Bowel Changes

Clay has a long history of being used internally. Since most people still equate clay with dirt and mud, the thought of ingesting clay internally may seem a little unsettling. It shouldn’t be.

For centuries, various clays have proven very effective at safely stopping diarrhea symptoms and even many types of food poisoning. Research has documented its use in China, Germany, France, and elsewhere to effectively treat cholera and to combat dysentery and other forms of diarrhea. One study from the 1960s involved 35 different individuals whose diarrhea symptoms were being caused by food poisoning, food allergy, viral infection, spastic colitis, or mucous colitis.

Two tablespoons of smectite clay (montmorillonite) were given with distilled water three times a day. (In the food allergy cases, six tablespoons of clay per day were used.) In 34 of the 35 individuals, the diarrhea was stopped in an average of 3.8 days, and bowel movements reduced to an average of 1.8 per day. Food allergy–induced diarrhea proved to be the most difficult cases, whereas those from viral infections resolved the quickest. (Med Ann Dist Columbia 61;30:326-328)

Until the late 1990s, the once very popular anti-diarrheal medicine Kaopectate contained the mineral clay kaolin, primarily found in Georgia and Alabama. It worked great, but there was some concern that the clay was mildly radioactive. The formula later was changed to include attapulgite clay, but around 2003, the formula was changed again and all clay was eliminated, due to possible lead contamination. It was replaced with pink bismuth subsalicylate (the same as Pepto Bismol). (If you’re wondering why it doesn’t work as well as it used to, this is probably the reason.)

For more information on diarrhea treatments, constipation and diarrhea, or other bowel problems, visit www.drdavidwilliams.com.

While everyone sings the praises of the low-carb diet, there’s one offshoot of this trend that rarely gets mentioned, however, and that’s constipation. While the more common low-carbs diets such as Atkins or the South Beach diet both advocate salads and various vegetables, in practice they are often low-fiber diets, and that can quickly lead to bowel regularity problems. Reports are that about half the individuals who go on these diets, or variations of them, experience constipation problems.

The fact hasn’t gone unnoticed by the pharmaceutical companies. GlaxoSmithKline has experienced a jump in sales of its fiber laxative, Citrucel. Procter and Gamble has also started promoting its Metamucil product as a “zero net carb” product to help with the bowel regularity problem. Both of these companies see this as a huge opportunity to begin marketing their regularity products to younger consumers instead of just the geriatric crowd.

And, thanks to this diet fad, their target audience is changing to a younger age group. These two products are just part of the $350-million laxative market, and companies know that the sooner you get a customer hooked on one of these products, the greater the chance the customer will end up staying with them for life.

I have a better suggestion for you, if you have bowel regularity problems from a low-carb diet or other cause. Rather than opting for one of these fiber products, start including oats and oatmeal in your diet. Oats are not carb-free, but their benefits far outweigh their carb content. Oats are one of the simple solutions that inexpensively eliminate and prevent dozens of bowel problems.

For more information on bowel changes or other common digestive problems, visit Dr. Williams’ Web site.

When you are looking to detoxify the body, you must start with the basics—your diet. To kick off a truly effective cleansing detoxification program, you should try what I call the “weed and feed” program.

The idea is to first cleanse the bowels of any harmful or large numbers of undesirable bacteria, fungi, yeast, and parasites; heal any damage that has taken place; and then re-establish a healthy population of beneficial bacteria.

Overall it’s roughly a two-week program that begins with a 24-hour fast, where ideally nothing would be consumed except purified water. (Chlorinated water is not recommended, because it is not particular about which bacteria it kills—even the beneficial types in the bowel.) If one can’t fast on water alone for 24 hours, a homemade vegetable broth or the low-sodium version of V8 juice can be included, but under no circumstances should you add any fruit, juices, or other foods or drinks.

After the first 24 hours, steamed vegetables and light salads can be gradually added to the diet. (Yeast products, sugar, and starchy foods such as potatoes and rice are not allowed.)

Days 2 and 3 begin the “weeding” of your colon as “broad spectrum” natural antimicrobials are added to the regimen. The standard antimicrobial is garlic, preferably fresh—which has been proven effective against eliminating an extremely wide variety of harmful bacteria, fungi, yeast, and viruses while at the same time sparing the beneficial forms of bacteria. You can achieve these effects by simply consuming two crushed garlic cloves twice daily with your meals.

