Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects 15-20% of Americans and is the most common GI condition, yet we still don’t know what causes it. The medical community often categorizes IBS symptoms as stress-related, but a recent study shows that although stress may be a contributing factor, gut bacteria play an important, and maybe even causative role. […]
Almost 1 in 5 Americans use laxatives regularly, but not all laxatives (or laxative users!) are the same. Stimulant laxatives – the most popular kind– may be associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), while fiber laxatives may reduce the risk. A study from Washington State recently validated this concept when they found […]
A decrease in libido is a natural part of aging, but in my gastroenterology practice, a lot of the women who are having bedroom issues are in their 20s and 30s. If you’re bloated and also not in the mood, there may be a connection between the two! Anatomically, the bowels your digestive tract and […]
A 2015 study published by the American Society of Microbiology revealed there are other factors besides what we eat that can predict a city’s health – turns out what comes out of our digestive tracts is pretty important too! At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, scientists discovered that microbial contents in sewage are almost 90% accurate […]
Is it possible that gut bacteria can alter your mood? A New York Times Magazine Article released in June poses the question – and the answer – which scientists believe is yes. Recent studies show that when “healthy” gut bacteria, like lactobacilli, are transferred to highly stressed animals, stress levels are reduced. Norwegian scientists found that […]
The question I get asked most frequently from my gastroenterology colleagues is “does that stuff work?” referring to the junk-free, plant-based diet I recommend for my patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC) – the two forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The idea that what you put in your gut might affect what’s […]
Imagine a posh store displaying expensive samples that sell for more than $1,000 an ounce. The donor ate an unprocessed, non-GMO, plant-based diet, with no hormones or antibiotics, ever. The label says it’s from a rare and difficult-to-access source in the Himalayas. The samples are rigorously tested on site to assure purity and quality, and then flown back […]
Your gut may not be the only reason to stop taking a PPI – your heart may thank you too. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s) are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world. They block acid production in the stomach, which reduces the symptoms of heartburn and GERD, but they can also lead […]