, and nausea.

There are many other ways how to cure constant heartburn. For more information, just visit my blog.

If you want to treat your acid reflux naturally, I suggest you read a review of the book that helped thousands of former acid reflux patients get rid of their condition permanently and naturally.

Orit Cox asked:




Round ligament pain can be a scary thing the first time you experience it.  It is characterized by sharp pain that radiates in the abdominal, hip or groin area.  This pain can can be on one side or both sides.  Though it can be alarming, as it is quite sharp, round ligament pain should not create cause for concern.

This type of pelvic pain is caused by stretching or spasm in the round ligaments.  The round ligament’s role is to help support the uterus.  During pregnancy, the expansion of the uterus is enormous.  This places a great deal of strain on the round ligaments as well as other uterine ligaments.  As your uterus grows these ligaments can become over stretched or spasm, causing sudden sharp pelvic pain.

Pregnant women often worry that this acute pain indicates a severe problem.  Your mind races fearing that something is wrong with the baby, or that you have appendicitis or some other serious condition.  Generally, this is not the case.

Do be alert, however, if you are having fever, chills, painful urination, difficulty walking, or bleeding.  These symptoms could indicate a more serious condition.

Round ligament pain is generally brief in duration, causing fast, sharp twinges that are short-lived.  These pains may be recurring, but the duration of the pain is short.  Sudden movements such as coughing, sneezing or laughing activate these muscles and can be painful.

Changing positions too quickly can also result in these sharp, shooting pains.   This type of pain frequently occurs in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

If you are suffering with round ligament pain, you may be able to get relief by bringing your knees up toward your chest.  This will take some of the strain off of your over-stretched and spasming ligaments.  If that does not provide relief, try lying on the side opposite the pain.  You may also find it comforting to take a warm bath, or apply warm compresses to the painful area.

Try not to sit or stand for extended periods of time.  Staying in one position for too long may aggravate the pain or allow it to occur more frequently.  It is important to move more slowly.  When you are changing to a sitting position, sit down slowly and gradually.  The same is true for when you are rising from a sitting position, get up slowly.  This will help decrease spasms and pain.  Slowing down your movements will allow your body more time to transition comfortably.

If you feel a sneeze or cough coming on, or if you are going to laugh, try to bring your knees up toward your chest a little bit.  This could help prevent the pain from beginning.

It is not unusual for round ligament pain to be problematic until your baby is born.  In rare cases, round ligament pain may ease on its own. While it is certainly a discomfort, it is not a permanent condition.  Once your baby is born, this pain should disappear completely.

It may be helpful to use gentle fascial stretching pregnancy pain relief techniques. 

Performing regular exercise and stretching can be valuable in keeping your body loose and more comfortable.  Prenatal yoga is an excellent exercise for pregnancy that will help to gently stretch your body and may prevent a variety of pains.

Use of a pregnancy pillow may help take the strain off of your ligaments at night.  If you do not have a pregnancy pillow, try placing a pillow between your knees and under your belly for extra support.  These small things may go a long way for alleviating discomfort.

The use of a pregnancy support belt may also be helpful.

 

Mike Lee asked:




Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is generally classified as a “functional” disorder. A functional disorder refers to a disorder or disease where the primary abnormality is an altered physiological function (the way the body works), rather than an identifiable structural or biochemical cause. It characterizes a disorder that generally can not be diagnosed in a traditional way; that is, as an inflammatory, infectious, or structural abnormality that can be seen by commonly used examination, x-ray, or blood test.

Sometimes irritable bowel syndrome is referred to as spastic colon, mucous colitis, spastic colitis, nervous stomach, or irritable colon.

Most individuals are surprised to learn they are not alone with symptoms of IBS. In fact, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects approximately 10-20% of the general population. It is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists (doctors who specialize in medical treatment of disorders of the stomach and intestines) and one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians.

Not surprisingly, the IBS symptoms of abdominal pain and discomfort, bloating and constipation (and many times diarrhea as well) are associated with impaired quality of life and are the second most common cause of work-related absenteeism, behind the common cold. Consistent treatment of irritable bowel syndrome IBS helps improve quality of life, cuts worker absenteeism, and improves work productivity.

There are several treatments available for IBS. Several prescription medications are available, including Dicyclomine (a muscle relaxant) and Lomotil. Unfortunately, the FDA approved applications of these prescriptions are incredibly limited and there are many associated risks and side effects associated with their use. Common side effects common to both medications include dehydration, dry mouth, dizziness, and tiredness. Lomotil, in particular, acts like a narcotic- so care should be taken with its use, particularly for children.

A popular alternative solution is natural herbal remedies (such as Bowtrol) and diet management. This combination allows an individual to treat the underlying potential triggers of the condition and not just the symptoms. As an individual learns to identify various foods that may trigger or aggravate the IBS symptoms, they can then move to eliminate or reduce the consumption of those foods. At the same time, the herbal remedy is working to restore natural order to the digestive tract. This is a very effective combination.

Fiber can also be quite helpful to individuals that suffer from IBS. There are two main types of fiber that can be used to treat the different symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

The first type of fiber is called soluble fiber. This helps with both diarrhea and constipation. Some of the foods that contain soluble fiber are apples, beans, citrus fruits, and many garden vegetables. You can also buy supplements to enhance your intake of soluble fiber. Some popular brands are Fiberall, Metamucil, and Perdiem.

