Nutrition and GI Disorders
A diet low in Choose...fruits and vegetablesfiber and waterprotein and vitamin Ccomplex carbohydrates and polyunsaturated fat and high in Choose...insoluble fibersucroseproteinfat is the most common cause of constipation. As people age, the colon develops small pouches that bulge outward through weak spots. This condition is known as Choose...hemorrhoidsdiverticulosisIBSflauts. Eating a diet high in fiber can help prevent this condition. GERD occurs when the lower Choose...esophageal sphincterpyloric sphincterileocecal valvesphincter of Oddi relaxes inappropriately. The esophagus has no protective mucous lining so acid can quickly damage it. Doctors recommend avoiding foods that can weaken this sphincter such as Choose...pastameat productsapplespeppermint. The cause of IBS remains a mystery. Some foods that are often offenders are Choose...beans and chocolatealcohol and citrus foodstomato products and milk productsspicy foods and cheese. Without treatment IBS Choose...may progress to colon cancermay progress to diverticulitismay progress to ulcerswill not progress to a more serious illness. It is likely that a number of physical and psychosocial factors combine to trigger this disorder. After lung cancer, Choose...stomach cancerpancreatic cancercolon canceroral cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Research to date shows that diets high in vegetables and regular physical activity are the most significant factors in reducing risk of this type of cancer. Flatus composition depends largely on Choose...carbohydratefatproteinwater intake and the activity of the colon's bacterial population. The major cause of ulcers is Choose...stressspicy foodscaffeine and alcoholH. pylori, which creates ulcers by weakening the protective mucous coating around the lining of the stomach.