Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “What do you recommend for irritable bowel syndrome? What makes it to flare up? I can go for long periods with no problem, and then all of a sudden it seems to flare up. I would like to find out what irritates it. Thank you.” — Nadi S., Wadsworth, OH

A. Dear Nadi, I can offer a few suggestions that should help, but I encourage you to discuss the use of dietary supplementation with your physician as he/she may have additional input regarding a supplement regimen.

When working properly, the muscular walls of the intestines contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm as they move food from the stomach through the intestinal tract to the rectum. In the case of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the contractions tend to be irregular – at times stronger or they may even stop working for a short time. When the contractions are stronger, it forces food through the intestines more quickly, causing gas, bloating, cramping and diarrhea. When the contractions are slower, or stop altogether, it can cause constipation. Researchers are not in agreement regarding the specific cause of IBS.

One theory is that people who suffer from IBS have a colon that is particularly sensitive and reactive to certain foods. Therefore, I would recommend first taking a look at your diet. Many people find that their IBS symptoms worsen when they eat certain foods, such as dairy products, grains, chocolate, alcohol, and carbonated beverages. I would suggest you avoid anything made from grains, flour and dairy products with the exception of eggs, butter and cream. For more information, review my diet under the title Terry’s Traditional Diet on the home page of my website.

I would also recommend adding probiotics and deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) to your daily regimen to help soothe your ‘gut’ – that is, the stomach and intestines. Probiotics, also called ‘beneficial bacteria’, typically colonize in the intestines and are not only beneficial for intestinal health, but overall health as well. I especially like a certain type of probiotic called Lactobacillus paracasei blended with a clinically studied, encapsulated DGL. DGL helps keep your stomach and intestinal mucosal lining strong and intact. Look for a product that contains a DGL extract standardized to contain 3.5% glabridin, with greater than 10% total flavonoids per dose. I suggest taking 2 capsules of this blend daily.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally