Last updated January 01, 2011
Those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome often find that medical doctors have little insight into what is causing their symptoms. Medications cover symptoms, but do not cure them. Finding the actual cause is the first step in treating this common condition.
The digestive tract contains digestive enzymes, which are specially created proteins that help break down food on a chemical level. When these digestive enzymes are not working properly, food does not get digested properly. Once it passes through the small intestine and into the bowel, bad bacteria living in the bowel attack the undigested food. This creates some of IBS’s most common symptoms, like gas and bloating.
These digestive enzymes come from fresh, uncooked vegetables and fruit. Most Americans get too few of these fresh foods, which means that they have a lack of digestive enzymes in their bodies. Canned, cooked, and processed foods are void of these digestive enzymes, yet these are what make up the modern American diet, which is why rates of patients suffering from IBS are on the rise.
One way to help restore this balance is to start eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. However, for those who already have IBS, adding too many of these foods too fast can create additional problems, because many of these foods are known to cause more gas and bloating. This can prevent the healing process from happening, even though it is treating the cause. You can add these foods slowly, but you will not notice the improvement in your IBS symptoms very quickly by trying to fix the problem this way.
Another way to fix the problem is through supplementation. Adding digestive enzymes through a supplement works well because it provides the enzymes without the fiber and sugar in the foods that can create problems. This treatment has been proven highly effective in treating IBS from the inside out.
When choosing a supplement, look for one that has enzymes from natural, plant-based products. This will ensure they are exactly what your body needs. Follow dosage instructions on the product to ensure you get the right amount of enzymes. As they enter into your intestinal tract, you will notice an improvement in many of your symptoms, specifically the gas and bloating in your lower stomach area.
Be careful to avoid products with unnatural ingredients. Chemicals your body doesn’t need can make your problems worse instead of better. Organic, plant-based ingredients are best, as they will help heal your body by restoring the balance of enzymes that you desperately need.
Last updated January 01, 2011
Traveler’s Diarrhea is one of the most common ailments to affect those who travel. If you have ever experienced this problem, you understand how frustrating it can be when you finally arrive at your foreign destination either for business or pleasure, only to find that no matter what you eat, you are sick and stuck in the wash room. Understanding the causes of this phenomenon is the first step in preventing it.
The CDC estimates that as many as 50 percent of international travelers, up to 10 million people, experience diarrhea while they travel. Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia are destinations the most prone to causing the problem for their visitors. Those with disorders of the immune system or who are very young or very old are at the highest risk for the condition.
You may have heard, “Don’t drink the water!” from well-meaning friends and acquaintances before you left for your trip. In some areas of the world, this is very valid advice. Some countries do not have the same level of water treatment as we have in the United States, and your body is not equipped to deal with the parasites and other problems in the country’s water. Because of this, contaminated food or water is one cause of traveler’s diarrhea.
But if you are a seasoned traveler, you are probably already well aware of the need to avoid the water in a foreign destination. Yet, even with the precautions necessary to avoid water and contaminated foods, you may still succumb to t