We all know how uncomfortable constipation can be, so imagine what it must feel like for little kids…ugh! That’s why a recent study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology caught my eye.

The study suggests that a combination of two things may be involved in higher incidences of constipation in children: 1. introducing gluten in the first year of life, and 2. an allergy to cow’s milk.

This is not surprising when you consider that the digestive tracts of infants are still very sensitive, especially in the first months of life. Not only that, but their immune systems are weaker, which means they are more susceptible to pretty much everything.

So the bottom line? When it comes to little tummies, it’s better to wait on the gluten and cow’s milk until they are more ready to handle it. And yes, some children may eat it and be fine (or appear fine), but I say better safe than sorry! There are plenty of substitutes for gluten and cow’s milk these days, even for infants.

All this is important because childhood constipation has been linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults, so if your child has chronic constipation, be sure to take a look at his or her diet. Other dietary factors to think about are fiber intake (since fiber helps promote regular bowel movements) and intestinal balance. In babies who are not breast fed, who were delivered by cesarean section, or who have been treated with antibiotics, there is a greater risk for an altered intestinal flora balance, so a daily probiotic supplement may be helpful in these situations.

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Irritable bowel syndrome affects more than 50 million Americans every day, so chances are pretty good that you or someone you know suffers from IBS. But despite the number of people affected, the condition is still widely misunderstood. Here are a few natural solutions that can help you take the first steps toward better bowel health!

Add More Fiber. In addition to its role in heart health and weight management, fiber promotes optimal digestive function by helping to absorb and eliminate toxins in the colon that can contribute to IBS symptoms.

Cut the Fat. Eating foods that are high in fat such as fried foods and certain meats can contribute to IBS. Be sure to consume these types of foods in moderation.

Limit Caffeine. Highly caffeinated foods and beverages (such as coffee, tea, soda and chocolate) have been shown to worsen IBS symptoms.

Avoid Foods High in Sulfur. Some foods that are healthy—including vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, garlic, onions and broccoli—are high in sulfur and may actually trigger IBS symptoms. Opt for low-sulfur veggies such as carrots or green beans.

Soothe the Digestive Tract. Many herbs and nutraceuticals such as marshmallow root, slippery elm, and the amino acid L-glutamine can help nourish and soothe the intestinal tract and bowel.

Balance with Probiotics. Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria in the intestines that work to crowd out harmful pathogens that can lead to impaired digestion. These healthy bacteria can help promote a balanced intestinal environment.

Drink Plenty of Water. Drinking plenty of water (at least half your body weight in ounces every day) will help flush out toxins and other harmful microbes that may be causing IBS symptoms.

Try Colon Hydrotherapy. IBS sufferers—especially those with severe symptoms—may find that natural colon hydrotherapy can help cleanse the system and improve digestive health and elimination.

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Here’s something I bet you didn’t know about irritable bowel syndrome—once upon time doctors thought IBS wasn’t even real. I mean it! They thought it was just an imaginary health condition made up by middle-class housewives with too much time on their hands, can you believe that? And not only that, but because they thought the condition was “all in their heads,” their solution was just to prescribe antidepressants. Thank goodness we’ve come a long way since then.

Today the medical community recognizes that IBS is a real, honest-to-goodness disorder that affects millions of people all over the world, but even now many doctors are still prescribing antidepressants. And while yes, there is a mental component to IBS, antidepressants are really just a band-aid for a group of symptoms that begins elsewhere…in the gut!

It’s no surprise that IBS involves symptoms that affect mood and emotions—the gut-brain connection is very real, and it’s true that what goes on in your gut affects your brain. But…if you have IBS and have been given the antidepressant band-aid, you need to dig further. Sure, antidepressants can make you feel better—that’s what they’re meant to do—but they don’t come without side effects, and they don’t get to the real cause. 

Your symptoms of constipation, diarrhea (or both), gas, bloating, abdominal discomfort and moodiness are the result of a war going on in your own gut, so what’s the solution? I’m blogging all month on the real truth about IBS to help you take the steps necessary to bring peace to your gut—and eventually, peace of mind.

