Can Prebiotics Help IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome, known to most of us as IBS, is a genuine and serious condition. Most doctors don't understand it and even have difficulty diagnosing it. Some may tell you you have it but you don't, and some may tell you you don't have it and you do. It can be a very frustrating position to be in to say the least.
If you have a bowel symptom with no obvious cause, there's a good chance you'll be diagnosed with IBS. I suppose we shouldn't be too hard on the doctors because there is no specific test available yet to determine if one has IBS, just a series of tests which can exclude all other causes.
Apart from some physical and emotional pressures, the main reasons for getting IBS is related to a poor diet or a poorly working part of the digestive system which usually be traced back to a very poor diet. Recently research scientists have been making some strides involving the possible digestive health benefits with focus on probiotics and prebiotics and how these can greatly effect your digestive system in a beneficial and positive way.
It's all about the balance
A digestive system that has far too many bad bacteria (pathogens) as compared to the helpful and good bacteria (probiotics) is a breeding ground for disease. The dangerous bacteria feeds on the junk food we eat, especially highly refined sugars like white sugar, soda pop etc. The more we can help good bacteria to grow to over populate the bad, the better environment we create for a proper functioning digestive system.
Prebiotics play major role in the colon
Prebiotics don't get digested by the body, their nutrients are eaten up by the probiotics and in the final destination of the large intestine they ferment to create short chain fatty acids that have the ability to stop dangerous bacteria from forming cell on the intestinal wall. It's these cells that can grow to be polyps and eventually cancer if left there.
This action in the colon caused by prebiotics also involves fiber and water, which swell up the stools and get them outta there faster, making this a great help for getting rid of constipation or preventing it.
If you have a bowel symptom with no obvious cause, there's a good chance you'll be diagnosed with IBS. I suppose we shouldn't be too hard on the doctors because there is no specific test available yet to determine if one has IBS, just a series of tests which can exclude all other causes.
Apart from some physical and emotional pressures, the main reasons for getting IBS is related to a poor diet or a poorly working part of the digestive system which usually be traced back to a very poor diet. Recently research scientists have been making some strides involving the possible digestive health benefits with focus on probiotics and prebiotics and how these can greatly effect your digestive system in a beneficial and positive way.
It's all about the balance
A digestive system that has far too many bad bacteria (pathogens) as compared to the helpful and good bacteria (probiotics) is a breeding ground for disease. The dangerous bacteria feeds on the junk food we eat, especially highly refined sugars like white sugar, soda pop etc. The more we can help good bacteria to grow to over populate the bad, the better environment we create for a proper functioning digestive system.
Prebiotics play major role in the colon
Prebiotics don't get digested by the body, their nutrients are eaten up by the probiotics and in the final destination of the large intestine they ferment to create short chain fatty acids that have the ability to stop dangerous bacteria from forming cell on the intestinal wall. It's these cells that can grow to be polyps and eventually cancer if left there.
This action in the colon caused by prebiotics also involves fiber and water, which swell up the stools and get them outta there faster, making this a great help for getting rid of constipation or preventing it.