The digestive tract is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients from our food. This involves the movement of digested food molecules through a porous intestinal lining and into the circulation. This means that to absorb nutrients we must always to some extent, have a leaky gut. To facilitate the digestive process the structure of the […]
Latest posts
Should you go gluten free?
It is well known that people with the autoimmune disorder coeliac disease, must adhere to a gluten free diet. But, if you don’t have coeliac disease is it really necessary to avoid gluten? After all, gluten-containing foods are staples in the western diet. And, you don’t really want to give up bread, pasta, cereal, pastry […]
What is gluten? And why do some people avoid eating it?
Recent reports by YouGov and Mintel have found that in the UK people are buying an increasing amount of gluten-free foods. This is because many people now believe that gluten is bad for them. But what is gluten and should anyone avoid eating it? Problematic grains Gluten is the general name for certain proteins in some cereal […]
The link between fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome
A diagnosis of fibromyalgia means you are most likely a woman between the ages of 20 and 50. You are also likely to also suffer with irritable bowel syndrome. Fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome often occur together. Not everyone with irritable bowel syndrome has fibromyalgia. But most people with fibromyalgia do have irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable […]
How can too much and too little stomach acid have the same symptoms?
Digestion is a complex process. It involves a number of stages, requiring the action of different digestive juices, acid, enzymes and hormones. It is a sequence of co-ordinated events designed to efficiently extract nutrients from our food. Unfortunately, things can go wrong. Stomach pain with a burning sensation is a common symptom. These symptoms are often believed to […]
Could SIBO be the cause of IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a very common condition of the gut. It often begins after a bout of food poisoning or other gut infection. People with IBS tend to have the condition long term and it can severely impact on their quality of life. Doctors used to believe that IBS was a psychosomatic condition. Sufferers […]
A functional medicine approach for IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition. It often has a significant impact on quality of life. The main symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain with some change in bowel habit. Either constipation or diarrhoea, or alternating between the two. There is probably more than one cause of IBS. Or a combination of triggers. There are certainly a number theories. […]
The benefits of probiotics for IBS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common, relapsing condition. Its cause is not completely understood. But its occurrence increases following gut infections, such as food poisoning or gastroenteritis. These conditions can cause changes in the gut microbiota. This article discusses the idea that the benefits of probiotics help to ease the symptoms of IBS? The main symptoms of IBS […]
Probiotics and prebiotics – What’s the difference?
Our intestines contain trillions of bacteria. In fact, far more bacteria than cells in our body. We are still learning about how these bacteria affect us. But, we do know they have a huge impact on our health and well being. As a result, probiotics and prebiotics are increasingly available as supplements. Here I explain what probiotics […]
Improve your digestion with bitters
A healthy diet may be the foundation for good health but what about good digestion? If nutrients are not absorbed they provide no benefit to the body. Efficient breakdown of foods allows easier absorption of nutrients. Unfortunately, poor digestive function is common. Many of the people that consult me have digestive issues. These range from constipation and irritable […]
What is a microbiome?
A human body contains trillions of cells. Yet most of these cells are not actually human cells, but microbial. Some estimates suggest that we may in fact be only 10% human! The remainder being mostly bacteria, yeasts and other microbes – our microbiota. In fact, even if these figures are over estimated the collective genetic material […]
Do I have irritable bowel syndrome?
Do you sometimes rush to the bathroom on waking? Does taking your first bite of breakfast cause you painful abdominal cramping, gas and bloating? Then you may have irritable bowel syndrome. This common condition of the digestive tract affects at least one in ten in the UK. Yet it could be many more as people often […]
