| When you complain of belly cramps and | | | | serious disease. Fewer than one in 20 suffers |
| alternating constipation and diarrhea, your doctor | | | | from ulcers, cancers or pancreatitis up to 30 |
| does a lot of tests. If they are all normal, he tells | | | | years later. The treatment for irritable bowel |
| you that you have irritable bowel syndrome or | | | | syndrome is to eat lots of fruits, vegetables, |
| diverticulitis. He should also tell you that you eat | | | | whole grains and beans and avoid high-starch, |
| too much flour and other refined | | | | low-fiber foods such as most bakery products |
| carbohydrates.Most food that you eat is absorbed | | | | and pastas. Whole grains, seeds, beans and |
| in your upper intestinal tract, but some | | | | vegetables keeps everything soft by filling with |
| non-absorbable starch passes to your colon which | | | | water and letting gas pass on its way. If that |
| is loaded with bacteria that ferment it to release | | | | doesn't work, 5HT inhibitors such as Alosetron, |
| large amounts of gas. If the gas can pass along, it | | | | Granisetron and Ondansetron may help.The notion |
| causes no symptoms. However, if anything | | | | that people with diverticulitis need to avoid corn |
| obstructs the flow of gas, it accumulates behind | | | | and other seeds (because they "may get stuck in |
| the obstruction and blows up the tube-shaped | | | | the pockets") is outdated and has never been |
| colon like a balloon, stretching the colon to its limits | | | | proven to be an actual concern. If your doctor |
| and causing pain. Eating food that is low in fiber | | | | has given you this instruction, ask him or her to |
| and high in starch causes hard stool that blocks | | | | show you data. A healthful diet for a person with |
| gas, causing the colon to balloon and form | | | | diverticulosis includes lots of high-fiber foods, such |
| outpouchings, called diverticula, that hurt. When | | | | as nuts and other seeds.Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been |
| enough gas accumulates, it blows out the hard | | | | a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing |
| stool which is followed by diarrhea. Then the | | | | physician for more than 40 years; he is board |
| process repeats itself to cause alternating | | | | certified in four specialties, including sports |
| constipation and diarrhea.Most people who suffer | | | | medicine. |
| from irritable bowel syndrome do not have a | | | | |