Digestive Health

IBS - spastic colon
IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) or Spastic colon is one of more than 20 functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Coping with irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is characterised by alternating bouts of diarrhoea and constipation, which are probably related to over-reaction of the intestine to nervous stimulation.

Bran 'not so good' for bowels
Grandma was wrong: wheat bran and other fibrous foods that do not dissolve easily in water not only fail to soothe irritable bowels, but may make things worse, a study showed.

Getting to the root of bowel pain
Whether or not you suffer from IBS, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's: take note of the fact that a number of factors could protect against, or worsen, these forms of bowel disease.

Constipation and diet
Constipation is caused by lack of dietary fibre in the diet and inactivity. We tell you how to increase your fibre intake and get off the couch!

Irritable bowels? Try to relax
If you're among the estimated one in five South Africans who suffers from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you know how discomforting it can be. Here's help.

New IBS guidelines released
A leading organisation of gastroenterologists has released new guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Peppermint oil, fibre fight IBS
For some patients, the best therapy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may be older, cheaper drugs such as fibre, antispasmodics and peppermint oil, a new study finds.

Regular, or ridiculous?
Advertisers would have us believe that health and happiness – especially for women – depend on regular bowel movements.

IBS changes brain structure
Women with IBS have increases and decreases in gray matter density in areas of the brain that play a role in attention, emotion regulation, pain inhibition and the processing of information from the gut.

The real reason for IBS
New research shows that serotonin, a neurotransmitter generally believed to be involved in mood, is also at the root of irritable bowel syndrome (spastic colon). DietDoc comments.

Irritated by irritable bowel syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome is characterised by alternating bouts of diarrhoea and constipation, which are probably related to over-reaction of the intestine to nervous stimulation.

My constant nag of pain
For those few moments waiting for the pain to subside - life seems unbearable. And that is when breathing becomes a chore and your intestines are tied up in a knot.

Dietary fibre - how to prevent constipation
Certain dietary precautions can promote normal, regular bowel movements and prevent constipation. Here's what to do.

Are you really constipated?
Many people think that if they do not have two or more bowel movements every single day of their lives they are constipated. This is patently not true, writes DietDoc.

New IBS guidelines
A leading organisation of gastroenterologists has released new guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

New supplement vs. IBS
It is reported that up to 15% of western populations have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but that only 20% of this group seek medical attention.

Probiotics against IBS
The probiotic strain B. infantis 35625 shows promise in normalising bowel movement frequency in irritable bowel syndrome patients with constipation or diarrhoea.

Treating mind eases IBS
Hypnotherapy, antidepressants and other mind-centred treatments could help people battling severe irritable bowel syndrome, a British survey of the literature finds.

IBS tied to fat, fructose
Two new studies suggest fat and fructose, a sugar found in many fruits and honey, play key roles in causing gastrointestinal disorders.