Digestive Health

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBSirritable bowel syndrome, a combination of abdominal pain and constipation, diarrhoea, or bouts of each that occur in the absence of any other diagnosed disease) is an extremely common condition affecting all ages. The main symptoms are usually diarrhoeaWhen bowel evacuation happens more often than usual, or where the faeces are abnormally liquid. or constipationa common condition where stools are not passed as frequently as normal and the symptoms can be triggered by a physical or emotional illness. Diet can play a big part in worsening symptoms and making dietary changes can have huge benefits. This article describes the symptoms, causes and treatments for IBS.

In addition to the article by Dr Premchand here is a useful summary of some relevant studies into the health benefits of prunes that have been published in the medical literature.

The term Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBDAn abbreviation for inflammatory bowel disease, a group of inflammatory conditions of the intestine. The two major forms are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.) generally refers to both Crohns Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), which, as the name suggests are both chronicA disease of long duration generally involving slow changes. diseases involving inflammationThe body’s response to injury. of the gastrointestinal tractThe gut, which begins at the mouth and ends at the anus.. Additionally around 5-10% of patients present with a colitisInflammation of the colon, also sometimes used to mean inflammation of the large intestine generally. (inflammation of the colonThe large intestine. or large bowelA common name for the large and/or small intestines.) that is difficult to diagnose as either UC or CD and can be described under the microscope as 'indeterminate'. Though there is much ongoing research we do not know the cause of these two conditions and subsequently cannot offer a 'cure' of either condition.