Are Gluten-Free Products Healthier?

For those with celiac disease, the explosion of gluten-free products is a boon. You can go into any grocery store, health-food specialty or not, and find a wealth of tasty products that are gluten free, from cereal to cherry pie. In sufferers, gluten can trigger a reaction in which the immune system attacks the lining of the small intestine. There is no treatment other than to avoid products that contain gluten, a common protein mixture in certain grains including wheat, rye and barley flour. If left untreated, celiac disease may cause life-threatening cancers. For people who have had celiac disease … Continue reading →

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis — irritation and/or inflammation of the stomach and intestines — is a common cause for nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Other symptoms can include a low grade fever, bloating, and cramping. Lots of things can cause a bout of gastroenteritis, but the two most common culprits are viruses and bacteria. Bacterial versions can last a week or more; viral versions are mild in comparison and last just a few days. Some bacterial causes of gastroenteritis can include: E. coli, salmonella. Some viral causes of gastroenteritis can include: adenoviruses, rotaviruses, and noroviruses. In fact, the norovirus (also known as Norwalk virus … Continue reading →

Feeling Guilty About Thanksgiving? Seven Tips to Help Curb Holiday Overeating!

If you celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, I hope you had a lovely day full of good food and great family and friends. I also hope you have no regrets about your eating behaviors. Thanksgiving and other holidays tend to encourage bad habits. The meals are full of “special” foods we don’t get on a regular basis, so there can be a feeling that you NEED to overindulge because you’re not going to see it again for another year. Plus, there’s just SO MANY good foods to sample — you don’t want to insult the chefs by not filling your plate, right? … Continue reading →

Too Much Turkey? Five Quick Remedies!

Thanksgiving Day is one holiday when overeating runs rampant. Let’s face it: most gatherings involve food in one way or another, but the Thanksgiving feast is the main event when it comes to pigging out. (Or should I say… turkeying out?) But before you eat your weight in turkey and then collapse onto the couch to watch football in a stupor, try these quick remedies to ease that overstuffed belly. Encourage gas… from either end. A loud belch or toot might not be polite for company, but it can ease the pressure in your over-full belly. Sip a fizzy drink … Continue reading →

Four Tips for Settling a Nervous Stomach

When my dogs have an upset stomach, I know just what to do: cook up a pot of white rice, mix it with some chicken broth, and serve it up. But when I’m dealing with my own nervous stomach, the solution isn’t quite so easy. A “nervous stomach” is often a symptom of stress… at least, it is for me! As the stress level in my life goes up (I feel like I’m at Stresscon Five right now), my stomach wants to join the party. Sometimes, I lose my appetite. More often, the problem shows up at the end of … Continue reading →

Tame that Bloated Belly

How’s your belly today? If you’re feeling a bit bloated, you’re not alone. There are a few different causes for bloating — like PMS, constipation, or gas — but the most common cause is simply a slow digestive system. Bad news, ladies: a slow digestive system is a common problem for women over the age of forty. If your puffed-up belly is making you feel uncomfortable and unattractive, here are some foods that can help! Combine your fibers. Studies have shown that eating two kinds of fiber together is the most effective way to keep things moving through your digestive … Continue reading →

Home Remedies for Nausea

The last time I was on antibiotics, I was very sensitive to sunlight. This time around, I’m having a hard time with nausea. It’s been bad enough that I actually did end up throwing up. Yuck! Everyone I’ve mentioned this to had a different remedy for me to try. A coworker gave me flat soda to drink. My mom suggested eating dry toast. A friend offered me Pepto, but after tossing my antibiotics, I didn’t want to take any more medication that might come back to haunt me. So what can you do for nausea (whether it’s related to medications … Continue reading →

Tips for Curbing Belching

The average digestive system carries an average of one cup of air (or less) during the day. However, the amount of air in the digestive system can shoot up while eating, drinking, and swallowing. The body is always looking to vent excess air — and that’s one reason why we burp. If you’re embarrassed by excessive belching, here are some things to think about: Watch your swallowing. Swallowing air (aerophagia) is a common cause for belching. Some people just swallow more than others! You might not notice it yourself, but if you ask friends and family, they could tell you … Continue reading →

Wheat Allergy vs. Gluten Allergy

I sometimes use the two terms interchangeably when explaining it: “My roommate has a gluten allergy — he’s allergic to wheat.” But the two really aren’t the same thing. If you have a gluten allergy (also known as celiac disease), the cause of the problem is a mixture of protein fragments in wheat and other common cereal grains like rye, oats, and barley. Different kinds of wheat, like semolina and spelt, are all unsafe. If gluten is your problem, you’ll have to eat other grains, like corn, rice, millet, sorghum, and quinoa. If you have a wheat allergy, the cause … Continue reading →

Other Treatment Options For Gallstones

There are other treatments for gallstones and gallbladder disease, but they are not widely available. Experts don’t know as much about the effectiveness of other treatments as compared to laparoscopic and open surgery. If gallstones are found in the common bile duct during surgery, they are usually removed while the gallbladder is being removed. Occasionally, a gastroenterologist may choose to use a special viewing technique to see the gallstones — an endoscopic retrograde chonalgiopancreatogram. The ERCP allows the doctor to perform a non-surgical procedure to encourage stones to pass more easily out of the common bile duct. A flexible, lighted … Continue reading →