Digestive problems and how to overcome them

Dec20_health (1)

By Jackie Mitchell

Bloating, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhoea. These are all common digestive problems that we all experience and usually they can be treated with ‘over the counter’ medicines. Some conditions might be as a result of overindulging or eating the wrong food, but with Christmas round the corner, what can we do to avoid them?

With more of us working from home, it’s all too easy to eat a rushed sandwich in front of the computer, skip lunch altogether or grab a snack while preparing the kids’ tea. How you eat is a major consideration, as eating too quickly and not swallowing food properly can lead to digestive problems. As Roberta Baldo, nutritional therapist from Baldo & Mason says “Eat slowly. This allows time for the signals from the senses to get to the brain and stimulate the production of digestive enzymes, muscular contractions and other processes necessary for digestion, before the food arrives.”

Chewing food properly also helps with digestion. As Roberta says, “If food is not chewed properly, digestion is impeded and may take much longer because the food does not have sufficient surface area exposed to the digestive juices for digestion to occur efficiently.”

Taking your time over a meal is also important. At Christmas, we’ll all have plenty of time to linger over a meal, but Roberta advises to eat mindfully and “focus on your meal rather than eat whilst doing other things. How we eat is as important as what we eat.”

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Digestive problems often settle down by themselves, but sometimes symptoms persist that could indicate other conditions, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). According to The IBS Network, this affects over twelve million people in the UK. Classic symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, change in bowel habits, diarrhoea and constipation. Alison Reid, CEO, The IBS Network, says “It is a very individual condition and symptoms will vary for each person. Other symptoms can include lethargy, nausea and backache. There is no specific cause for IBS but the most common risk factors are a gastroenteritis attack, a traumatic or upsetting event and courses of powerful antibiotics.”

What causes IBS to flare up? Contributory factors include the food that we eat and the stress in our lives.

Self-management is the key to living well with IBS, says Alison. “Once you have a better understanding of what is happening in your body you will be able to explore what treatments work best for you. These include dietary and lifestyle changes, psychological therapies and medications – see your GP or pharmacist for advice. These may be used together or on their own depending on the possible cause and severity of the condition.”

Managing general lifestyle and diet is vitally important when dealing with IBS, says Dr Simon Smale, consultant gastroenterologist and clinical director, Manchester University NHS Trust. “Small meals eaten often rather than one big meal at the end of the day,” he says. “Ensure you don’t drink too much caffeine and alcohol as they can have dire effects. If the condition is primarily diarrhoea, avoid the following foods – cauliflower, sprouts (yes even at Christmas), onions, garlic, chewing gum and diet drinks. For constipation sufferers, ensure you have enough fluid and eat enough fruit and vegetables.”

In terms of lifestyle, Dr Smale advises adequate sleep and regular exercise – at least 150 minutes of vigorous exercise a week, such as brisk walking.

Additional advice from The IBS Network includes: reducing the consumption of high-fat, processed and reheated foods such as chocolate, butter, cream, cheese, fried foods, cakes, pizza and burgers; limiting high fibre food such as wholemeal bread, whole-wheat cereals, brown rice and pasta; and limiting fruit to three portions a day.

The festive season approaches so how can IBS sufferers ensure they can enjoy Christmas dinner and reduce the risk of an IBS flare up? Dr Smale says “Take things in moderation. Have a drink, followed by an alcohol-free drink. Similarly with coffee – have a caffeinated one followed by a decaff. Be mindful. When you’re having your meal, stop when you feel full.”

The IBS Network suggests identifying your triggers (foods that lead to a flare up), choosing food and alcohol carefully, managing stress levels over Christmas and exercising.

With some careful forward planning you will really be able to enjoy Christmas mealtimes. Happy Christmas!

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

www.baldoandmason.com

www.theibsnetwork.org

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