Using Stem Cells to Treat Disease Not all stem cells are controversial New discoveries, particularly during the 21st century, have opened up possibilities for exciting disease breakthroughs. This scientific progress has not come without controversy, particularly in the area of stem cell research. For the vast majority of diseases and disorders that involve damaged body [...]
Hiccups The hiccup, hiccough, hicka, geehouk, hoquet, hipo, hikke, whatever you call it, nearly everyone has had this annoying experience. You may be wondering what causes them and, more importantly, how to stop them. What are hiccups? A hiccup is an often-repeated, breathing-related movement that does not serve any respiratory function. It involves a sudden, [...]
Bowel Surgery and Gum Having Bowel Surgery? Don’t Forget to Pack Your Chewing Gum! Chewing gum after intestinal surgery can help reactivate paralyzed bowels and get patients out of the hospital sooner, according to a 2006 study published in the Archives of Surgery1. Patients who have abdominal surgery often suffer a slowdown or shutdown of [...]
Impact of Digestive Diseases and Disorders CSIR’s mandate covers all areas of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The impact of these conditions on persons affected is enormous and there is a huge societal cost as well. GI illness keeps Canadians from enjoying their daily life and from living to the fullest. Here are just some of [...]
Radiation Effects on the Bowel A study from Texas published in the June 2006 issue of the journal, Cancer, shows that lower gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity after radiation therapy for prostate cancer continues for at least five years and may be more common than previously reported. The prostate gland is located just below the bladder at [...]
Diet for Short Bowel Syndrome What is short bowel syndrome? Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a malabsorptive condition in which more than 50% of the intestine is surgically removed. Symptoms include chronic diarrhea (or high output ostomy), dehydration, cramping, bloating and heartburn. Malnutrition is a common issue when a person is unable to absorb adequate [...]
Want to communicate better? Try listening with your gut! How well you listen to others depends on how well you listen to your gut. Your gut sends you regular physical signals that represent your emotional state. When you are listening to someone with understanding, empathy, and confidence, you will find that your gut is calm, [...]
Stress and Your Gut Unreasonable deadlines. Being stuck in traffic. Having too much to do and not enough time to do it in. Most of us are familiar with these kinds of daily stresses that get our heart racing, our breath quickening, and our stomach churning. Of course, just having a digestive condition can be [...]
Role of Fats in Ulcerative Colitis The data from a recent study published in the journal, Gut, shows that a high dietary intake of linoleic acid (n-6 PUFA) more than doubles a person’s risk of developing ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease consisting of fine ulcerations in the inner mucosal lining [...]
The Role of Sulphur in Ulcerative Colitis There are some interesting developments in research around the role of nutrition in ulcerative colitis. Recent studies have singled out sulphur as a possible culprit in exacerbating some of the symptoms associated in some individuals with ulcerative colitis. What is sulphur? Sulphur is found in a wide range [...]
Are You Washing Your Hands Correctly? To wash your hands for the proper length of time, try singing “Happy Birthday” while you vigorously lather up with soap. The friction caused by rubbing your hands together is an important part of removing harmful microbes and dirt. Rinsing for the right amount of time is important too, [...]
Folic Acid Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin belonging to the B-complex group of vitamins. These vitamins help the body break down complex carbohydrates into simple sugars to be used for energy. The roles of folic acid include maintenance of healthy pregnancy, bones, hair, red blood cells, nervous system, digestion, immune systems, protein metabolism, and [...]
What is Glutamine? Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body and is involved in more metabolic processes than any other amino acid. When the body does not have a readily available source of glucose, the body converts glutamine into glucose. Glutamine serves as a source of fuel for the cells lining the [...]
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Even though omega-3 fatty acids make up only a small amount of the recommended total fat in our diet, they are essential for normal body function. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids found in varying amounts in our food, including fatty fish, certain plant seed oils, and omega-3 enriched eggs. Flaxseeds [...]
Parenteral Nutrition What is Parenteral Nutrition? Parenteral nutrition (PN) is the delivery of nutrients through intravenous access, when the gastrointestinal tract is not working. The nutrients given include protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals, electrolytes, and water. Total volume is also an important factor because some patients require a fluid restriction. When is parenteral nutrition [...]
Traveller's Diarrhea and Diet A pilot study examining the effects of diet on US adults being treated for traveller’s diarrhea suggests a restricted diet does not improve clinical symptoms or decrease the duration of diarrhea. The study took place in Guadalajara, Mexico and involved 105 US college students who were randomly divided into two groups. [...]
Vitamin B12 Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that is important in enzymatic reactions, normal blood formation, neural function, and metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Absorption of vitamin B12 from foods requires many steps. In the stomach, animal protein releases cobalamin in the presence of gastric acid and pepsin. This then binds [...]
Sulphite-Restricted Diet Sulphite sensitivity is seen in people with asthma (~70% of cases) and in non-asmatics (~30% of cases). Sulphur comes from pollution (sulphur diocide), sulphite-containing foods (additives), and food packaging (that has sulphur-containing compounds for sanitizing). What are the Symptoms of Sulphite Sensitivity? Symptoms of sulphite sensitivity include: wheezing, chest tightness, asthma, diarrhea, nausea, [...]
Diet for the Compromised Bowel If you have an ostomy, or even if you have had sections of your bowel removed and do not have an ostomy, understanding these food characteristics may be helpful: These foods are likely to produce gas: Beer and other alcohol, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chewing gum, cucumber, dairy products, dried beans, [...]
Polyethelyne Glycol vs. Lactulose Which relieves chronic constipation more effectively? Chronic constipation is a disorder in which an individual experiences lumpy or hard stools that are difficult to pass. It affects 15-30% of Canadians, and is more common in children, the elderly, and women. Many treatments are available to increase elimination frequency and soften stools, [...]
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