As the Stomach Turns ... :: Health and Disease

As the Stomach Turns

The commercials make me crazy. They advertise over-the-counter or prescription medications that claim to treat heartburn, acid reflux, or general indigestion. And they always feature a bunch of fun-loving, portly guys out on the town for a night of sausage pizza, spicy chicken wings, and draught beer.

Their leader (let’s call him “Bob”) is temporarily sidelined by some form of gastric upset. Luckily, Bob has his magic medicine, and upon taking it, can safely continue his binge without consequence. “Gee, Bob,” I find myself yelling at the set, “maybe you should ease off the chili-cheese fries instead!” But he never listens.

The thing is, I know exactly where Bob is coming from, and I’m just using the poor guy as a scapegoat. Despite my tough ’n’ sassy demeanour, when it comes to my innards, I’m like a delicate flower. And I’ve always been a “tummy barometer” kind of person. Whatever is out of balance in my body, chances are it will make itself known through my digestion. Add years of bad habits–overeating, drinking, unchecked stress, and anxiety–and you can see that I need the advice on digestion presented in the articles in this month’s issue more than anyone. But of all the things I learn from alive and follow through on–getting regular exercise, improving my sleep, taking supplements, paying attention to my emotional health–managing my temperamental tummy is far and away the toughest.

It doesn’t seem fair, frankly. I’m a lover of the good things in life: fine wine, rich desserts, good Scotch, Béarnaise sauce…why should I be the one cursed with tummy trouble? Based on some of my detoxing experiments over the years, I should probably be living a life of culinary purity and going macrobiotic, or at least vegan. When I’m being very careful, things in the ol’ midsection are looking and feeling good. My pants fit, I don’t feel like a sick puppy after every dinner, my energy level goes up…then some shopkeeper waves a wedge of provolone under my nose, and it’s down the rabbit hole again.

My supplement cupboard reveals a stash of cures for the digestively disadvantaged: probiotics, enzymes, peppermint tea, oil of oregano, and a few other things you don’t really want to hear about.

And this is where I start to feel a lot like Bob and his buddies. Oh, sure, I’m not taking a prescription drug for reflux, then hitting the all-you-can-eat barbecue buffet, but am I really that much different? Just because I’m using “natural” cures, does that mean I’m being much more responsible for my health? I know what I need to do; I just don’t have the good sense to do it.

Bob, if you’re out there, maybe we should get together. I’ll meet up with you and your pals, and together we’ll throw away all our little bottles and jars! We’ll have our very own support group and call it “Indigestion Anonymous.” Then we’ll go out to eat…or maybe we could just grab a cup of green tea somewhere?

Source: alive #290, December 2006

Beyond Survival
No pizza, beer, no cakes, cookies or pie! This is what I was told when I was first diagnosed with celiac disease. While this advice makes nutritional sense for everyone, these indulgences were particularly threatening to my healt.

The Magic of Muesli
More than 90 per cent of all foods North Americans eat have been tampered with in one way or another through chemical farming, processing, refining and now genetic engineering.

Liver Restoration
Perhaps because there is no Western orthodox medical treatment for the liver, the liver is, unfortunately, overlooked as the cause of many health problem.

Liberate Your Colon
"Don't let your health be stolen by a congested colon! If a person is not being rewarded with good health, vigour and energy after proper sleep, good nutrition and dietary supplements, then there must be a thief, stealin.

Chewing Well Prevents Stomach Woes
How you eat is as important as what you eat and the simplest method for improving your digestion and overall health is to chew your food well.

Soothe Festive Belly Aches

Healthy Bugs
Probiotics is the name for these beneficial bacteria, which the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the US (FAO) define as "live microorganisms, which when administered .

De-Stress Your Digestion
The most common health complaint in North America is poor digestion. Consumers spend billions of dollars each year on over-the-counter medicines and prescription drugs designed to temporarily relieve symptoms of gastrointestinal distress.

The Best Colon-Cleansing Diet
If you experience constipation, bladder and kidney infections, vaginal yeast infections, bad breath, body odour, abdominal cramps, or toe- and fingernail fungus, your colon may be calling for a cleanse. Some say disease begins in the colon.

Wisdom Of The Human Body
"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest the patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and preve.

Renewing Your Digestion
(Renew Life Press, 2002). Speaking from her office in Clearwater, Fla.

Gas? Bloating? Constipation?
Imagine a factory where the assembly line works in reverse, taking cars and dismantling them piece by piece until they are all but unrecognizable. That's essentially how your digestive system work.

Conquering Digestive Disorders
It's no fun when you get that bloated, gassy feeling after eating-so often considered a "normal" post-meal symptom in our societ.

Nourishing the Gastrointestinal Tract
Modern day agricultural practices include the use of germicides, radiation and fungicides meant to kill harmful bacteria and other micro-organisms. They also kill beneficial bacteria, leaving our foodstuffs virtually sterile.

Oh, What a Relief It Is
Every year more than 50 million people visit their doctors for digestive problems. As a result, acid blockers and antacids are two of the top-selling pharmaceutical products.

Gut Instinct
Almost all disease can be traced back to poor digestion. Good digestive health is more than just breaking down your food properly-it's essential for nutrient absorption, immune function, detoxification, and chemical and hormone production..

A Symbiotic Relationship
The body's gastrointestinal tract or gut is central to maintaining health as it is this set of organs that digests food to properly nourish the body. Good digestion requires normal flora (good bacteria) and a healthy pH balance in the gut.

Digestion
What do weight problems, skin conditions, allergies, fatigue, insomnia, arthritis, headaches, depression, yeast infections, constipation, and cancer have in common? These and dozens of other conditions may all be caused or worsened by poor digestion..

Colon Cleansing Made Easy

Digestive Woes
The digestive tract can be a friend and an enemy. Many variables such as stressors, genetic predisposition, and unhealthy lifestyle choices can interrupt the complex process of digestion and play havoc with our stomachs. Three simple strategies practised daily can help to manage stress for a stomach-friendly lifestyle.

Dealing with Digestion
Pain, bloating, belching, constipation, and a wide range of other distressing symptoms accompany digestive disturbances. Taking an honest look at dietary and lifestyle habits will usually offer the best clues to solving your tummy troubles.

Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
Diverticulosis is a condition in which there are small extruding pockets in the wall of the large bowel. Most commonly they occur in the descending colon or sigmoid colon, which is the last part of the bowel prior to its exit from the body. Diverticulitis is an inflammation of those pockets, which can lead to symptoms of diarrhea, pain and bleeding.

Renewing Life
In with the good, out with the bad. It's simple physiology, but when the digestive system doesn't function properly, optimum health can be elusive.

Go Foraging for Fibre
Are you getting enough fibre? Do you know how much you need each day?

Unlocking the Mysteries of Bowel Disorders
Many of us have experienced abdominal discomfort, usually from overindulging. People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), however, have recurring and severe bouts of intestinal pain, bleeding, and diarrhea. This month, in the first of a two-part series on bowel disorders, alive looks at research that may provide relief for people with IBD.

Gut Reaction
Probiotics can have a beneficial effect on a wide range of inflammatory bowel disorders such as celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. They help to restore a healthy bacterial balance that not only supports the digestion process but also reduces inflammation in the intestine.

Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which gluten acts as a toxin and causes the absorptive surfaces of the small intestine to flatten. This prevents the body from receiving important nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Andrographis
With the arrival of spring, many people follow their gut instinct and begin to focus on healthier eating and lifestyle habits in order to strengthen their resistance to illness and improve general well-being.