May also be called mucus colitis, intestinal neurosis,
spastic bowel, spastic colon, or
spastic colitis. IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a common digestive
problem and women have it more than men. In IBS, the contractions of the digestive system become non-rhythmic which causes problems with
the normal movement of food and waste. Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome may include:
constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, flatulence, anorexia, intolerance to certain foods, and
diarrhea. Nutrients will not be absorbed
properly so malnutrition occurs. For this reason, a Multi-vitamin/herbal
good supplement is needed. It is also important to get regular exercise.
A bowel/colon cleansing and restoration herbal blend with
Lactobacillus acidophilus included maybe very helpful.
IBS - Irritable bowel syndrome is the most common
digestive problem seen by dcotors today. It is estimated that
about 1 in every 5 adult Americans has the symptoms of lBS. Although fewer than
50% of these people seek help for their problems. Twice as
many women suffer from the condition as men. In the disease, the normally
rhythmic muscular contractions of the digestive tract become
irregular and uncoordinated. This causes problems in the normal
movement of food and waste material, and causes the
accumulation of mucus and toxins in the intestine This
accumulated material sets up an obstruction of the
digestive tract, trapping both gas and stools, which in turn causes
bloating, distention, and constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome
may affect the person's whole gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth
all the way to the
colon. IBS symptoms include: constipation
and/or diarrhea, abdominal pain, mucus in
the stools, nausea, flatulence, bloating, anorexia, and food intolerances. Pain
may often be triggered by
eating, and the pain maybe relieved by a bowel movement. Due
to the
pain, diarrhea, nausea, and sometimes severe headaches and
even vomiting, a person with lBS may fear eating.
Whether or
not an individual with irritable bowel syndrome eats normally,
malnutrition may
result, as nutrients are not absorbed well. Thus, people with lBS require as much as 30% more protein
than normal, as well as an increased amounts of vitamins, minerals, and
trace elements, which can be quickly used up by diarrhea.
There are no physical signs of disease in bowel tissue with
this disorder, and its cause or causes are not well
understood. There are research scientists who believe a virus or bacterium
is a factor. Lifestyle issues such as stress and diet are
probably common causes. The overuse of antibiotics, antacids,
or laxatives, which disturb the bacterial microflora of the
bowel, is another likely factor. Many other diseases can be
related to lBS. including candidiasis,
colon cancer, diabetes mellitus,
gallbladder disease, malabsorption disorders, pancreatic
insufficiency, ulcers, and the
parasitic
infections amebiasis and giardiasis.
There are over 100 different
problems related to the systemic effects of Irritable bowel syndrome
. One
disorder that is linked in about 25% of adults with lBS
is arthritis, usually peripheral arthritis, which affects the
ankles, knees, and wrists. Less frequently, the spine is
affected. lBS may also be related to skin disorders. Some people with lBS have abnormalities in the
levels of liver enzymes in their blood. Diagnosis of irritable
bowel syndrome requires ruling out disorders that can cause
similar symptoms, such as Crohn's disease,
diverticulitis,
lactose
intolerance, and ulcerative
colitis. A doctor may recommend one or more of a
variety of procedures to do this, including barium enema,
colonoscopy, rectal biopsy, sigmoidoscopy, and stool
examination to check for the presence of bacteria, blood,
and/or parasites. Irritable bowel syndrome is painful, but not
serious, and most people who have it can lead active,
productive lives if they change their diets, get regular
exercise, and get the needed nutrients and supplements.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Omega
fatty acids |
10 |
has both a healing and a cleansing
effect. They help protect the intestinal lining. Fatty acids are found in
omega fatty acids from fish
oil, flax seed oil, and borage seed oil. |
Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains vitamin E, vitamin B,
vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc, and other nutrients which all are helpful in
both the treatment and prevention of irritable bowel syndrome.
It is also needed to promote general good health and well being. |
Cyanocobalamin |
10 |
vitamin B12 is needed
for good absorption of foods |
Garlic |
10 |
helps with digestion and to
eliminate toxins in the colon. |
Lactobacillus acidophilus |
10 |
friendly bacteria
needed for good bowel and colon health. Maybe combined with Lactobacillus rhanosus, Bifidobacterium
longum, and Lactobacillus plantarum in a combination such as
Botana Cleanse (see link below) |
Glutamine |
8 |
metabolic fuel for the
intestinal cells |
Calcium |
8 |
helps with a nervous
stomach and with the nervous system of the entire body. This
mineral is also very good for the colon. |
Magnesium |
8 |
works with
calcium |
Alfalfa |
8 |
has vitamin K which is
needed to build intestinal flora for good digestion. |
Aloe
vera |
8 |
herb that is healing
to the digestive system |
Fenugreek |
8 |
herb that is helpful
for digestive, intestinal, and urinary problems. |
Licorice |
8 |
herb that can be
helpful |
Red
Clover |
8 |
herb good for
cleansing and detoxification |
Alfalfa |
8 |
has vitamin K good for
intestinal flora and digestion |
Ginger |
8 |
herb that helps with
IBS |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|