Whole Life Magazine

October / November 2015

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D o you remember the scene in the Meg Ryan movie, French Kiss, when her character is sampling dif- ferent cheeses on a fast-moving European train? Between murmurs of pleasure she smacks her lips and reaches for another taste… then suddenly cries out, "Lactose intolerance!" and stumbles to the bathroom. It's funny in the movie, but not in real life. Food sensitivities, food allergies and digestive issues, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), can all be described as gastrointestinal disorders, but while each of these does cause gastric discom- fort, they are not one and the same. So how can you discover whether the issue causing you a problem is mild sensitivity or some- thing more serious? And in either case, can you fi nd a solution without sacrifi cing your favorite foods? UNDERSTANDING IBS ousands of people complain of diges- tive disorders around the world, and an estimated 11 percent of the global pop- ulation struggles with IBS, including up to 60 million Americans, yet the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports only 30 percent of these seek medical attention each year. Determining the root cause of some digestive disorders is extremely challeng- ing. What may appear to be a food sensitivity could in fact be IBS. Likewise, a food allergy or sensitivity could contribute to IBS. When you're suff ering from some combination of abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea you just want to fi nd relief. e goal of treatment is to not only improve your symp- toms, but also root out the cause. One clue may be in your genetics. In its re- port "Food Allergy in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: New Facts and Old Fallacies," the NIH states, "In common with aller- gic disease, IBS appears to result from an interplay between susceptibility genes and impaired gut barrier functions, immunological dysregulation, together with bacterial and viral infections and other environmental factors." DIAGNOSIS IBS can challenge accurate diagnosis, however, and may be caused by a number of other issues: low stomach acid, lack of good bacteria in the intes- tines, an overload of stress on the body and more. Women are more susceptible than men to experiencing IBS, though the rea- son for this is unclear. Since conventional medical treatment is somewhat lacking, even suff erers who traditionally choose allopathic solutions are turning to alter- native modalities of treatment, including acupuncture, yoga, herbal treatments, di- etary changes, hypnosis and talk therapy. e fi rst step, however, is ruling out other digestive issues. "Currently, the diagnosis of IBS is made using symptom-based criteria. ere are no diagnostic tests that can be used to defi nitively diagnose IBS," says Dr. Lin Chang, a professor at UCLA's David Geff en School of Medicine. Steeped as she is in western medicine, Dr. Chang recommends over-the-counter or pre- scription medications, but she also endorses dietary measures and behavioral treatments. One such treatment is Cognitive Behavioral erapy (CBT), which works on changing pat- terns of thinking and beliefs to improve cop- ing abilities. Additionally, Dr. Chang believes, "Mindfulness meditation can be helpful." ~ By J. P. Choquette ~ Don't let lousy digestion ruin your life Food sensitivities, food allergies and digestive issues, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), can all be described as gastrointestinal disorders, but while each of these does cause gastric discom- fort, they are not one and the same. So how can you discover whether the issue causing you a problem is mild sensitivity or some- thing more serious? And in either case, can you fi nd a solution without sacrifi cing your ousands of people complain of diges- tive disorders around the world, and an Determining the root cause of some digestive disorders is extremely challeng- ing. What may appear to be a food sensitivity could in fact be IBS. Likewise, a food allergy or sensitivity could contribute to IBS. When you're suff ering from some combination of abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea you just want to fi nd relief. e goal of treatment is to not only improve your symp- One clue may be in your genetics. In its re- IBS can challenge accurate diagnosis, however, and may be caused by a number of other issues: low stomach acid, lack of good bacteria in the intes- tines, an overload of stress on the body and more. Women are more susceptible than men to experiencing IBS, though the rea- son for this is unclear. Since conventional medical treatment is somewhat lacking, even suff erers who traditionally choose allopathic solutions are turning to alter- native modalities of treatment, including acupuncture, yoga, herbal treatments, di- etary changes, hypnosis and talk therapy. Dr. Lin Chang, a professor at UCLA's David Geff en School of Medicine. Steeped as she is in western medicine, Dr. Chang recommends over-the-counter or pre- scription medications, but she also endorses dietary measures and behavioral treatments. One such treatment is Cognitive Behavioral erapy (CBT), which works on changing pat- terns of thinking and beliefs to improve cop- ing abilities. Additionally, Dr. Chang believes, "Mindfulness meditation can be helpful." Food Sensitivity IBS or 28 wholelifetimes.com

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