Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Probiotics are effective in fighting acid reflux

Acid reflux causes damage to the lining of the esophagus, an organ in vertebrates that comprises of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx all the way down to the stomach. It is a health condition wherein the liquid content of the stomach, if not digested properly, travels back up to the esophagus before building up.

According to reports, approximately 60 million adults suffer from the condition every month. The condition can turn serious if its symptoms are not properly taken care of. For individuals suffering from more frequent bursts of acid reflux experiences, early treatment should be given top priority. Without early and thorough treatment, the esophagus could get damaged and will be irreparable.

Probiotics are known to be highly effective in fighting acid reflux as well as detoxification as good bacteria are increased to heal the stomach and upper digestive tracts. A probiotic is a live microbial food supplement containing microbial substances that can be found in the gut. Probiotics are known as “friendly bacteria” and are present in the bodies of living beings. These good bacteria are responsible for keeping an individual fit and healthy and further promote the right balance for good health. Besides, the probiotic community present in our bodies fights the bad bacteria while supporting our immune and digestive systems.

Probiotic supplements are available in many health food stores. But you also need to know which probiotic supplements are good for your diet. You can refer to these simple instructions on how to find the right probiotic supplements.

1. Look for a probiotic supplement that does not require refrigeration.

2. A probiotic supplement with a gastro defense coating is not released until it reaches the small intestine and this helps the supplement from being affected by stomach acid. So, look for a probiotic supplement with a gastro defense coating.

3. Perform a thorough research to determine the bacteria count of the supplement. Many probiotic supplements will indicate a specific number of bacteria per capsule but don’t always equal the amount. For instance, when a supplement claims to support 50 to 60 billion bacteria per capsule, then those figures should not lie.

4. You can also consult your doctor to find out more about probiotics and supplements that can help strengthen the friendly bacteria.

Parasite symptoms should be treated at an early stage

Human parasites can be found in many people without them even knowing it. There are a variety of parasites that cause some common symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, gas, irritable bowel syndrome, rashes and muscle aches. All the symptoms including irritable bowel syndrome can cause pain, discomfort and in certain cases, become serious if left untreated. There are several ways of contracting parasitic infections, but these can be controlled to an extent by observing basic hygiene and cleanliness. If you detect parasite symptoms or suspect to be suffering from any of them, it is important to consult a doctor at the earliest for treatment. However, there are prescriptions and natural remedies that you can follow to treat parasitic infections.

1. Pumpkin seed oil helps in removing parasites. Pour a few drops of the oil into a dropper and consume it for an effective result. You may then take a mild laxative to help with your bowel movement which in turn, will help you get rid of the parasites.

2. Take woodworm capsules in doses of 200mg to 300mg to remove parasites from your body.

3. Savory, a natural herb, contains anti-bacterial properties and is highly effective in keeping parasites at bay. The herb stimulates digestion and detoxification keeps parasites away from the digestive tract due to the unsuitable environment is creates. Savory is most effective when used with teas and essential oils. You can find savory in most health food stores.

4. Freshly ground cloves also work wonders in keeping bacteria away from your digestive system. Consume at least 300mg of the freshly ground cloves without mixing it with any other foods and continue this process.

5. You could also consider following prescription treatments. Some anti-parasitic drugs that are known to be effective against parasites are Iodoquinol, albendazole and quinacrine. However, it is advised that you first consult your doctor before using any prescription drugs.

6. One of the most effective forms of treatment for parasite symptoms, however, is colon cleansing that includes high fiber and roughage diet.

Parasite symptoms are not too difficult to spot and with quick and proper treatment can be cured without causing too many complications.

Monday, February 20, 2012

How Diet can help with ibs treatment

Irritable bowel syndrome is a digestive tract condition that causes abdominal pain and cramping. Some people experience bouts of diarrhea whereas others have constipation. In some cases, a person may switch between the two. For some people, the condition results in debilitating, life-altering symptoms that prevent them from performing daily activities such as grocery shopping. Since diet often plays a significant role in the flare up of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, a person should know how to use their diet to minimize the condition.


