Happy Healthy Gut (4 page)

Because lactose intolerance and IBS have such similar symptoms,
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a trial of a lactose-free diet should probably be recommended by your doctor. If your doctor has not recommended ditching the dairy, and your symptoms have not gotten better, I completely recommend just going ahead and doing this yourself. It won’t hurt you at all to do your own investigation and eliminate dairy. An IBS diagnosis has also been commonly given to patients who eventually discover that they are hosting various pathogens, and/or parasites. If you think that you may have IBS, ask your doctor to be tested for these things, as well as lactose intolerance and celiac disease, in order to rule them out first. This move could save you a lot of time and unnecessary gut ache.

With IBS, diarrhea or constipation may predominate, or they may alternate, and are classified as IBS-D (diarrhea), IBS-C (constipation), IBS-M (mixed), or IBS-U (un-subtyped).
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I would be an example of someone who had IBS-C. The diagnosis of IBS is one of exclusion, but the symptoms alone are generally pretty tell-tale, especially when other possibilities are ruled out.

Interestingly, there seems to be a consensus about a few different situations in which sufferers can look back on and recall their symptoms correlating with. These include a stressful life event, (personally, I can definitely trace the commencement of my IBS back to a not-so-hot relationship) a bowel infection or parasite, or the onset of adolescence. People suffering from IBS are more likely to also have acid reflux, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, headaches, and backaches.
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Although there is no cure for IBS, there are treatments that attempt to relieve symptoms, including recommended dietary adjustments and surgery.
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IBS has no effect on life expectancy, but it is definitely a source of chronic, constant pain, fatigue, and other symptoms. This
is a fabulous reason to change your diet and get better holistically. Mother Nature’s remedies are free and fabulous! Here are some startling facts about IBS, the first three of which were taken directly from The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC):
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• “Up to twenty percent of the American population suffers from IBS.
  
• IBS affects almost twice as many women as men.
  
• IBS is most often diagnosed in people under the age of forty-five.”
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These last four statistics are from the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF):
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• “Patients with IBS miss an average of thirteen work days a year. This represents an annual figure of $8 million of lost productivity.
  
• About 40% of IBS sufferers seek medical attention.
  
• Acute care inpatient costs for IBS are ranked as the fourth most expensive digestive disease in Canada.
  
• Obesity enhances the severity of IBS symptoms.”
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People suffering from IBS usually respond well to whole, easy-to-digest foods. Foods that contain no chemicals and highly absorbable nutrients are key here. For this reason, I personally consume a lot of liquids. I blend or juice fruits and vegetables several times each day, because I now understand that my body needs a break from foods that are more difficult to process. Also, by eliminating highly processed and altered foods, you can lighten the toxin load that is so difficult for your gut to deal with.

Diverticular disease is the result of having diverticulosis (the formation of small pouches the bulge outward in your intestinal
wall), and diverticulitis (the abscesses and subsequent infections that result from it).
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There are usually no signs that an individual has diverticulosis, but symptoms associated with diverticulitis are lower-left side stomach pain, fever, and chills. Sufferers might also complain of diarrhea or nausea, while others might report constipation. The severity of symptoms is largely dependent on the extent of the likely infection and subsequent complications. Diverticulitis may get worse as the day goes on, beginning as small pains and/or diarrhea, and gradually developing into vomiting and more pain.
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The development of this disease is thought to be caused by (drum-roll please!) chronic constipation. A lack of dietary fiber, particularly non-soluble fiber (such as whole grains), may contribute largely to individuals developing diverticular disease.
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“Americans spend $1,300,069.00 a day on laxatives.”
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—Paul Chek, holistic health practitioner

In most cases of uncomplicated diverticulitis accompanied by moderate acute infection, the sufferer can rest at home, limiting food consumption to liquids and repairing their weak intestinal tract with antibiotics.
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However, recurring episodes or complications may require surgery. Emergency surgery is often inescapable for people whose intestine has ruptured, because a rupture of this nature almost certainly results in an infected abdominal cavity.
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During surgery, a colon-resection may be performed.
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Diverticulitis most often affects middle-aged and elderly persons, though it can strike young people too. Obesity is associated with diverticulitis in young patients, with some being as young as in their early twenties.
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Usually, this goes back to the chronic constipation issue. Colon health is key here, folks. A dirty colon can contribute to all sorts of illness. Here are some stats from the World Gastroenterology Organisation
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about diverticular disease:

• “2–5% of diverticular disease cases affect those under the age of forty.
  
• Between 22–30% of first-time patients will go on to have subsequent diverticular episodes.
  
• 30% of diverticular patients also have been diagnosed with IBS.
  
• Diverticular disease is less common among vegetarians.”
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Here are some more facts from The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation
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:

• “More than 130,000 Canadians have diverticular disease.
  
• Each year, 13,000 Canadians are admitted to hospitals due to the disease.
  
• Direct costs associated with diverticular disease are $88.6million per year.
  
• The management of diverticular disease costs Canadians $90.3 million each year.
  
• 50% of Canadians over the age of eighty develop the disease.
  
• Diverticular disease is the fifth most expensive digestive disease to manage.
  
