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Bran and the irritable bowel
6th August 2006
When I first started the Good Life Letter, I wrote an email on irritable bowel syndrome.
But back then there were only a handful of subscribers. Which is why I can't resist telling the same story that I told a few years ago, concerning an old colleague and his spot of bowel bother.
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Why Dave went AWOL
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Alistair, Dave and I had been working late at the office, preparing a very important presentation.
The next afternoon, Alistair and I arrived at the office in plenty of time... but there was no sign of Dave.
Soon the conference room was filled with potential clients, all looking at their watches, waiting for our presentation to begin...
But still no sign of Dave.
It was then that the secretary stepped into the room. She approached Alistair and I, panicking in the corner, and quietly explained what was wrong,
'He says he's sorry. His irritable bowel syndrome has been playing up. He'll be here in half an hour.'
'What did she say?' gasped Alistair.
'It's his IBS,' I explained.
Alistair clouded over in fury.
'IBS?' he said, 'As far as I am concerned. All that stands for is Irritable Bull Sh--'
'Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh' I hissed.
Everyone in the room went silent. And so the presentation had to begin...
...without Dave.
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A “silent” national health problem?
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To this day, I don't know if Dave was making excuses or not, but I do know that irritable bowel syndrome is a very real problem, and NOT a myth,
The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in the United States defines it as:
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'A common disorder of the intestines that leads to crampy pain, gassiness, bloating and changes in bowel habits.'
The problem is that most people don't like to discuss 'bowel habits'.
Sure, here in the UK, we love toilet humour. But unless you're like Dave, it's very hard to admit that you're late for work because you've had toilet trouble.
So you become one of the 30% who suffer in silence.
Even worse, some doctors simply resort to prescribing 'antispasmodic' drugs, designed to calm the colon. These aren't dangerous, but they only help a handful of people, and their effects are unpredictable.
Other doctors tell you to eat more bran. And as I've discovered, this is an even worse idea.
To show you what I mean, here's a section from an excellent book I keep on my shelf. The publishers have kindly allowed me to reprint it here for you.
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Bran Gets the Boot for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
From “Natural Medicines and Cures Your Doctor Never Tells You About”.
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If you've had to deal with a case of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)< also known as spastic colon, you've probably followed the advice of doctors and nutritionists who told you to include plenty of bran in your diet.
And like most people who followed that recommendation, you've probably also had to deal with a new set of problems: painful stomach cramps and a more irritated bowel than ever. If you've been wondering whether boosting your intake of dietary fibre was worth it, you're not alone.
New research shows that it's time to rethink the use of bran to treat IBS.
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Don't eat bran for IBS
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A study of 100 people with IBS by researchers at the University of South Manchester confirms what many IBS sufferers have known for a long time. Eating more bran makes IBS worse, nit better.
Fifty-five of those involved in the study reported that increased bran in their diets made them feel worse, while only 10 said they found it helpful for their condition.
And researchers said their study points to the likelihood that too much bran in the diet may actually worsen some people's mild cases of IBS, creating full-fledged spastic colon conditions.
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Stick with fresh fruits and veggies
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The good news is that the study uncovered evidence that other kinds of dietary fibre produce better results with far less chance of abdominal pain and bowel disturbance. Researchers said that people with IBS should stick with other forms of dietary fibre, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. |
However, the study also specifically identified citrus fruits as having the same results as bran, and suggested avoiding citrus in favour of other fibre sources.
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Get sold on psyllium
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Researchers also said they were told my some study participants that psyllium, found in many fibre supplements (such as Metamucil) produced good results for them. Experiment to see if psyllium works for you.
The study did note that bran can benefit those whose IBS is linked to constipation. But it strongly urged people with chronic, long-term IBS to avoid bran as a frequent part of their diet.
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So if you've been a silent sufferer of IBS, you should test out this advice and see how it works for you.
You can also get your hands on a copy of 'Natural Medicines and Cures', with tonnes of information on stomach problems and other aliments. Just click here:
Natural Medicines and Cures
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Finally, more good news about the website
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If you want to find out my opinion on a topic or read old letters, there's tonnes of stuff up on the website now.
Better still, I've installed a 'search facility'. This means you can type in the topic or ailment you want to search for and you'll get all the most relevant articles.
Just go to www.goodlifeletter.co.uk and have a browse. It's a free facility for you, your family and friends to consult as often as you like.
Ah, the wonders of technology!
Yours,
Ray Collins
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