| From your mouth to your colon, your digestive tract is | | | | your colon where it is trapped by hard stool. The |
| loaded with bacteria and so is a common site for a | | | | contents of your intestines are liquid until they reach |
| variety of infections or inflammations. Other digestive | | | | your colon, where water is absorbed and stool is |
| problems, such as constipation and irritable bowel | | | | formed. If you don't drink enough fluid or eat enough |
| syndrome, are usually caused by a faulty diet. Specific | | | | fiber, the stool rapidly turns into hard stones. Try |
| food intolerances can be corrected by avoiding certain | | | | avoiding all foods made with flour, eating lots of fruit, |
| foods; lactose (in milk) and gluten (in wheat, barley and | | | | vegetables and whole grains, and drinking plenty of |
| rye) cause problems for many people. | | | | water. If this does not correct the problem, check with |
| All of these digestive problems can cause | | | | your doctor. Constant use of laxatives can deprive |
| inflammation, and they may keep you from getting the | | | | you of essential nutrients. |
| nutrients you need or from making good food choices. | | | | GLUTEN INTOLERANCE: In some people gas, |
| Some digestive problems are difficult to treat, while | | | | diarrhea, cramping and failure to absorb nutrients are |
| others are easy; none should be ignored. The brief | | | | caused by gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and |
| summaries below highlight some of the more common | | | | rye. You can try avoiding these foods to see if your |
| digestive problems; more information is available at my | | | | symptoms are relieved, or your doctor can do blood |
| web site (see the link at at the bottom of this article. | | | | tests for celiac sprue. You should also be checked for |
| Check with your doctor. | | | | nutritional deficiencies such as lack of B12 and iron. |
| BURNING AND BELCHING: Stress does not cause | | | | LACTOSE INTOLERANCE: Half of the world's |
| stomach ulcers; they are caused by common bacteria. | | | | population develops gas and cramping after drinking |
| Anyone with belching or burning in the stomach or | | | | milk because they lack the intestinal enzyme that is |
| esophagus should be tested and most should be given | | | | necessary to break down the double sugar in milk |
| the one-week course of antibiotics that treats the | | | | called lactose. If lactose is not absorbed in the upper |
| bacteria called Helicobacter pylori and their relatives. | | | | intestinal tract, bacteria ferment it in the colon to |
| GAS: Whenever you change your diet, particularly if | | | | release gas. If you are lactose intolerant, you can avoid |
| you add foods that contain fiber, you are likely to have | | | | dairy products or buy the lactose-free milk that is |
| an increase in intestinal gas. When carbohydrates (fiber | | | | widely available. |
| and resistant starches are not broken down and | | | | IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME, CROHN'S |
| absorbed in the intestines, they pass to the colon | | | | DISEASE, ULCERATIVE COLITIS: The term Irritable |
| where bacteria ferment the carbohydrates to release | | | | Bowel Syndrome may be used to describe alternating |
| gas. This is perfectly healthful and the problem will | | | | diarrhea and constipation that can be cured by |
| probably diminish as you build up a colony of friendly | | | | following the dietary changes for constipation (above). |
| bacteria in your colon. Add new foods gradually; if the | | | | However, if you have digestive problems that are |
| problem persists, check with your doctor. | | | | chronic and disabling, you need a complete workup to |
| CONSTIPATION: Gas is usually not painful unless you | | | | find the cause; check with your doctor who will |
| are also constipated, with pockets of gas stretching | | | | probably refer you to a gastroenterologist. |