Archive for the ‘intestinal gas’ Category
I get bloating pressure and intestinal gas that sometimes has me nauseated and anxious, any reason why?
**psychosomatic guilt***
To get rid of intestinal gas, take a probiotic supplement that implants good bacteria in the intestinal walls, while killing off gas-causing bad bacteria. Eliminate intestinal gas, while increasing fiber supplements and drinking lots of water, with tips from a registered dietitian and Florida-licensed nutritionist in this free video on diets.
Expert: Rachael Richardson
Contact: www.nutrolution.com
Bio: Rachael Richardson is a registered dietitian and a Florida-licensed nutritionist.
Filmmaker: Paul Muller
Duration : 0:1:16
Managing stress in your life is a great way to help get your negative emotions under control, but unfortunately, stress is only one of many IBS causes. In fact, research that has been conducted over the past few years has found that IBS may also be related to Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).
What is SIBO? It is an overgrowth of bacteria that naturally occurs in the small intestine. The small intestine contains a small amount of bacteria that is essential to the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. However, when too much bacteria exists, problems such as fat malabsorption occur. In addition, it also stops carbohydrates from being absorbed, leaving them to rot in the intestines causing a number of unpleasant and often foul-smelling symptoms including bloating, pain, gas, mucus in stools and diarrhea.
Bacterial overgrowth can lead to nutrient deficiencies, food allergies and digestive enzymes that barely function. It is a common condition that usually goes undetected for years, even when symptoms are present. Why? Most people who have chronic digestive problems and have bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation are typically diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. Doctors rarely consider bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine as the problem.
What causes bacterial overgrowth? There are many different factors that can lead to SIBO. Some of the following conditions that could cause an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine include:
? Reduction of motility in the small intestine – condition caused by too much dietary sugar and chronic stress. This condition can also occur from diabetes, scleroderma and hypothyroidism.
? Structural abnormalities within the small intestine – abnormalities may be caused by small intestinal diverticula, gastric bypass surgery, and intestinal obstruction. etc.
? Hypochlorhydria – As people age, they produce less stomach acid. Stomach acid helps to eliminate bacteria in the small intestine. Thus, if there is a decline, the acid won’t be able to eliminate enough of the bacteria.
? Other causes – stress, prolonged use of steroids, antibiotics, antacids, birth control pills and other medications, immune deficiency, pancreatic enzyme deficiency and a diet insufficient in fiber.
Are IBS and SIBO related?
One study that was conducted by researches at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in California involved 202 participants with IBS. Each participant was tested for bacterial overgrowth with a lactulose breath hydrogen test. A person with bacterial overgrowth produces high levels of methane or hydrogen gas. The lactulose hydrogen test analyses the gas in breath, and is the best test for diagnosing SIBO.
At the end of the study it was found that of the 202 participants, 157 tested positive for SIBO. When the 157 people that were diagnosed with SIBO were treated for the condition, and the extra bacteria within their intestine were eliminated, 48% of them had an improvement in their IBS symptoms.
Although it has been found that bacterial overgrowth and IBS can co-exist, researchers are still determining whether or not IBS symptoms are caused by SIBO. Some theories suggest that the high levels of methane or hydrogen gas that are caused by the overgrowth of bacteria produce IBS symptoms. However, the theories are yet to be proved.
How do you treat SIBO?
Excess bacteria are eliminated through the use of antibiotics. Unfortunately, although antibiotics can control bacteria overgrowth it isn’t a cure. Like IBS, SIBO symptoms often return when medication is ceased. Thus, antibiotic treatment is often a continuous process.
If you think you may have SIBO, talk to your doctor about taking a lactulose hydrogen test. If you find that SIBO is related to your IBS causes, or even if it’s not, it is a good idea to look into other alternative and complimentary forms of therapy to treat your symptoms such as acupuncture aside from medications.
Susan Reynolds
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/could-bacterial-overgrowth-be-the-cause-of-your-ibs-105994.html
How much fiber do you eat everyday?
Despite the fact that high fiber diets are encouraged by the American Dietetic Association, the Surgeon General & your general practitioner, the average American typically consumes less than the 20-35 grams per day that is recommended. In truth, we are lucky if we eat 12-15 grams!
Often, high fiber diets are shunned due to fear of increased gas and bloating or bowel disturbance. But, when followed appropriately, a high fiber diet doesn’t have to mean flatulence! In fact, eating fiber will help regulate your bowel, assist normal detoxification processes, and even encourage healthy weight maintenance.
According to leading digestive health author, Brenda Watson, there are certain fiber rich foods, such as the indigestible sugars and starches found in vegetables, grains and legumes that are the greatest offenders. She explains that these foods are often poorly digested by the body, and instead of being broken down, they will travel to the colon where intestinal bacteria can ferment them. This can result in the production of intestinal gas which is the cause of the bloating you feel.
So, in order to alleviate such occasional gas & bloating, Brenda suggests that we pay close attention to the types of starches we eat, and if need be utilize supplemental digestive enzymes to support digestion. This is especially important when beginning a higher fiber diet.
When deciding on the right supplement, we are encouraged to look for the following ingredients: Amylase for starch digestion, alpha-galactosidase for the sugars found in beans and legumes, and cellulase which can assist with vegetable fiber.
Ms. Watson shares with us that there are also several causes of gas and bloating that don’t implicate fiber as the bad guy:
? Swallowed air – People normally swallow small amounts of air while drinking and eating. Sometimes, an excessive amount of air is swallowed from talking while eating, eating too quickly, or drinking carbonated beverages. This can create an odorless gas that is high in nitrogen and oxygen, which is usually emitted through belching.
? Processed foods – A steady diet of processed foods can produce excess gas. Processed foods are typically stripped of essential nutrients such as chromium manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, and magnesium. Without these nutrients, the body is unable to digest the carbohydrates in these foods properly. These unused carbohydrates end up providing fuel for the production of gas.
? Poor food combining – Brenda Watson explains that fruit, which is digested very quickly by the body, should be eaten alone. If eaten with other foods, the digestive process will be slowed, and the fruit can ferment. Following this logic, proteins should also not be eaten at the same time as starchy carbohydrates.
So, by taking a digestive support supplement, and addressing the additional causes of bloating listed above, one can easily transition to higher quantities of fruit, vegetables and grains in the diet, without the pain & discomfort associated with high fiber diets.
Cassandra Cox
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-to-eat-fiber-and-not-feel-bloated-140047.html