Thursday, June 30, 2011

Health Tips for June 30

Health Tip: Help Prevent Bloating

When your belly feels stretched and uncomfortably full, you've probably got a case of bloating.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests how to prevent bloating:

  • Don't chew gum or drink carbonated beverages, particularly if they contain a lot of sorbitol or fructose.
  • Avoid gas-causing foods such as turnips, cabbage, beans, Brussels sprouts and lentils.
  • Eat your food slowly.
  • Don't smoke.
  • Treat constipation, but be careful with fiber supplements, which may worsen symptoms.

Health Tip: Should You Take Probiotics?

Probiotics are micro-organisms designed to help manage digestive health. Manufacturers are now including them in everything from yogurt to granola bars, the American Gastroenterological Association says.

While studies have shown that probiotics may help people with a host of digestive conditions, their benefit hasn't been proven in people with severely compromised immune systems, the association says.

On the other hand, probiotics may help treat people with:

  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
  • Diarrhea caused by infection with a virus, bacteria or parasite.
  • Diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics.

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