The ibs treatment that is considered the most effective is changing the way you eat and what you eat. Below are a few points on how you can get relief from IBS symptoms:

  • Use caution when consuming dairy products. The sugar in many dairy products, called lactose, may trigger symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome. If dairy appears to irritate the bowel, a person may try eating yogurt, since an enzyme contained in yogurt aids in the digestion of lactose. Some people may find that they cannot eat dairy products of any kind. In this situation, the person should use supplements or other foods to ensure adequate nutrient intake.
  • Monitor fiber intake. Some people with irritable bowel syndrome see a dramatic reduction in symptoms when they consume a diet high in fiber. Other people may find that increasing fiber aggravates the condition, resulting in an increase in gas and abdominal cramping. Since reactions vary, each person must determine the food choices that work best for him. If he does not tolerate a high fiber diet, he may need to gradually introduce fiber supplements, and this may help minimize discomfort.
  • Choose foods based on symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome often causes diarrhea, and when this occurs, a person should avoid foods known to cause loose stools. Common culprits include foods high in fat, broccoli, cauliflower, coffee and spicy foods. During diarrhea flare-ups, eating a low-residue diet may help control symptoms. This means a person should eat cooked foods and avoid eating raw fruits and vegetables, as well as decreasing fiber intake.

Taking probiotics, peppermint oil supplements and regular exercise and acupuncture, hypnotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapies are known to be effective in managing IBS symptoms. Each treatment has different results for different people, so consulting a doctor is wise before starting any one of them.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Burning sensation in heart: go for natural cure

Signals for heartburn


After a nice party at friends, he went home. It was not very late in the night; he still was in the mood to celebrate his promotion in the office with his best friend. So, he called up his buddy and the best friend over for a drink. His friend, as always, happily obliged and landed at his place. Soon, they both had their favorite drink and were chatting. At the midnight, while still at drink, he felt some uneasiness in heart. It was kind of burning sensation around the ribs and heart they. Initially he ignored it thinking it was a gastric problem. But soon, it grew in intensity and spread around. His friend was scared initially, but soon got back to reality and got him a glass of cold water and asked him to stop drinking alcohol. This did not work for longer time. That sensation crept up again after few minutes. The heartburn symptoms is associated with acidity and gastro intestinal problems which may occur due to unhealthy eating habits, lot of carbohydrate intake or a lot of spices in your diet could cause a heartburn which can be a sign of irritable Bowel Syndrome.They both realized it was something major than just gastric problems. He had regurgitation of food, had sour taste in mouth. All these symptoms were conveyed to the doctor over the phone immediately. The physician diagnosed it as heartburn symptoms and asked his friend to follow some household heartburn remedies. The doctor asked him to make his friend stand up instead of lying down, as gravity helps in holding the content inside stomach, which might make its way out when lying. Then he asked him to dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of water, this solution being alkaline in nature can neutralize acid and temporarily alleviate heartburn caused by acid reflux. The doctor also suggested banana, slices of ginger (ginger is considered as one of the oldest remedies for heartburn. It is also used to help treat nausea. Ginger can be added to food when it's cooked, eaten raw, or consumed as ginger tea, this helps in regular intake of ginger). Turmeric is another heartburn remedy, this spice stimulates digestion and puts a check on acid build up in stomach.

Natural remedies for heartburn


For longer run, the doctor recommended, to consume short meals with regular intervals. This prevents acid production in stomach due to emptiness. Also asked him to regularly exercise and follow a disciplined routine in life. Creation of acid and escaping it from the system into throat causes heartburn. Doctor also recommended him to go for natural heartburn remedies whenever he faced this problem, instead of medicines. Natural ways are always healthy and have nil side effects.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Food items to avoid for heartburn patients and irritable bowel syndrome sufferers

What is Heartburn ?


