Experts answer 15 of your trickiest digestive-health questions from leaky gut syndrome to colon cleanses and probiotic use after completing a course of antibiotics.
We tackled everything from heartburn to stress, spicy foods, colon cleanses, antibiotics and more. So grab a kombucha, get comfortable and read on for everything you’ve wanted to know about the wild world inside your gut.The simplest sign of a smoothly running gastrointestinal tract is also the most boring one: Your gut should chug along quietly and with little complaint.
If your symptoms persist or affect your quality of life, you should see a primary care provider or a gastroenterologist, Dr May said. And seek care right away if you have what she called “red flag” symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, recurrent abdominal pain, infrequent or painful stools or blood in your stoolthese symptoms could indicate a serious condition like an infection, inflammatory bowel disease or even cancer.
Prioritising foods rich in fibre such as vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and lentils is one main way to boost gut health. What’s more important is to make sure that what you eat overall, “for days and weeks and years”, contains more whole plant foods and less processed foods. That “really is going to have the strongest impact on our health, including gut health”, she said.5. I OFTEN FEEL HEARTBURN AFTER I EAT. WHY IS THAT AND WHAT CAN I DO TO STOP IT?
Wearing loose clothing during and after meals, reducing the size of your portions, waiting three hours between eating and reclining or lying down can all help with reflux symptoms, Dr Yadlapati said, as can quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight.You can also limit irritating foods and drinksthough everyone’s triggers are different, she said.
They are caused by either infection with the Helicobacter pylori bacteria or the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, especially when taken at higher doses or for long periods of time, though individual sensitivities can vary. Over time, both H pylori and NSAIDs can break down the mucosal barrier of the gut lining, eventually causing an ulcer to develop.
Leaky gut syndrome is based on the idea that a more permeable intestinal lining allows toxic substances and other undesirable molecules into the body, but there isn’t a well-validated clinical test for it, Dr Chey said. Dr Walter agreed: “It’s really the high-fibre, low-processed foods and avoidance of certain ingredients such as emulsifiers that would improve your barrier”.Some functional medical providers claim that eating too much sugar or other refined carbohydrates can cause an overgrowth of fungus, particularly Candida yeast, in the gut, causing symptoms like intestinal discomfort, skin rashes and fatigue.
Experts don’t know much about how your diet can influence the recovery of your gut microbes after a course of antibiotics, but Dr Sonnenburg suggested focusing on this familiar advice: Eat high-fibre, plant-based and fermented foods. Colon cleanses can also come with some risks, Dr May added. Frequent colon cleansing via irrigation or laxative use can disrupt the coordinated muscular contractions that move stool through the colon, sometimes leading to issues with constipation, she said. And in general, supplements aren’t tightly regulated for safety and effectiveness.
Experts also recommend that most adults should start screening for colon cancer at age 45 , Dr May said. Colonoscopy is the most common screening method, but other tests are also available, including non-invasive stool tests. “There are many ways to get screened,” Dr May said, “and everyone needs to do it.”If your stool looks like something in the range of a smooth snake or a sausage with a cracked surface, that is considered healthy, Dr May said.
If you’re noticing more intact foods in your poop, particularly if it is accompanied by other symptoms or changes to your bowel habits, check with your doctor, Haller said.14. WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS TO PREVENT CONSTIPATION?
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