Beginning on Day 4, and through the remaining two weeks, you need to heal any damage to the bowel and re-establish the growth and dominance of the beneficial bacteria. In addition to adding specific supplements (such as a good probiotic), you can now gradually begin to introduce more and more fresh foods into your diet.

During this period it is important not to consume sugar, alcohol, caffeine, wheat products, or high starch foods such as bread, potatoes, and rice. Steamed or stir-fried vegetables are highly recommended—particularly high-sulfur foods such as cabbage, broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cress, kale, mustard, radish, and turnip. Cabbage is one of the most researched (and also one of my favorites)—steamed, stir-fried, or fermented as sauerkraut. Onions, asparagus, and artichokes are also good choices.

Legumes (beans and peas) may also be introduced. Keep in mind, too, that these last few items are higher in fiber—which will be  a great help for IBS and other bowel problems, but may need to be introduced later if diarrhea is an issue. The timing of when and how much can be eaten will vary from individual to individual.

Meat can also be gradually added (begin with chicken, fish, or lamb), and it is generally easier and best to do so in the form of broths, stews, or soups. Slow-cooked (not instant) oatmeal is a good addition at this point. Dairy products may also be included. Start with the fermented ones first (such as yogurt).

As you begin to re-introduce different foods, be alert to any changes in bowel changes or symptoms. You may have to discontinue certain foods and add them back later when you see improved bowel regularity.

Simply adding fermented foods and/or probiotics to your diet provides incredible IBS support and can eliminate 75 to 80 percent of all cases of IBS.

The first step for dealing with IBS and other bowel problems is to add fermented food and/or a probiotic supplement to your daily regimen. Research and clinical work has shown that anywhere from 50 to 75 percent of those who make this change will notice a significant difference in their health.

Probiotics are live micro-organisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, provide a health benefit to the host by engaging and neutralizing toxic compounds. It’s a constant battle for control, and beneficial bacteria are often sacrificed in the process.

While commercial supplements are the first thought that comes to mind when you mention probiotics, naturally fermented, “live” foods have been around since the beginning of mankind. The most common include:

• fermented vegetables,
• fermented milk products (clabber, yogurt, cheese, buttermilk),
• kefir, and
• fermented soy products (natto, miso, tempeh, soy sauce, fermented tofu.

I highly recommend you include foods like these regularly in your diet.

My favorite fermented food is homemade sauerkraut. I keep a fresh batch going almost constantly, and some already made in the fridge at all times. It provides one of the widest varieties of beneficial bacteria that are known to protect against everything from bowel troubles to cancer. It’s inexpensive and easy to make and keep. A little salt, cabbage, and a crock are all that’s needed.

During those times when you’re not home or don’t have access to homemade sauerkraut or other fermented foods, I recommend the use of a commercial probiotic product. Look for one that can maintain viability without refrigeration, available in health food stores and over the Internet.

I would venture to say that adding probiotics to the diet (and eliminating products that contain HFCS) would provide tremendous IBS help and could eliminate 75 to 80 percent of all cases of IBS, maybe even more.

IBS is a digestive disorder marked by cramping, constipation and diarrhea.

It’s estimated that condition called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Unfortunately, an estimated 70 percent of the people with IBS don’t seek any medical attention.

On top of that, being able to diagnose IBS still seems to be a problem for most doctors. The medical profession is more comfortable with diseases that present a consistent set of symptoms. However, roughly a third of those who suffer from IBS experience diarrhea, another third have constipation problems, and the remaining third alternate between the two.

If you have the problem, you likely experience abdominal pain or discomfort that is:

• relieved with defecation,
• associated with a change in frequency of stool, or
• associated with a change in the form or appearance of the stool.

Other symptoms also support a diagnosis of IBS:

• abnormal stool formation—either hard and lumpy or loose and watery,
• abnormal stool frequency—either more than three bowel movements a day or fewer than three a week,
• abnormal stool passage—straining, extreme urgency (in the case of diarrhea), or the feeling of not being able to completely evacuate,
• passage of mucus in the stool, or
• bloating or the feeling of bloating.

Just as there are many common digestive problems, there are many common causes. When it comes to disrupting the bacterial balance in your digestive system, there are a wide variety of dietary and lifestyle factors, including:

• A diet high in sugar;
• Low consumption of soured milk products;
• Antibiotic use;
• Excessive alcohol intake;
• Fluoridated and/or chlorinated water supplies;
• Radiation therapy;
• Exposure to toxic metals, pollutants, and/or radiation; or
• Use of non-steriod anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDS (like Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, Rufin, Medipren, Midol, etc..).