Heartburn is a burning sensation that an individual experiences in the chest. This burning sensation is actually caused by acid indigestion. GERD or gastroesophegeal reflux disease is one of the main causes of heartburn as it restricts a person from eating various foods. For individuals suffering from heartburn, it is important to undergo a thorough checkup to avoid misdiagnosis as it could also be a symptom of ischemic heart disease.

Heartburn symptoms


The most common heartburn symptoms include a burning sensation in the throat and chest and a sour or bitter taste in the mouth along with chronic coughing, difficulty in swallowing and wheezing. Although the mentioned symptoms could be causing heartburn, symptoms such as difficulty in swallowing could be due to esophageal cancer or erosive esophagitis. So if you know of anyone experiencing the same, consult a doctor at the earliest.

Some food items that should be avoided for heartburn sufferers include most types of meat, fats, oils, sweets, coffee, tea, liquor, wine, tangy citrus fruits like grapes and oranges, tomatoes, barlic, onions and spicy foods.

What is Irritable bowel syndrome ?


Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, on the other hand, is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder of an unknown cause. The most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome that an individual is likely to experience includes constipation, diarrhea, bloating and gassiness, abdominal cramps or pain and altered bowel habits.

If you’re suffering from IBS, foods that you should try avoiding foods include fatty foods, whole wheat, gluten from wheat, barley and oats, dairy products, caffeine, red meat, insoluble fiber, carbonated drinks, artificial sweeteners and alcohol.

If you’re suffering from IBS, you should see your doctor if you have difficulty when swallowing, abdominal bloating and pain from indigestion, significant and unexplained weight-loss, chronic and painless diarrhea or bleeding from the back passage.

In case you or anyone whom you know experiences heartburn symptoms or shows signs of irritable bowel syndrome, try and make it a point to receive early treatment. Visit a trusted doctor and find out what steps you should take to control the conditions. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions as it’s always better to be curious and understand everything about your body rather than to be shy and not know much about your health

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Diet for controlling irritable bowel syndrome and heartburn


Irritable bowel syndrome is an ongoing problem in the large intestine where the food moves too slowly or too quickly through the intestines. This causes a lot of discomfort and pain along with emotional stress. However, there is no damage to the large intestine. Irritable bowel syndrome is usually found in women more than men. This condition is known by many other names too such as spastic colon, spastic bowel, irritable colon and functional bowel syndrome.

Some of the common symptoms of this syndrome are gas and bloating, constipation, mucus in stool, diarrhea just after eating or is the first thing as soon as you wake up in the morning, alternating between diarrhea and constipation, feeling of a need to have bowel movement after you had one, strong urge or feeling to have a bowel movement, cramping and abdominal pain that may go away after the bowel movement. Unlike this syndrome, the heartburn symptoms are different. There is a feeling of burning sensation in the chest area and the throat due to the stomach acid that keep rising up.

The best thing is that these conditions can be greatly kept under control by following a proper diet. Try to avoid foods that can aggravate the conditions.

Diet for irritable bowel syndrome

People suffering from this condition have to include a high fiber diet especially, if you are suffering from constipation. If you have to change your diet completely try to introduce the fiber gradually. Include different fiber sources and drink a lot of fluid of at least one and a half liters a day. Water is the best fluid. You can also consume juices and dilute tea. Liquids like coffee, carbonated drinks and caffeinated drinks can aggravate the condition. So avoid them completely. The syndrome also aggravates if you have a heavy meal with a lot of fat. So try to eat small meals for 5-6 times instead of 3 heavy meals. This helps in digesting the foods properly. Relax after food and do exercises regularly for controlling the symptoms.

Diet for heartburn symptoms

Foods to avoid include most of the citrus fruits including tomato. Other kinds of foods to be avoided include French fries, raw onion, chuck, ground beef, marbled sirloin, chicken nuggets, buffalo wings, sour cream, milk shake, ice cream, regular and cottage cheese, macaroni, spaghetti and sauce, wine, liquor, coffee, carbonated and caffeinated drinks, tea, creamy and oily salad dressings, vinegar and desserts including butter cookies, chocolate, brownie, doughnut, corn chips and potato chips.