The first part of the article deals with the symptoms and general treatment of IBS, i.e. through dietary changes.
The second part introduces a less well known cause and possible treatment of IBS, the adjustment of the ileocecal valve.

Disclaimer: This article is not designed to provide medical advice or professional services. It is intended to be for educational use only. The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional care and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health problem you should consult your doctor.

Part one

Quite a few people suffer from IBS – irritable bowel syndrome – and if you are one of them you will know that the symptoms can be very incapacitating.

These symptoms can include

• abdominal pain, which may be relieved by passing wind
• discomfort, bloating, gas
• constipation, with cramping and difficulties to eliminate stools
• diarrhoea, often with an urgent drive to use the toilet
• or both of them alternating
• mucus present in the stools
• nausea, but without vomiting.

The symptoms can vary between patients, and also over time.

IBS gets triggered through a variety of stimuli, and IBS symptoms may get made worse by:

• large meals;
• fatty, fried foods
• beans and cabbage, that cause gas in the colon
• bran, wheat, rye, barley;
• dairy products, large amounts of fruit;
• coffee, tea, or drinks with caffeine;
• alcohol;
• stress, conflict, or emotional upsets.

There is no cure for IBS and the conventional treatment usually aims at controlling the symptoms and at lessening the frequency of the occurrence.

IBS generally reacts very positive to changes in the diet. The main treatment is to eliminate the foods that trigger the symptoms. It is helpful to write a ‘food diary’ to learn from experience what helps and what doesn’t. Regular eating habits, eating small portions more often, chewing well, stress management, and exercise are other central parts of the IBS treatment.

The following list of foods is a general advice – individual persons can react different to some of the included foods.

FOOD to PREFER and EAT MORE:

• foods with high contents of soluble fibre, as basis of every meal;
• white poultry meat; seafood;
• for example:
  rice, brown rice, pasta, oatmeal, barley, fresh white bread, rice cereals, corn meal, corn flour, soy, quinoa, carrots, yams, potatoes, sweet potatoes; parsnip, beet, squash, pumpkin, mushroom, chestnut; avocado, banana, mango; small portions of cooked fruit;
• small amounts of essential, unsaturated oils.
• Drinks: herbal teas: fennel, chamomile, peppermint; warm water.

The preferred cooking method should be: steamed, boiled, baked, grilled.

NEUTRAL FOOD:

• foods rich in insoluble fibre, to be eaten after and together with food from the first column, and in small portions;
• raw foods at the end of the meal;
• for example:
  whole wheat, brown bread, whole grain cereals, muesli, popcorn; beans, lentils;
• berries, pineapple, melon, most fruits in general, oranges, lemons, dates, prunes;
• lettuce, peas, green beans, peppers, corn, cucumber, tomatoes;
• seeds, herbs;
• Careful with: garlic, onions, leeks, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, asparagus, Brussels sprouts;
• Drinks: try controlled amounts of fruit juice.

The preferred cooking method should be: boiled, mashed, raw.

FOOD to AVOID and EAT LESS:

• Avoid known trigger foods:
  red meat; dairy; fatty foods;
• rough fibre;
• caffeine; alcohol;
• for example:
  red meat, hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, beef, salami, pork, ham, bacon, sausages, and meat from sheep, goats, deer;
• dark meat and skin from chicken, turkey, ducks, goose;
• dairy products, cheese, butter, cream cheese, milk;
• fats, oils, shortening, ghee, mayonnaise, salad dressing;
• deep fried food, chips, fish finger, chicken chips;
• nuts and nut butters;
• croissants, doughnuts;
• Avoid drinking: coffee, caffeine, alcohol, carbonated beverages.

Avoid the cooking methods of deep frying and microwave.

Helpful supplements may be soluble fibre in powder or tablet form; minerals calcium and/or magnesium; and omega-3 and omega-6 oils.

Remember: Nutrients from supplements are general less effective than those from fresh foods.

Supplements cannot replace a balanced intake of healthy foods.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This post is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services. It provides general information for educational purposes only. The information provided is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and should not be used in place of a consultation or the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider. If you believe you have any health problem, or if you have any questions regarding your health or a medical condition, you should consult your physician or other healthcare provider.

Treatment for Diabetes type 2

General, the first step to treat diabetes type 2 is through changes in the diet and increased exercise. If these measures are not enough to normalise your blood sugar levels, you might have to take oral medication or in some cases inject insulin. If you are overweight, loosing extra pounds will help with the treatment of your diabetes.

Nutritional choices for people with diabetes type 2

The aim of the diet is to avoid fluctuation of your blood sugar levels, and for some, to reduce your weight. That means to eat regularly small meals with comparable amounts of carbohydrates every day.
The advice given here can also help to lower high blood pressure which can be a dangerous side effect of diabetes. It is known that foods high in sugar and refined carbohydrates can very quickly push the blood sugar up to high levels.

Foods with complex carbohydrates on the other hand raise blood sugar levels more slowly and keep them constant for longer. This is defined by the so called glycemic index GI, whereby general foods with sugar will have a high glycemic index, and those with complex carbohydrates will have a lower glycemic index.

A glycemic index of less than 55 is considered low, 56 to 69 is considered medium, and above 70 is considered high. Overcooking can raise the GI of starchy foods. Sugar and alcohol are not forbidden in the diabetic diet, and can be eaten in small amounts. Other nutritional choices include all the foods general advised for good health: fruit, vegetables, lean meat, dairy, cereals, and unsaturated fats.

FOOD to PREFER

• General:
  5 portion of fruit and vegetable per day; whole grain products; high fibre foods; unsaturated fats and oils; nuts and seeds; lean protein;
• oats; natural muesli; porridge;
• wheat pasta; brown rice; buckwheat; white long grain rice; barley;
• sweet potatoes; new potatoes;
• whole milk; skimmed milk; yoghurt; soy milk;
• bread (whole wheat, sourdough rye and wheat); oatmeal crackers;
• hummus; peanuts; walnuts; cashew nuts;
• kidney beans; butter beans; chick peas; lentils; split mung beans;
• peas; sweet corn; carrots; aubergine; broccoli; cauliflower; cabbage; mushrooms;
• tomatoes; chillies; lettuce; green beans; red peppers; onions, garlic;
• cherries; plums; grapefruit; peaches; apples; pears; dried apricots; grapes; oranges;
• strawberries; prunes;
• Drinks:
  herbal teas; green tea; water.

FOOD to AVOID and REDUCE

• General:
  salt, saturated fats, trans fats, processed foods, simple carbohydrates;
• Foods with a high glycemic index:
• cornflakes; bran flakes; and other; sugar coated brands of breakfast cereals;
• watermelon; dates;
• white bread; bagel; baguette; rice cakes; donuts;
• syrup;
• pumpkin; parsnips;
• short grain white rice; tapioca;
• baked or mashed potatoes; French fries; chips.
• Drinks:
  alcohol, soda; coffee.

SUPPLEMENTS

The body’s metabolism is very complex, and deficiency in any essential nutrient can upset the fine balance. Therefore it is important to make sure that you are getting these nutrients from your food or from supplements.

For diabetes type 2 consider taking supplements with magnesium, potassium, zinc, and the vitamins E and C.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This post is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services. It provides general information for educational purposes only. The information provided is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and should not be used in place of a consultation or the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider. If you believe you have any health problem, or if you have any questions regarding your health or a medical condition, you should consult your physician or other healthcare provider.