| No daily bread | | Posted Friday, October 06, 2006 10:58:10 AM by Blog57 Team | | When Leonard Steinle was diagnosed with celiac disease three years ago, he had to give up wheat, barley and rye to have normal digestive health. Even though the new diet means living without abdominal cramps and other digestive troubles, the switch hasn't always been easy. “I miss fried chicken," the 74-year-old Lawrence resident says. “I really like that and white cream gravy. I grew up on chicken-fried steak and fried chicken." Celiac disease, a genetic condition, is becoming a more commonly diagnosed condition, to the point that food companies are beginning to market to those who can't eaten products that contain gluten. Gluten is a type of protein that, in celiac sufferers, causes an immune response that damages the small intestine and leads to an inability to absorb nutrients.... | |
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| | | Research claims 37% have suffered digestive problems | | Posted Friday, August 25, 2006 9:08:41 PM by Blog57 Team | | A new nationwide survey published to mark the launch of Gut Week has found that 37 per cent of Irish people have suffered from a digestive problem in the past 12 months. In addition, it shows one-in-seven people would not know where to go or who to consult if they have a digestion-related illness, while four-in-10 adults believe digestive problems are negatively affecting their quality of life. The research carried out by TNS MRBI was commissioned by Yakult, a probiotic drink. It found that digestive health is way down the list of health priorities for most members of the public, despite the prevalence of gut problems. Gut Week included a public awareness campaign urging better diet and cautioning against ignoring symptoms. Dublin GP Dr Emer Keeling said: People should seek medical advice if they experience the following symptoms on an ongoing basis: alteration in bowel habits, anaemia, passing blood or mucous, either separately or mixed with the stool, and unexplained abdominal discomfort.... | |
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| | | Fighting fat with fibre | | Posted Thursday, July 27, 2006 2:58:17 PM by Blog57 Team | | MOST of us haven't a clue how many grams of fibre we get from our diets in a typical day. But eating a higher-fibre diet has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels, improve and prevent constipation, and slow digestion. And according to Barbara Rolls, PhD, author of The Volumetrics Eating Plan, fibre can help us eat less - and lose weight. "Simply doubling the amount of fibre you eat from the average of 15 grams per day to around 30 grams helps reduce calorie intake," Rolls explains. "Fibre has been shown to increase satiety, not only by lowering the energy density of foods (that is, how many calories they have per serving), but also by slowing the rate that foods pass through the digestive systems." When you increase dietary fibre, do it gradually to avoid gastric distress, and drink plenty of fluids (eight cups per day) to avoid constipation.... | |
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