You have gas, bloating, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea. Obviously your gut is talking to you and perhaps quite convincingly. Your condition calms down after a bowel movement and leaves you a short reprieve until the next discomfort signal? Your bowels are letting you know that they are in bad shape and need a change? Let’s look at it more closely.
Initially, if these disorders began with a change in the frequency and appearance of the stools, it is quite likely that you have what the medical world names: an irritable bowel. So, a functional problem of your intestine which is in fact without gravity at the moment, but very unpleasant.
A large percentage of the population lives with an intolerance and lives more or less severe discomfort, tolerating it in spite of everything. But the catch is that over time, these discomforts will become possibly pathogenic and will cause you more and more discomfort until reaching your joints, by acidification of your PH. Why wait to get to that point, act now.
A simple way to detect the foods that irritate, would be to stop a single suspect at a time for 6 weeks. Obviously, you have to decide and choose to do this test to determine what is causing discomfort. It will not be easy to do, but you will be proud of the positive results you will experience. The number one suspect food I would suggest you stop is wheat in all its forms. The first in importance is gluten. It hides in so many products and food types. I have included a good list. It would be wise to read the ingredients on the containers of all prepared foods.
GLUTEN-based foods:
Cereals: wheat, barley, wheat, Kamut, spelt, rye, oats and all products derived from these cereals (pasta, bread, pies and pizzas, bread crumbs, industrial pastries, biscotti, bread …).
Meat and fish:
Preparation with minced industrial meat, breaded or floured fish and meat.
Vegetables:
Attention to industrial preparations: preserves, frozen foods, chips, fries, certain potato preparations.
Fruits:
Dried fruit such as figs or apricots, often floured, and dry-roasted.
Sweets:
All cakes, tarts, ice-cream cones, pastries, sweet and savoury biscuits, some nougat.
Drinks:
Beers and coolers.
Meats:
Pot pies, industrial pâtés, stuffing, breaded meats
Condiments:
Some mustards and mixtures of spices. Be careful with the light fats and sauces since flour is often associated.
The second suspect food item would be lactose, dairy products.
Dairy products:
Yogurts, white and Swiss cheeses, flavoured milks, some cheeses with mould, cheese spreads.
Thereafter you could test for example rice which can also be a food that your intestine has difficulty tolerating if you are used to eating it often.
In fact, any food that you tend to eat often, can in the long run become an irritant. And since you have taken a taste for it, the vicious circle settles without your knowledge. That’s why these isolated tests are very useful in recognizing irritants, like some short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed by the intestines and cause stomach pain and flatulence.
Also, it would be good to check if you are lacking vitamin A, which is essential to the mucus of your intestine and then integrate broad spectrum probiotics that will positively affect the mucous membranes and intestinal flora and then slow down the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.
A few small gestures that will make your life easier:
Let your digestive system periodically rest, avoid copious meals. It is best to eat several times a day, small light portions and preferably at regular times.
Start chewing well, we can never mention this enough, because our western pace of life prompts us to do everything quickly, while the chewing, necessary for a good digestion, takes a little more time. Slowing down your pace at the table could begin with a pause before your plate, breathe consciously deeply a few times before starting your meal. Putting yourself in a state of awareness of the present moment will probably help to slow down your chewing and will provide you with a well-being at the time of digestion.
Reduce significantly or even better, stop foods that are difficult to digest such as frying, cabbage, coffee, pepper, hot spices and raw foods, to help your system recover, and then reintegrate them into your diet.
Drink enough water preferably between meals.
Physical activity such as walking, combined with good oxygenation through conscious breathing is beneficial to good intestinal transit.
Recovery sleep is important.
Be attentive to your body, and pay attention to the onset of symptoms. Everything can be suspect: food, certain postures or repetitive movements, emotions, conflicting relationships, etc.
The Intestinal Plants:
Peppermint is known to facilitate digestion with its antispasmodic effects. Several studies have shown that the consumption of 180 mg of mint essential oil in the form of gastro-resistant capsules 3 times a day for several weeks, was beneficial against irritable bowel syndrome. However, it is contraindicated in children younger than seven years, pregnant women and people suffering from epilepsy.
Infusions with mint, or similar plants isolated, or combined are also indicated against intestinal disorders. Fennel, ginger, lemon balm, dill, caraway, cumin, coriander, green anise, and angelica are also good digestive friends.
Suggestion:
You could keep a diary by recording the date and time of onset of discomfort or abdominal pain, and consider what preceded their onset. This simple writing exercise could reveal association reports that are not obvious at first sight, but that will help you considerably in your approach to wellness.
To your good health!
