IBS primarily affects women and may be caused by changes in routine, emotional stress, infections, inappropriate toileting, diet and other factors. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, mucus in the stools, constipation and/or diarrhoea.
A diagnosis of arthritis can be intimidating. More than half a million New Zealanders are living with arthritis. It is a serious health condition with no known cure and the leading cause of disability in our country. The good news is that you can help yourself make living with arthritis easier.
Asthma is a major issue in New Zealand. One in four of our kids and one in six adults suffer from asthma, over 600,000 people. It hasn’t always been this common and research hasn’t come up with a definite answer as to why it is becoming more common, but our lifestyles do seem to have many contributing factors. The major suspects seem to be allergies, diet and poor digestion.
Digestion is the body’s way of taking food, breaking it down into small molecules that can be absorbed into the body and excreting the waste. The nervous system starts digestion by getting the body ready for food when we think about, and see, food. Chewing and saliva start to break food down in the mouth before going into the stomach via the oesophagus.
We work under the same roof as Alison from Healthy Eating and we often refer patients to her who are experiencing long term upset stomachs, indigestion, constipation and other digestive problems. As a Holistic Nutritionist, she knows all too well how our food can influence our overall health. So, as we were planning this column on digestion, I asked Alison if she could shed some light on the matter. Thanks Alison. The human body is simply a series of cells waiting for nutrients, and we get those nutrients from the foods we eat. Simple, right? You know all about healthy eating and you make the best choices (most of the time!). So, the ‘fuel’ for your bodies ticks all the...
