Love Your Gut Blog
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
Is your gut needing a drink?
To many that might seem a bit of a strange statement? Why on earth would my gut be thirsty? Surely it would be my whole body that I need to cool down or maybe its not hot enough yet to be thinking about hydration?
Well no. Hydration is of course important for the whole body, you need water to maintain enough blood and other fluids to function properly, and if the body starts to lose a substantial amount of water more quickly than it’s replaced then the body can start to become hydrated.
And how does this affect the digestive system? Well a common effect of dehydration on your digestive system is constipation. So while you may not feel that dehydrated, certainly in your day to day you may not be noticing it and this is because thirst is not a good indicator, you may notice it more when you go to make a bowel movement.
To prevent dehydration, aim to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day - more when the weather is warm - and increase the intake in warmer climates or when taking any form of exercise.
However, I do know some people who really struggle to get the right amount of water in a day so here are some top tips from Dr Tony Leeds as to how to make sure you’re keeping your fluid levels right.
- Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day - in warm weather you’ll need to drink more.
- Don’t rely on thirst as a sign that you need to take a drink.
- Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables to help increase your fluid intake.
- Take water breaks rather than coffee breaks at regular intervals during the day.
- Keep a bottle of water on your desk at work to remind you to take a drink.
- Drink plenty of water before, during and after taking exercise - especially when the weather is warm.
So tomorrow make sure you have a water cooler break and not a coffee break. You may find your gut loves you for it!
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Time to take some gut love action?
Today is commonly known as Pancake Day throughout the country, and while many people may be eagerly looking forward to pancakes at teatime, the actual day, Shrove Tuesday, has more religious significance.
Before the period of Lent, a period of fasting, many people with religious beliefs would say their confessions and use up food stuffs. Using foods such as sugar, fat and eggs was limited during Lent so these would be used up and have a last big feast.
Traditions have changed somewhat over the years, but interestingly while many people may not fast, the concept of ‘giving up’ in Lent seems to ring true with many people - regardless of religion.
And this idea mainly sees people give up some of the naughtier treats, things which predominantly aren’t always good for your gut. A few colleagues and I at Love Your Gut have made a chocolate pact and have decided that we will not eat chocolate or sweets during the next six weeks. It was a little tough, after having been given a fabulous chocolate recipe book for my birthday last week, but the book will still be there come April. Perhaps though, a little bit of the winter excess around my midriff may have reduced by the time we reach Easter Sunday. I’ll just have to be careful not to undo all the hard work with lots of Easter eggs!
For some people they may decide than rather giving up, they take up in Lent. For instance, have you been thinking about starting a new exercise programme? Did you get a fitness DVD for Christmas that is still in its wrapper? Is your Wii Fit wondering if you’ve disappeared off the planet? Or have you got a juicer collecting dust in the kitchen? Could you start the day with your own fruit smoothie?
Whatever it might be you’ve been putting off, how about making a concerted effort for the next six weeks? You may find your gut health improves as a result. And if you need some extra motivation, then share your goals here and we can support each other.
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Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
The Gut Trust is listening
On Tuesday and Thursday evening, I answer calls on the Gut Trust’s telephone helpline. The topics are extremely variable. All human life is there. Many callers are desperate and so often it can seem that their IBS is associated with what has been happening in their lives. Larry was a case in point.
It was a quiet night on the helpline. Just two calls to begin with. Then at just gone 8, Larry rang up.
‘Is confusion a symptom of IBS?’
I was hesitant. ‘It can be’.
‘Oh good. That makes me feel better. My doctor said it’s impossible.’
I didn’t respond. Instead I said, ‘Well, tell me what happens?’
‘Every time I eat something, I can’t think properly, I can’t focus, I can’t even drive my car. All foods seem to affect it, but recently I have found that if I mash up some potato with a bit of water, it is not so bad.’ .
There was no time to go into detail, so I told him that his symptoms reminded me of dumping. He knew what I was talking about. ‘When I had a barium meal a few years ago, they said they had never seen a stomach empty so quickly.’
‘So if a proper meal emptied that quickly, the rapid distension of the small intestine and the surge of insulin caused by rapid arrival of food could both result in faintness and confusion.’
‘But what can I do about it?’ he asked.
‘Try something to slow stomach emptying; a viscous polysaccharide like Guar Gum can make the food contents sticky and slow the rate at which they leave the stomach and are absorbed. Some drugs such as the anticholinergic, ProBanthine can also slow gastric emptying’
I felt satisfied, but he was cautious.
‘But my doctor doesn’t think it’s dumping.’
‘And you’re confused.’
‘Yes’.
‘Well, how long have you had the IBS?’
‘About 10 years.’
‘And it came on about the same time as the confusion?’
‘So was there anything that happened 10 years ago.’
‘The only thing was that my son got ME? He’s still living at home.’
‘I wonder if there’s a connection.’