Besides symptoms, another good indicator of bowel problems is the pH of your stool. Remember the pH scale measures how acidic or how alkaline something is. It runs from 0 (the most acidic reading) to 14 (the most alkaline reading). The midpoint 7 is neutral.

The pH of your stool should be slightly acidic, about 6.7 to 6.9. Generally, an alkaline pH (about 7) indicates poor bacteria flora, whereas a very acid stool pH can occur with excessive amounts of sucrose (table sugar) or lactose (milk sugar) in the diet.

This can be checked by using pH paper or with a liquid test agent called Bromthymol. The easiest to obtain is the pH paper, which is sold in many aquarium shops, pharmacies, medical supply houses, or by chemical supply companies. To determine the pH, simply touch the paper to a moist stool sample (before it hits the water in the toilet) and compare the color change to the chart that comes with the paper.

I’ve found that successful treatment of IBS requires a multi-faceted approach. And key among these are dietary changes. Research (not to mention common sense) shows that there is a strong connection between IBS and diet. Specifically, IBS problems require the addition of fiber in the diet, but two very important factors must be taken into consideration.

First, some types of fiber should be avoided. IBS patients are often sensitive or allergic to certain types of food. Wheat and other grain products are typically on that list. As such, wheat bran and other cereals are generally not the best source of fiber in these cases. Instead, water-soluble fibers that promote the formation of protective gel and mucus in the bowel are best. This type of fiber is found in guar gum, psyllium, oat bran, flax seeds, fruits, vegetables and legumes (or beans and peas).

Secondly, although increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables is essential in treating IBS, during periods of diarrhea they are best avoided. But they should be reintroduced gradually when the bowels are normal. The amounts and timing will vary from individual to individual. The same holds true for the amount of guar gum or psyllium that needs to be taken. It would be impossible for me to give the exact amount needed. Each person will have to monitor bowel consistency and looseness and adjust the dosages accordingly.

And no discussion of IBS and diet would be complete with discussing those foods that must be eliminated from the diet. Sugar and highly concentrated sugar-containing products like fruit juices need to be eliminated. People looking for IBS help also need to avoid alcoholic beverages. The acidity and nature of tomatoes and tomato products will irritate a sensitive bowel and should be avoided.

Additionally, consumption of saltwater fish and those from lakes contaminated from acid rain should be minimized or completely avoided. This caution also applies to canned tuna. Although most individuals will experience no such problems, German research has found that the mercury often contained in these fish is one of the main IBS trigger foods.

If you still want that tuna, make sure you are choosing young tuna. I personally like Wild Planet Low Mercury Albacore Tuna. Or even forgo the tuna and give wild salmon or sardines a try.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)—also known as spastic colon, nervous indigestion, mucous colitis, and inflammatory bowel disease—is the most common gastrointestinal complaint reported to physicians, and it accounts for as many as 50 percent of all referrals to gastroenterologists (physicians who specialize in problems of the GI tract).

If you happen to be part of the estimated 15 percent of the population who needs help for IBS, you undoubtedly know how debilitating the disease can be. Women seem to need help for IBS more than men, but this is probably because men, for some reason, are less likely to seek help for the complaint.

IBS is a complex problem with numerous causative factors and a wide variety of changing symptoms. The following is a list of some of the more common symptoms.

• Spastic constipation and diarrhea
• Pain and distention of the abdomen
• Frequent bowel movements associated with pain
• Colicky pain often relieved by a bowel movement
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Anorexia
• Intestinal bloating and gas
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Bowel incontinence
• Excess mucus production in the colon

The good news is that there are inexpensive and natural IBS treatments that I will discuss over the next few weeks. So be sure to check in on my blog.

IBS help can be achieved through hypnosis. While many physicians are reluctant to recommend IBS treatments such as this, numerous studies have shown that the mind-body connection can provide a great deal of help for IBS patients.

Now Dr. Roland Valori, the editor of a brand new peer-reviewed journal called Frontline Gastroenterology says that he has used hypnotherapy among the IBS treatments for more than 100 of his patients.

90% of that group saw significant improvement in the bowel problems associated with IBS--including bloating and gas, constipation and diarrhea. Even better, 40% saw positive bowel changes leading to complete relief.