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Are you one of the millions of people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome? Do you sometimes find yourself wondering “Why me?” or wishing there was something you could do about it? Well, all month long we’re focusing on IBS, and today we’re going to take a look at what causes IBS. Now keep in mind that there are many contributing factors when it comes to IBS, but here are some of the most common:

• Irregularities in intestinal hormones and nerves responsible for bowel motility (muscle contraction)
• Bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection
• Food sensitivities
• Inadequate enzyme production
• Imbalanced gut flora
• Inadequate diet
• Stress

And because there are so many contributing factors, treatment for IBS can sometimes be difficult. BUT…the more you know, the better chance you have of finding relief, especially if small changes in your diet or lifestyle could be the answer.

Ruling out an underlying food sensitivity is an important step in dealing with IBS, which is why most experts recommend following a “food elimination diet.” This just means that the most common dietary offenders are eliminated from the diet for a period of time, and then reintroduced one by one to determine if a reaction occurs because of a certain type of food. The following is a list of the top foods shown to cause sensitivity:

• Dairy products
• Wheat and gluten
• Eggs
• Corn
• Citrus
• Caffeine
• Alcohol

Keeping a food journal during this process is also extremely important. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people tell me, “Wow! I had no idea what I was really eating until I started writing it down!” So grab a pen and start keeping track of what you eat and drink throughout the day—along with any digestive symptoms that might occur after eating. Eventually you’ll begin to notice patterns when you eat certain foods. 

Now I know the food elimination diet can be difficult, but it really is the best way to determine if you have a food sensitivity, which believe me is very common in people with IBS. And remember—if you can get to the bottom of your IBS symptoms, relief will come…so good luck!

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As you know from my previous post, April is IBS Awareness Month, and over the next few weeks I’m going to be talking a lot about IBS to help folks get a better understanding of just what it is, what causes it, and what you can do about it—so get ready to love your colon!

First things first, just what is IBS? Irritable bowel syndrome (commonly called IBS) is an intestinal disorder defined largely by its symptoms, which include abdominal cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and constipation or diarrhea (or both). Based on those symptoms, there are three main types of IBS:

• IBS-C is constipation-predominant IBS, which means it involves constipation-associated symptoms.
• IBS-D is diarrhea-predominant IBS, which means it involves diarrhea-associated symptoms.
• IBS-A, or alternating IBS, involves both constipation- and diarrhea-associated symptoms.

IBS is also one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders today, and as many as 20 percent of Americans have IBS symptoms. However, diagnosing it can be difficult since there are no “biological markers” to look for in a diagnostic test—which essentially means there are no indicators that help doctors distinguish whether you have IBS or something else. So then how do they know if you have it??

An IBS diagnosis is based on certain criteria called the Rome III Criteria, which state that a diagnosis can be made after six months from the first signs of IBS symptoms, with at least three months of recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort in association with two or more of the following conditions:

• Improvement of symptoms with bowel movement
• Onset of symptoms associated with a change in frequency of bowel movements
• Onset of symptoms associated with a change in form of stool

So now that we know a little more about what IBS is, next time we’ll talk about what causes it, so be sure to keep reading!

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Irritable Bowel? Diarrhea? Painful gas and bloating? This might come as a surprise, but as many as one in every five Americans suffers from IBS or some other intestinal disorder—and just like you they’re searching for relief. But conventional medicine may not always be the answer, especially if doctors aren’t looking deeply enough to get to the root of the problem!

I’ll be talking with leading gastroenterologist and nutrition expert Dr. Leonard Smith to learn more about irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive conditions. Learn why IBS is what some physicians call a “catch-all” diagnosis and what that means for you, and join us as we take a look at the many causes of digestive distress (some might surprise you!) and the natural solutions that can help you get your insides back on track.

Log on and listen to Brenda’s Poop Scoop LIVE every Wednesday from 4-5 pm (EST) right from your computer. Missed an episode? Visit the Episode Directory on my website and listen to past shows from the archive!

