Over 5 million people in Canada alone suffer with IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. I was one of them.
AND according to The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation :
- Digestive disorders cost $18 billion (2000) annually in health care costs and lost productivity
- Each year nearly 30,000 Canadian’s die of diseases of the digestive system
- Digestive disorders account for 10% of all hospitalizations
- Hospitalization costs for treating severe diarrhea amounted to $71 million in 2005
- Digestive disease steals about 28,000 years from Canadians’ lives
- Canada has the highest incidence of gastrointestinal ulcers in the world and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in the world
- Over the last decade the prevalence of Canadians with a medically diagnosed bowel disorder has doubled
- Next to lung cancer, digestive cancers kill more Canadians than any other type of cancer. One out of every five new cancer cases in 2009 will involve the digestive tract. Colon cancer has the 2nd highest death rate of all cancers in Canada.
- 10 million Canadians have H. pylori infection with approximately 75% of the people in First Nation communities being infected
- 5 million Canadians experience heartburn at least one time per week. The lost productivity from those who suffer each year amounts to $2.1 billion.
That’s a lot of tummy trouble!
We obviously not only have a huge problem, but it’s leading to epidemic levels because more chemical and fake foods like GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are making up the majority of people’s diets. We must get informed and take a more proactive approach to what we eat and where it’s coming from.
A Pain in the Gut!
The pain of IBS is often unbearable and the symptoms are embarrassing to deal with and just not fun at all. Most IBS suffers report feeling trapped because they often have to be in close vicinity to a washroom or they adopt fears around eating food because of the painful cramps, bloating, diarrhea and constipation that most often result. They feel regimented in their choices and not free to just BE.
I lived like this for almost a decade. And most people didn’t really know. I kept it to myself because frankly it’s just not cool coffee chat material. Like typical IBS sufferers I had alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea and it really affected my life and emotional state. I often would just say I’m allergic to such and such food, just to make it easier to explain and not get into details. That just wasn’t a fun time.
But then I explored holistic nutrition and dived deep into learning how much food can either heal us or really hurt us. Quality trumps this game. I now devote my life to sharing the knowledge of how whole unprocessed foods CAN BE YOUR MEDICINE. It truly is.
Here are 5 essential lifestyle changes to heal the bloat, cramps, constipation and diarrhea associated with digestive disorders:
1) Get the JUNK OUT and let the high octane fuel IN!
This means eating a whole foods plant based diet. Eat as much of your calories in unprocessed foods as possible and always include a greens shake to boost your antioxidant and immune system. Try this non GMO, organic, vegan and Raw greens here.
2) GO PRO- Probiotic that is.
NEVER leave home without taking a high quality pro biotic. It is vital to our digestive health. Think of probiotics as your defence on your digestive health team. They constantly work to keep the bad guys in check and out of the way. Your good gut bacteria stay healthier and multiply with a probiotic so you stay bloat free, heal the cramping and help the elimination process do what it naturally does best 
My clients can’t stop raving about these probiotics. Check them out here.
3) Enzymes the best digestive catalysts around.
Enzymes are protein molecules that help the speed of chemical reactions in your body. They trigger all the vital processes in your body to help cell growth, repair, and digestion. They are ESSENTIAL to keeping you alive and healthy.
4) Water IN , Caffeine out
Drink more water. You have probably heard this many times before, but it bares repeating. Clean fluoride free water will help things keep moving nicely along your digestive tract. Elimination requires hydration to keep this running smooth so to speak. If you eat lots of fiber and drink little water, you are headed for trouble. The fiber will bulk up and block things up. If you have trouble drinking plain water, add some lemon and cucumber slices to make it fun and tastier.
5) Healthy Fats, Healthy Life
There is no debate here that good fats are essential to staying healthy both physically and mentally. Fat also acts as an internal lubricant helping all that stuff you digested move through easily and regularly. Good fats, especially those high in EFAs (essential fatty acids) keep the lining of the gut healthy by healing any inflammation caused by disorders like IBS. Less inflammation means less pain and less symptoms overall.
And if you want a great resource on Great healthy Fats, then please read my new book Eat Fat Get Thin, click here. It is loaded with information, food lists, and includes the ways great fats can be used to lose weight and keep it off for good.
When you adopt these changes I’d love to hear about it. Share your experience by hitting the respond button or come over to my fun Facebook fan page and let me know what is cooking! Or digesting…
For now be well, be healthy and be free!
Piera B.