The bad news? Reviewers of Dr. Valori's writing say that hypnotherapy should be among the last-resort IBS treatments, after drugs have failed. I'm sorry, but that's just crazy. The drugs used for IBS support have significant side effects, and they aren't any more effective than hypnotherapy. Why would you not start there?

Persistent bowel problems can result from an infection with the bacteria Clostridium difficile, or C diff. I've written about C diff a few times. It's an equal-opportunity bacterium, causing bowel problems for young and old alike--and, more importantly, for those who are otherwise healthy.

C diff infection is marked by watery diarrhea symptoms that occur more than three times a day and last for more than three days.

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is an invasive disease that's estimated to cause more than 18,000 deaths annually among hospitalized patients. For several years it was considered the most perilous of hospital-acquired infections, because it's so hard to treat. With C diff on the rise, however, MRSA has to take a back seat.

C diff is transmitted by contact with infected surfaces such as hands or countertops. Until recently it was considered to be a problem only among the elderly ill who had been hospitalized. Now, however, it's become much more prevalent--25% more common than MRSA, according to one recent estimate.

The bowel changes from C diff often arise after the patient has been treated with a course of antibiotics. The problem, of course, is that antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria in your digestive tract. My suggestion: If you begin to experience diarrhea symptoms after taking a round of antibiotics, begin taking high-quality probiotic digestive health supplements immediately.

I've written often about the probiotic benefits for diarrhea treatment, but the story bears repeating. Your digestive tract contains more bacteria than there are cells in your body. Preventing unwanted bowel changes and maintaining bowel regularity requires a healthy balance of the "good" and "bad" bacteria.

There's a normal die-off of both kinds of bacteria. You get inoculated with the unhealthy bugs constantly, through exposure to your environment. That makes it especially important that you restore the positive bacteria by either consuming fermented foods or taking digestive health supplements every day.

If you prefer to go the food route, look for yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, or other "live" fermented foods. They're available in most groceries, or you can do what I do and make your own. You'll find several recipes on my blog.

If, instead, you prefer the supplement route, look for probiotic digestive supplements that are guaranteed to contain at least 1 billion CFU (colony forming units), and that have at least four to ten different strains of bacteria.

There are at least two delivery systems that help get the probiotic benefits directly to your gut. One is a "beadlet" technology that protects the bacteria on their way through the upper part of your digestive tract. The other is a micro-encapsulation process called Bio-tract. Look for either one when shopping for a probiotic digestive supplement.

Here are the other diarrhea treatments in this "series."

People who suffer from the bowel problem of hemorrhoids are often careful to avoid foods such as hot peppers, out of a concern for later discomfort. There's no need to fear however; a study from the University of Bari in Italy shows that you don’t need to avoid spicy foods, at least not in moderation. 

Researchers gave capsules containing "red hot chili pepper" to 50 patients, all of whom already had some hemorrhoid discomfort. After a week of taking the capsules daily, the patients were asked about their symptoms (pain, itching, burning, swelling, or bleeding). Those receiving the hot pepper reported no change.

This study will certainly come as good news down in my part of the country where Mexican food rules, and practically everyone eats hot peppers. (My wife puts Tabasco on her jalapeños.)

While I wouldn't exactly count hot peppers as digestive health supplements, they aren't going to cause you problems the next day, either.
 

Effective diarrhea treatment often depends on addressing the diarrhea symptoms quickly. One tool to keep handy is Lactic Acid Yeast Wafers.

Take two or three wafers after a meal, for as long as the bowel changes persist. In children or infants, the wafers can be pulverized and mixed into food or formula. A quarter of a wafer three times a day may be all that's needed to restore bowel regularity.

Lactic acid is the agent that helps restore a healthful bacterial environment in your gut. Some of the probiotic benefits come from lactic acid that the "good" bacteria produce.

Lactic Acid Yeast Wafers are made by Standard Process Laboratories, a company that normally sells only through health professionals. Fortunately, they make an exception in this case. Lactic Acid Yeast Wafers can be found in some local health food stores, and on the Web from sources such as Naturamart.

Here are the other diarrhea treatments in this "series."

My wife and I are at sea right now, on a long-awaited cruise vacation. (No, that's not us in the picture.) We've been a little leery of the trip, however, because of the possibility of "cruise ship crud," the virus that seems to sweep through a cruise ship every now and then. Our goal this trip is controlling the virus and preventing diarrhea.