I am Dr Nick Read and I am a gastroenterologist and a psychotherapist and use both sets of skills to try to get behind the symptom to find out what is going on. I recall the old adage, ‘It is as important to understand the patient with the illness as it is to understand the illness in the patient. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is an illness that does not have a specific cause or a definitive cure. Diet, lifestyle, infection, gut bacteria and stress, particularly stress, may all play a role in generating the symptoms. IBS is a holistic condition that requires a holistic remedy. Only by understanding both the patient and the illness can my caller and I find the most appropriate way of dealing with it.
The Gut Trust is the National Charity for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It works alongside the health service to inform, support and advise patients with IBS, their family and carers. The helpline is open every Tuesday and Thursday night from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on 0872 300 4537.
In addition to a free consultation on the helpline, members of The Gut Trust advice the helpline, members have access to our unique, fully comprehensive self management programme, a telephone helpline, free medical consultation, our magazine ‘Gut Reaction’, What’s New, our national network of self help groups, a can’t wait card and much more. To join The Gut Trust, visit our website (www.theguttrust.org) or call 0114 2723253 during office hours (9.30am to 4.30pm weekdays).
The Gut Trust is a partner of ‘Love your Gut’.
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Monday, January 4th, 2010
How can we keep our resolutions in 2010?
First of all, a very Happy New Year to all Love Your Gut followers. Hopefully the festive season was happy and restful and back into the new year - and new decade - with a bang.
Did you make any resolutions? Have you broken any yet? Well if you have it’s not a massive surprise as according to Yakult research carried out last year, 5 million Brits broke their New Year resolutions. Are we being unrealistic or are we starting too early?
Well a bit of both is the answer. Physically and mentally our bodies need time to recover from the festive activities and also going back to work can be a bit of a struggle. Experts actually estimate that the best time to start is a couple of weeks into the New Year.
According to the research, 52% of people confess to eating more than they do normally over the Christmas period, resulting in almost a third of us suffering from a digestive complaint.
Love Your Gut supporter and gastroenterologist Dr Simon Gabe says: “Digestive problems over Christmas are very common and can occur for a variety of reasons such as dietary changes, stress and gastroenteritis. Infections such as salmonella can and do occur from undercooked turkey, but it is more likely that symptoms suffered are due to a combination of dietary changes and stress.
So if our bodies have taken a battering over the Christmas period we need to ease them gently into the new diet and exercise plans we may have. Rushing into overdrive is only likely to force us into quitting, so we need to think about ways of making changes, small steps, bit by bit.
If you’re faced with a massive task, at work or college, looking at it as one massive task can be depressing and make you want to put things off. The same can be said with weight loss. You may want to lose a stone, but setting small, realistic stepping stones can help with that achievement. And don’t forget to reward yourself. If you’re getting up early to do extra exercise, allow yourself a lie in once a week too. You’ll know you’ve deserved it.
So what targets have you set yourself for 2010? I’ve set some health and lifestyle challenges and would be interested to hear what you’re doing and how you’re getting along. We’ve got about eight months until Gut Week so lets see what we can do between now and then! Good luck!
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
What is St Mark’s Hospital Foundation?
Hi – my name is Maxine and I’m the Fundraising Manager for St. Mark’s Hospital Foundation, the charitable arm for St. Mark’s Hospital in Harrow.
I’m currently one of four fundraisers in the Foundation raising money for research, training and education here at St. Mark’s Hospital in Harrow (this is the part the NHS don’t fund). I’m very proud to work for St. Mark’s which has grown to become one of the top national and international hospitals specialising in bowel diseases. Each year we see over 26,000 outpatients, many of whom have disorders so serious that they are referred to our medical specialists from other hospitals throughout the UK. Everyone at St. Mark’s is dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from bowel cancer and other bowel diseases. I meet many patients who are very grateful to our brilliant doctors and nurses who do everything from looking after their nutrition, helping them to keep fit, giving them a better quality of life, and in some instances literally saving their lives!
We are very pleased to be associated with the Love Your Gut team to make people aware about the importance of good digestive health. As part of this partnership, we are very pleased that the LYG team will be visiting two of our Trust’s hospitals during Gut Week to speak with our patients and staff. As part of Gut Week, we have also organised a parachute jump taking place on Saturday, 29th August – we have a number of very brave people who are willing to throw themselves out of a plane to help others – they are truly fabulous.
We have many events coming up, such as running, walking, cycling, concerts, comedy nights – and are always looking for people to take part or just come and attend – so as well as getting fit, keeping healthy, you can raise money for a very good cause. And yes, some of us in the team get involved too – this photo was taken a few weeks ago in Hyde Park for a 10k run/walk organised by a couple of ladies whose mother’s both suffer with Crohn’s disease. There were over 150 runners/walkers and we all had a fabulous time – as well as completing our 10k, we met a lot of inspirational people and were entertained by singers, dancers, a band – oh, and not to mention getting to meet the very charming Duncan James from Blue. The event has raised an amazing £17k to date which will go towards one of our research projects.
To find out more about our charity and further information on any of the above, plus how you can help, please visit www.stmarksfoundation.org.
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And how does this affect the digestive system? Well a common effect of dehydration on your digestive system is constipation. So while you may not feel that dehydrated, certainly in your day to day you may not be noticing it and this is because thirst is not a good indicator, you may notice it more when you go to make a bowel movement.
