For many years, each day at about 2pm, Mrs. Chin's stomach would start to hurt and get bloated. When she is surrounded by people, she would often hold her gas in, ashamed of the indigestion and having more gas then she sould, this adds to the pain and more bloated feeling.
The number of people who have symptoms of irritable bowel disease, i.e., excessive intestinal gas formation, constipation, frequent bouts of diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, rectal itching, pencil shaped stools, blood or mucus in the stool; or the feeling that you have not finished a bowel movement, are legion. Mrs. Chin is only one of the hundreds of thousands. Of those who seek medical help, most are given drugs which do not treat the root cause but are, like Panadol, given for symptomatic relief only. For those treated in this manner, their problems go on interminably.
What is Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)?
Irritable bowel disease (IBD) refers to the condition where cells involved in inflammation and immune response are called into the lining of the Gastro Intestinal (GI) tract. This infiltration thickens the bowel lining and interferes with absorption and motility (the ability of the bowel to contract and move food). With abnormal ability to contract and abnormal ability to absorb, the bowel's function is disrupted. Chronic vomiting results if the infiltration is in the stomach or higher areas of the small intestine. A watery diarrhoea with weight loss results if the infiltration is in the lower small intestine. A mucous diarrhoea with fresh blood results if the infiltration occurs in the large intestine. Of course, the entire tract from top to bottom may be involved.
There are many names associated with IBD, such as Colitis, Coeliac Disease, Crohn's Disease, Hiatus Hernia, etc.
What causes IBD?
Doctors are not sure what causes IBD. Good news is that, with the numerous experiences NewLife™ had with IBD patients, they have strongly proven that most IBD can be controlled by diet and enhanced with supplements.
Common culprits
Irritable bowel does not absorb nutrients well and no matter how nutritious the food might be, unabsorbed nutrients are useless. IBD is commonly due to fructose intolerance, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, or combinations of these. Foods and drinks that may cause or exacerbate IBD include:
| • | Fructose-containing foods: orange juice and sweet fruits, candy, pastry, etc. |
| • | Lactose-containing foods: dairy products like milk, ice cream, etc. However, cottage cheese and yoghurt are permitted, as most of the lactose has been removed from them by fermentation involved in their production. |
| • | Gluten: the chief of the culprits is wheat gluten. |
| • | Carbonated/caffeinated drinks and alcohol. |
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Sorbitol & mannitol containing foods: sugarless chewing gum, sugarless candy, processed meats, etc. |
| • | Other foods to be avoided: beans, sweet corns, chocolate, hot spices, canned meat and processed food. |
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