About 80 percent of people suffer from constipation at some time during their lives, and brief periods of constipation are normal. The assumption that everyone should have a bowel movement at least once each day has led to overuse and abuse of laxatives, some experts say.
The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons says the vast majority of patients with constipation can be successfully treated by adding high fiber foods like bran, shredded wheat, whole grain breads and certain fruits and vegetables to the diet, along with increased fluids.
Fiber supplements containing indigestible vegetable fiber, such as bran, are often recommended and may provide many benefits in addition to relief of constipation. They may help to lower blood cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of developing colon polyps and cancer, and help prevent hemorrhoids.
Designating a specific time each day to have a bowel movement may be helpful to some patients. In some cases, bio-feedback may help to retrain poorly functioning anal sphincter muscles. Only in rare circumstances are surgical procedures necessary to treat constipation, the society says.
Copyright © 2005 ScoutNews LLC. All rights reserved.
High-Fiber-Health
Monday, October 31, 2005
High Fiber Diet May Halt Heartburn
If you've resolved to eat right this year, what you choose may literally come to this: Do you follow your gut or your head?
A new study shows if you have frequent and persistent heartburn you're probably better off sticking to a high-fiber, low-fat diet.
High-fiber diets have long been heralded for their preventive role in colon cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, but researchers say this is the first time they been shown protect against gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD, or heartburn, leads to symptoms of acid indigestion, which affects about one in five Americans. Most people have GERD when the esophagus comes in contact with stomach acids. Left untreated, GERD can lead to ulcers and bleeding of the esophagus. It can also increase the risk of cancer of the esophagus.
The study involved 371 employees of the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The volunteers were questioned about the onset, frequency, and severity of their GERD symptoms, as well as the dietary components of their food and portion sizes over the last year.
The high rates of GERD and the rapid increases in the condition have led the researchers to look for risk factors for GERD that can be modified. One risk may be diet; previous studies have indicated fatty food, larger food portions, and eating before bedtime can trigger GERD.
In the study, all the participants were offered direct visualization of the esophagus by endoscope, looking for signs of acid backwash -- erosions and inflammation. Erosion of the esophagus was detected in 40 (24%) of the 164 people who opted for the examination.
Researcher Hashem B. El-Serag, MD, MPH, and colleagues compared the diets of those with and without GERD symptoms or erosion of the esophagus.
They found that the daily intakes of total fat (including saturated fat) and cholesterol were significantly higher in people with GERD symptoms. The higher the number of calories consumed and fat servings, the more likely a person was to have GERD symptoms.
The researchers note that the increased GERD risk could be due to the fact these participants were more likely to be overweight or obese than those who followed lower-fat diets. Obesity can trigger or aggravate GERD symptoms.
However, volunteers who followed a regular, high-fiber meal plan were 20% less likely to have GERD symptoms, regardless of body weight. Foods rich in fiber include whole-grain breads, fruits, vegetables, beans, and legumes.
When the participants underwent endoscopy, erosion of the esophagus was seen more frequently in those that had significantly greater daily intakes of total fat and protein.
Researchers say no other food or nutrient involved in the study played a protective role against GERD symptoms.
By Kelli Miller
WebMD news
www.webmd.com/content/article/99/105085.htm
High-Fiber-Health
A new study shows if you have frequent and persistent heartburn you're probably better off sticking to a high-fiber, low-fat diet.
High-fiber diets have long been heralded for their preventive role in colon cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, but researchers say this is the first time they been shown protect against gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD, or heartburn, leads to symptoms of acid indigestion, which affects about one in five Americans. Most people have GERD when the esophagus comes in contact with stomach acids. Left untreated, GERD can lead to ulcers and bleeding of the esophagus. It can also increase the risk of cancer of the esophagus.
The study involved 371 employees of the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The volunteers were questioned about the onset, frequency, and severity of their GERD symptoms, as well as the dietary components of their food and portion sizes over the last year.
The high rates of GERD and the rapid increases in the condition have led the researchers to look for risk factors for GERD that can be modified. One risk may be diet; previous studies have indicated fatty food, larger food portions, and eating before bedtime can trigger GERD.
In the study, all the participants were offered direct visualization of the esophagus by endoscope, looking for signs of acid backwash -- erosions and inflammation. Erosion of the esophagus was detected in 40 (24%) of the 164 people who opted for the examination.
Researcher Hashem B. El-Serag, MD, MPH, and colleagues compared the diets of those with and without GERD symptoms or erosion of the esophagus.
They found that the daily intakes of total fat (including saturated fat) and cholesterol were significantly higher in people with GERD symptoms. The higher the number of calories consumed and fat servings, the more likely a person was to have GERD symptoms.
The researchers note that the increased GERD risk could be due to the fact these participants were more likely to be overweight or obese than those who followed lower-fat diets. Obesity can trigger or aggravate GERD symptoms.
However, volunteers who followed a regular, high-fiber meal plan were 20% less likely to have GERD symptoms, regardless of body weight. Foods rich in fiber include whole-grain breads, fruits, vegetables, beans, and legumes.
When the participants underwent endoscopy, erosion of the esophagus was seen more frequently in those that had significantly greater daily intakes of total fat and protein.
Researchers say no other food or nutrient involved in the study played a protective role against GERD symptoms.
By Kelli Miller
WebMD news
www.webmd.com/content/article/99/105085.htm
High-Fiber-Health
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