Authors: Jennifer Browne
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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These last four statistics are from the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF):
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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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Side note:
Mild cases of diverticulitis do not necessarily require treatment of antibiotics. Antibiotics are far too over-prescribed and are mostly unnecessary for mild infection. Antibiotics kill all bacteria in the gut, even friendly bacteria. Without the friendly stuff, the cycle keeps perpetuating. Under the advice of a doctor, sufferers should make sure that their diverticulitis flare-up warrants the use of antibiotics, and try to use preventative measures with this disease instead of post-flare-up medications.
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:
Here are some more facts from The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation
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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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Here are some more facts about inflammatory bowel disease from The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation:
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.