The virus is usually from the family called norovirus, and the main complaint is diarrhea. Symptoms also include other very unpleasant bowel changes, such as nausea, vomiting, and cramps.

We've waited long enough for this vacation that we're not taking any chances. So here's what we're doing: we're following Dr. Williams' recommendation, and taking a probiotic digestive supplement. We've been doing so for a month now in preparation. Both of us can already tell the difference in bowel regularity and general overall well-being.

I'll let you know how it goes when I get back.

Here's another diarrhea treatment suggestion from a reader: BRAT. In this case, the acronym stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.

Bananas are high in potassium. Rice and toast add bulk to help slow passage through the digestive tract. Applesauce contains pectin, which is good for calming the digestive tract and easing bowel changes.

Diarrhea symptoms can quickly become a serious situation because of the rapid mineral loss. If the problem continues for more than a couple of days, check with the child's pediatrician about more intensive mineral replacement.

This solution will work for any child who's old enough to eat solid food, though I would be careful with the toast in very small children.

Here are the other diarrhea treatments in this "series."

Bloating and gas can be embarrassing and common digestive problems, ones that can be relieved easily. The American College of Gastroenterology has some quick tips and common facts that will help you address these bowel changes.

First, it may ease your mind a bit to know some basic facts:

• Gas is a normal byproduct of the digestive process, and it's common to pass gas 10-18 times a day.
• The ordinary gases are odorless.
• Aroma comes from byproducts of the digestion of certain foods.

The discomfort from bloating and gas may be eased by strengthening your stomach muscles.

• Tighten your abdominal muscles several times a day as exercise.
• Do crunches, working up to three sets of ten per day.
• If exercise is difficult for you, work up slowly and use an abdominal support garment in the meantime.

Digestive health supplements offer many benefits, from promoting bowel regularity to eliminating common digestive problems such as bloating and gas. I have to admit, however, that this is a new one on me: digestive supplements that promise to make your stool less smelly.

The products I know of are called OdaFree, Etiquette Up, and (my favorite, I think) Whiff. Right now only OdaFree is available in the US. The others are available in Japan and the UK.

These products were originally developed for people who have had an ostomy--a surgical shortening of the bowel that results in the stool being caught in a bag outside the body rather than being held in the rectum for later elimination. It's only recently that the products have come to be used for people who eliminate normally, if smellily. (Is that a word? You know what I mean.)

OdaFree contains chlorophyll to neutralize odor, plus a prebiotic digestive supplement to support probiotic benefits and improve overall digestion. It takes about two weeks for the full bowel changes to take effect. About the only side effect is that the cholorophyll turns your stool green.

Okay, this is just too corny not to share. It's a music video made by a songwriter from Madison, WI named Peter Leidy. I'd change the song name a little, though, because if you've got bowel problems, to you they're everything.

He is going for the fiber, though, so I guess he has the idea. Head off unpleasant bowel changes with probiotic digestive supplements, too, for added security.

A constipation treatment that's made its way into conventional medicine is senna leaf. This natural laxative improves bowel regularity within 24 hours.

Senna is a stimulant laxative, so you should not use the digestive health supplements more than once or twice a month. Overuse can create dependence to the point where your bowels simply stop working on their own.

You can find senna in the popular natural laxative product Senokot, or you can make your own senna leaf tea. Bring one quart of water to a boil, and turn off the heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon each of senna leaves, caraway seeds, fennel seeds, and peppermint leaves. Let the mixture steep for 15 minutes, then filter through a cheesecloth. Drink 1 cup in the morning then 1 again at night.

The added herbs ease senna's effects by calming the digestive tract to prevent unpleasant bowel changes.

A common GERD remedy drug can cause bowel changes and accompanying bowel problems, according to a recent study. The use of PPIs (proton pump inhibitors such as Nexium and Prilosec) can allow bacteria to migrate from the large intestine up into the small intestine, where they can cause bloating and gas and diarrhea symptoms.

Bacterial balance in your lower digestive tract is widely addressed, but hardly anyone is talking about the bacteria in your small intestine. While probiotic digestive supplements primarily focus on lower tract, they do provide benefits in the upper section as well.

Take a high-quality probiotic digestive supplement daily, and use natural GERD remedies instead of drugs.