So what is irritable bowel syndrome? Well, you probably already know a bit about irritable bowel syndrome. You might be living with it, or know someone who is. I’m guessing that’s why you’re here. And I want to help you with it. For three years I’ve been conducting experiments with my own body, attempting to …
Coffee, specifically caffeine, is known to be quite good at stimulating the bowels. What caffeine actually stimulates is the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), so how and why does it stimulate the bowels too? This can possibly be answered through the concept of the brain-gut axis. Though ultimately, is it a good idea …
What is the difference between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)? In a word: inflammation. In the What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome post, it is mentioned that IBS is a functional disorder, which means that nothing can be found to be problematic with any cells inside the body. With IBD, however, there …
The words “detox” and “cleanse” have very specific meanings, but they do not fully capture exactly what an elimination diet will cover. The purpose of an elimination diet is not only to detoxify your liver, but also to give your body a break from the tedious work of digesting foods that could be causing digestive …
Fruit is an exceptional source of vitamins, minerals, energy and water. In fact they are a great source of quick energy, because of the sugar fructose, which is a simple sugar. When fruit is combined with nuts and/or seeds, they make for an exceptional snack to boost long-term energy as well. Eating fruit also commonly …
Probiotics are living microorganisms (bacteria) that live in the human gut and have beneficial properties for the body. The benefits include better digestive health resulting in improved nutrient absorption, increased energy and a stronger immune system [1]. Most common food sources for probiotics are yogurt, Japanese Miso, Tempeh and some cheeses. The challenge for those …
Juicing vegetables is unquestionably one of the best things that you can do for your body. You’re essentially drinking a glass of vitamin- and mineral-filled liquid that have anti-inflammatory effects and decrease acidity. And here’s a bonus: there isn’t much more than zero calories in that glass, which makes it an exceptional tool for weight …
This post is goes way beyond treating a gastrointestinal problem: it’s meant for overall good health. Let me start by mentioning that there is lots of confusion among the general public when it comes to acidity and alkalinity, and it mostly lies here: Just because something is acidic in nature, like a lemon, does not …
The brain-gut axis is simply a term that encompasses the back and forth electrical communication between the brain and digestive system. This concept is particularly important for those with gastrointestinal issues, and especially for those with IBS [1]. Irritable bowel syndrome is classified as a functional gastrointestinal disorder, where a “functional disorder” means that even …
While IBS isn’t technically an inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, it can still be accompanied by inflammation in the digestive tract [1]. In fact, most digestive issues can be relieved by reducing inflammation. Managing inflammation has been one of the largest breakthroughs that I’ve had in keeping IBS under control. I want …