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An interesting finding was recently discovered in nurses who work rotating shifts.  These nurses were found to have a higher prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and abdominal pain than nurses with a more regular schedule.  More interesting was that this link had nothing to do with sleep quality. 

There is a good explanation for this.  The colon has its own internal clock which follows sleep patterns.  This is why we are more likely to have a bowel movement in the morning.  But when sleep patterns are changed – even if adequate sleep is experienced – this can throw off the regularity of the colon, which can result in symptoms of IBS. 

This makes total sense.  Have you ever traveled to a different time zone, only to have your bowel movement completely change schedule?  Well, now you know why.

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You’ve probably heard of Heart Awareness Month, Women’s Health Awareness Month, and Breast and Lung Cancer Awareness months. Well did you know that April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month? I’m really glad too, because IBS is among the most common gastrointestinal disorders in America today and effects 1 in 5 people nationwide – that’s 20% of the population folks! I’m also glad because I’m passionate about helping IBS sufferers ease their discomfort and lead a normal life. It can be done! So if you have IBS, or even if you occasionally suffer from some of the common symptoms like cramping, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and indigestion, stay tuned this month for valuable information and tips on the most effective ways to mitigate your symptoms. There are things that can really help that don’t include potent prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

IBS can be triggered by several factors, including diet (for example, consuming too many high-fat or caffeinated foods and beverages), stress, illness, and even the use of certain medications. Plus, you might not even know that IBS affects not just the digestive system, but the body as a whole. In fact, IBS can be depressing, both figuratively and literally. That is because serotonin, the “feel-good hormone,” is produced not only in the brain but also in the gut. Therefore, if the digestive system is out of balance, the body may be lacking in serotonin, which can lead to depression, as well as anxiety and irritability.

Everyone should realize that reversing IBS is a slow process and one that sometimes takes up to six months before improvement is seen, but it can be done.  It just takes a commitment to making the necessary changes. Stay tuned!

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Believe it or not, at any given time one third of the U.S. population has parasites. And when I tell you it can happen to you, you better believe it! Keep in mind that parasites can range from bacterial types to microscopic amoebas and even larger worms. Remember Biology 101? Pretty gross. In a stool analysis study performed by Dr. Amin of the Parasitology Center in Tempe, Arizona, the most notable parasite, blastocystis hominus, was revealed—a microscopic intestinal little bugger that causes symptoms almost exactly like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

I have seen many people who have been diagnosed with IBS, and when they have a stool analysis they find that they actually have blastocystis. This is one reason why some IBS sufferers, despite everything they try, never see any improvement. Not only that, but larger parasites such as tapeworms, hookworms and roundworms are no longer present only in third-world countries… beware, they are here!

 For some good information and moments that will make you squirm, just watch the show “Monsters Inside Me” on Discovery’s Animal Planet channel.

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IBS can be depressing, literally and figuratively! A lot of people who may be suffering from a type of digestive disorder such as crohn’s, colitis, IBS or even chronic constipation, many times also suffer from mood disorders such as anxiety, depression or irritability.  Now, I know that not feeling well can make you cranky, but there’s a lot more to it than that. The link between between the gut and the brain is very real. Serotonin, know as “the feel good hormone” is produced in the gut. One reason for depression could be the lack of serotonin because the gut is out of balance.

Without getting too technical, the same type of cells and neurotransmitters found in our brain are also located within the digestive system – which by the way is the largest part of our immune system.  When we get any type of intestinal irritation, inflammation, bacterial or viral infection our “intestinal” immune system reacts by producing proteins called cytokines. These cytokines tell our body what type of reaction to have, such as swelling, stiffness, pain etc…It has now been shown that these cytokines will travel a very unique pathway from the gut to the brain, setting into motion a chemical reaction that results in the breakdown of the neurotransmitters involved in mood stability.

 So, this is a two-way street. When your digestive system is out of balance, you feel depressed and when it’s in good shape you feel good. This may be why we often get a sense of euphoria after a really good dump – you know what I mean.

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