Digestion problems for women
BY Sandra Gordon body+soul
Almost all Australian women admit to digestive discomfort, but half have never tried to do anything about it.
A survey of 1000 women commissioned by Ski® Activ®, has found 91 per cent experience bloating, diarrhoea, cramping or gas at least once a month and 55 per cent experience these symptoms every week. Despite 93 per cent saying their digestive issues impact on their day-to-day life, only 50 per cent have tried to seek help.
Sharon Natoli, director of Food & Nutrition Australia, says many people are embarrassed to admit discomfort. "They think it's not polite to discuss their bowels, but it's important to seek help. There is a lot that can be done."
Naturopathic nutritionist Jan Purser says digestive problems can occur if you take antibiotics or your diet is high in processed and sugary foods.
"Stress also affects the gut directly, and some people have more sugar, alcohol and coffee when they are stressed, which all affect gut health."
Other causes can be poor diet or undiagnosed food intolerances.
Natoli says a lack of exercise can also contribute. "The bowel is surrounded by muscles that help push food through the digestive system. Exercise involves all muscles, including those around your bowel, and can particularly help constipation."
Dietitian Geraldine Georgeou says if you suffer from digestive issues you need to have it checked out. If you don't get solutions, keep hunting.
"Often people who seek advice are told to simply eat more fibre, drink more water and stress less, with little direction," she says.
"Underlying gastro illnesses can present as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The most common is coeliac disease. If left untreated, it can lead to diseases including gastric cancer and osteoporosis. And simple IBS can still be quite debilitating."
What can you do?
Natoli suggests keeping a food and symptom diary to check for any patterns. "Include what you eat, when you exercise, rate your symptoms and record your stress levels. Take this to your GP and dietitian. A GP can help rule out conditions such as coeliac disease. A dietitian can help you work out how to meet your nutritional requirements and manage your symptoms."
Purser recommends taking probiotics, drinking lots of water, cutting down on processed foods and having no more than two caffeinated drinks a day.
5 steps to address gut problems
- See your GP to rule out any diseases.
- Keep a food and symptom diary to check for patterns relating to food intake and lifestyle.
- Consult a dietitian for advice before eliminating major food groups.
- Get regular exercise.
- Maintain a balanced diet while trialling food eliminations. Common foods that contribute to symptoms include high amounts of milk, wheat, legumes, apples, pears, onions and garlic.
Until recently I couldn't remember a day I didn't feel uncomfortable
Danielle Stern, 27, suffered digestion issues that were wrongly diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome for years, before a dietitian changed her life. She is now symptom-free. "My troubles started in the beginning of 2009 and came out of nowhere. I tried detoxing, naturopaths, supplements, doctors, antibiotics, gastroenterologists and cutting out wheat and dairy.
"I was told by everyone that I had IBS, there was no cure and I needed to accept it and learn to live with it." Her symptoms included bloating, irregular toilet habits, feeling full after eating a small amount and severe stomach cramps. "Until recently I couldn't remember a day I didn't feel unwell and uncomfortable. I had a recommendation for a dietitian and it was the best decision I made."
Stern was put on a low-FODMAP diet and a daily dose of probiotics. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols – a group of molecules found in food that some people find it difficult to absorb. "It changed my life from day one. Most days I don't suffer from digestive issues at all."
Read our fact sheets on gastrointestinal conditions.
What you need to know NOW
Probiotic foods such as yoghurt and miso contain live bacteria that can help your gut.