The second type of fiber is called insoluble fiber. This helps with constipation by bulking up the stool and adding more material to allow for easier passage through the digestive tract. You can find soluble fiber in many whole grain and wheat based products, as well as many vegetables.

Try to increase your daily fiber intake very slowly so to make sure your system can adjust. You will notice gas and bloating gradually decrease as you make these dietary changes. Try to eat a wide variety of foods so you can sample how each affects your symptoms.

temp_158321 asked:




The first type is prescription drugs and the other is over the counter drugs. Prescription drugs are those that can’t be easily acquired by anyone at any pharmacy. To be able to get these drugs, you need to present a prescription duly signed by a qualified doctor.

Any imbalance in it affects the role of that particular dosha in the digestive process and in the end affects the function of the other doshas in digestion and manifestation of IBS.Aggravation of doshas leads to deranged digestive fires i.e, Vata dosha leads to Vishama Agni, Pitta aggravation leads to Tikshna Agni and aggravated Kapha leads to Manda Agni.

IBS which is categorised under Grahani, occurs due to one or more of dosha imbalance and it weakens the duodenum. According to Ayurveda, duodenum, helps in digestion and also hold it until it is properly digested and then it allows it to be passed through colon where it is excreted. Its inefficient functioning leads to either releasing its content earlier or retain the content for a longer period. So an alternating loose bowel and constipation occurs which is the main symptom IBS.

1) Insoluble Fiber – Just like fatty foods, do not eat insoluble fiber on an empty stomach. Always start off with the soluble fiber foods. You also need to prepare the insoluble fiber foods properly by cooking, pureeing, or chopping them.

2) Small Portions – there are just times when you are really hungry and you would just like to gobble everything up. Try to stray away from this. No matter how hungry you are, you need to eat slowly, leisurely and calmly. It is better to eat 5 times a day in small portion meals rather than eating three big meals a day. The purpose of this is to reduce the strain your stomach may experience if you eat a lot of food at one time. This is not just because of proper etiquette but to help in preventing flare ups.

3) Say No to Something You Do Not Know – if somebody offers you a food that you have no idea what it is, no matter how delicious it smells or looks, do not eat it. It may contain something that may activate the signs andsymptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

4) The Right Attitude – do not think that you are punishing yourself for having the kind of diet that you have. You always need to see the positive side of things. Soon you will enjoy the new set of food you are eating.

5) Spices – spices, well, what they do is spice your food up. But despite its very tempting function, it would be better to minimize the use of spices in preparing your food. Too much of these can cause a flare up of your symptoms. Spices can put a toll not just on your digestive tract but on your kidneys as well.

Read more on how to cure irritable bowel syndrome and Bowel Cleanser. Also visit Constipation Treatment

Sharon Bell asked:




Some women experience a variety of symptoms a week or 10 days before menstruation. These include bloating, weight gain due to water retention, tender or swollen breasts, headaches, backaches, irritability, depression, joint pains and a craving for sweets.

These short-lived symptoms are part of the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) which is apparently caused by too much estrogen (the female sex hormone) and lack of progesterone (another hormone secreted by the ovaries). Decreased levels of the neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) dopamine and serotonin are other factors.

To prevent this, Kurt Butler and Dr. Lynn Rayner of the University of Hawaii recommend the following in “The Best Medicine”:

Cut down on salt and concentrated sugars to reduce water retention and symptoms of hypoglycemia (a deficiency of glucose in the bloodstream common in diabetes).

Exercise regularly to decrease water retention. Avoid excessive alcohol intake days before your period begins.

Diuretics can reduce water retention and bloating. These are drugs which make the kidney produce more urine, thus getting rid of excess salt and fluid from the body. In

view of their side effects, however, see a doctor for the right medicines.

Some megavitamin advocates believe high doses of vita¬min B6 or pyridoxine can treat PMS. Consumer Reports, a magazine published by Consumers Union which has been providing people with helpful information since 1936 says “the evidence supporting this practice is thin.”

While daily pyridoxine supplements may relieve the symptoms of PMS in some people, mega dosing should be avoided since it can cause severe neurological damage and may harm the fetus of a pregnant woman. This was reported by Drs. Schaumburg and A. Berger in the New England Journal of Medicine.

They observed that seven adults who took daily pyridoxine megadoses of 2,000 to 6,000 milligrams suffered from severe and permanent nerve damage.

Even small doses of pyridoxine can be harmful. Schaum¬burg said 30 people who took 500 milligrams of pyri¬doxine every day also developed neurological disorders. Six¬teen other subjects suffered the same fate with only 200 milligrams a day of vitamin B6, he said.

“Their symptoms, which resembled those of multiple sclerosis, included numbness and tingling of the hands, difficulty in walking, and electric shocks shooting down the spine,” warned Consumer Reports.

If you must take pyridoxine supplements, do so under the guidance of a competent doctor. To help you rest during a PMS attack, take Sedamine – the supplement that will help you sleep naturally. Visit http://sedamine.com/ for details.