• Every year, more than 400 Canadians die due to complications associated with diverticular disease.”
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Although not completely proven, it is often recommended that diverticulitis sufferers benefit from the absence of small foods that can easily become lodged in the inflamed pouches of their intestine. Foods such as seeds, nuts, and corn kernels fall into this category. Like IBS sufferers, those experiencing diverticulitis should also consider adopting a semi-liquid diet. To repair and restore a damaged intestinal wall, there needs to be the right type of nutrition being absorbed to help this process.

This is attainable by ditching the crap (literally), and introducing liquid nourishment in the form of blended or juiced organic fruits and veggies.

Contrary to IBS and diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a completely different ball game. It consists of two major, closely related disorders, though each have their own unique twists. The first is colitis, and the second is Crohn’s disease. I have two very good friends who are sisters, whom I have known for over ten years. One has colitis, and the other has Crohn’s. I can tell you from my experiences with these two women that IBD is extremely debilitating, and results in the use of tremendous amounts of drugs and hospitalizations. It affects not only the body, but also the mind. It messes with self-esteem, and eventually takes on an all-encompassing and defining role in one’s life. IBD is terrible, but it can be treatable, and probably in some cases preventable, too.

Colitis (sometimes it’s ulcerative), affects the large bowel or colon. Inflammation can be acute or chronic, and the area is usually home to bleeding ulcers. People who live with chronic colitis symptoms are at a much greater risk for colon cancer than the general population.
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This is due to the chronically aggravated condition of the colon.

Crohn’s disease can occur anywhere within the intestinal tract, but is most common in the ileum or large bowel.
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Crohn’s disease
typically has different symptoms than colitis, because of the variation of location. However, both diseases are painful, frightening, and exhausting. The following are statistics taken from The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA):
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• “As many as 700,000 Americans suffer from Crohn’s disease.
  
• Men and women are equally affected.
  
• Crohn’s is most common among young adults, ranging in age from 15-35 years old.
  
• 5-20% of people who have been diagnosed with Crohn’s have a first-degree relative with IBD.
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• Most people diagnosed with colitis are in their mid-thirties.”
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Here are some more facts about inflammatory bowel disease from The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation:

• “In 2008, there were an estimated 250,000 Canadians with IBD.
  
• The total direct and indirect costs of IBD are $1.8 billion. The total direct medical costs for IBD were $700 million in 2008. In 2008, the cost of prescription drugs for the treatment of Canadian patients with IBD was $162 million. ($809 per patient). Costs associated with additional physician visits and outpatient surgeries were $134 million in 2008.
  
• Indirect costs associated with IBD total more than $1 billion with the main contributor being long-term work loss. Sick leave and absenteeism attributes to IBD cost the Canadian economy $104.2 million per year. Absenteeism and early retirement due to IBD is estimated to cost the Canadian market $746 million. In a single year, the Canadian workforce suffers a productivity loss of $138 million due to short-term absences of IBD patients.
  
• The
  average age of IBD onset coincides with an individual’s most important socioeconomic period of their life. As such, the indirect costs of IBD are enormous as symptom severity may prevent a patient from realizing their career potential or family creation.
  
• Almost half of IBD patients have additional health issues affecting their joints, skin, eyes, and biliary tract that may be more debilitating than the bowel symptoms.”
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Those living with IBD are in dire need of a nutritional overhaul. First and foremost, the intestines need repairing, stat. That means going on an elimination diet, where all animal products are omitted, as well as chemicals, processed foods, non-organics, and anything genetically modified. Although the liquid diet in the previous two sections can also be helpful for IBD, it is not recommended right away. Often, it will only aggravate diarrheal circumstances associated with a severely dysfunctional bowel.

Because of this, those with IBD should begin by consuming only foods that will not anger their digestive system. This usually entails forgoing any food with insoluble fiber, such as raw fruits and vegetables. Examples of produce that is easier to digest properly, are steamed or baked vegetables and starches, such as yams, sweet potatoes, apples, pears, carrots, beets,
etc.
Fruits and veggies are very important here, but they need to be slightly cooked in order to be more easily digestible. Also, the BRAT diet of bananas, brown, sprouted rice, applesauce, and whole grain, sprouted toast is recommended for those suffering from chronic diarrhea.
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Daily digestive enzymes in the form of capsules can also be important, as well as probiotics, also available in capsule form. Lots of herbal teas and room temperature water are necessary to counter the loose bowel movements. Juicing is a really great way for people suffering from IBD to obtain vitamins and living enzymes from raw fruits and veggies. Because juicing removes the fiber, the liquid is generally
tolerated much easier than the whole form is.
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For more detailed instructions on a food plan tailored specifically for IBD, please consult a naturopath or plant-based dietician.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that occurs in people of all ages. Symptoms can include chronic diarrhea, failure to thrive (in children), rapid weight loss, and chronic fatigue.
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In the United States population, nearly one out of every one hundred people is thought to have celiac disease.
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It is caused by a reaction to gluten protein found in wheat, and similar proteins such as barley and rye. Upon exposure to the proteins in these grains, an inflammatory reaction occurs. This leads to damage of the villi lining of the small intestine which, in turn, interferes with the absorption of nutrients, because the intestinal villi are responsible for absorption.

The only known effective treatment for celiac disease is a long-term, gluten-free diet.

While the disease is caused by a reaction to wheat proteins, it is important to note that it is not the same as wheat allergy. It is easy to see why, in this situation, diet can literally mean life or death.