Natural digestive relief: for holiday indulgence - wellness

We've all been there. The burning pain in the throat after that second helping of holiday turkey or pumpkin pie. A churning stomach loudly announcing its discomfort after the elevator doors 'close you in with a group of strangers. Digestive problems are inconvenient, but worse, they may be signs of an underlying illness.

If repeatedly reaching for an antacid in the middle of the night seems like a quick solution, think again. "Antacids simply cover up symptoms," says Kasra Pournadeali, ND, director for the Northwest Center for Optimal Health in' Edmonds, Washington. "Is the cause an underlying food sensitivity, overproduction of acid or even a weak barrier between the stomach and the esophagus?"

Indigestion is what most call heartburn, and it includes the socially unacceptable symptoms of belching, bloating and gas. Rather than avoiding your friends, the first line of defense should be to eat earlier, eat less and eliminate foods that cause reactions. "Often it's not a serious disease; it's related to food sensitivities," Pournadeali says.

Including fiber in your diet is the easiest way to improve your digestion and overall health. "Having enough fiber not only reduces your risk for high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and colon cancer, but it helps your body eliminate the toxins you absorb, eat and breathe daily," Pournadeali says. He recommends a diet rich with vegetables, beans, grains and, if needed, flaxseed or psylium.

For occasional indigestion, look for herbs, from three categories: bitters, carminatives and cholagogues. As opposed to antacids, which reduce stomach acid, herbs stimulate saliva, digestive juices, bile flow and enzyme secretions to help the body take care of itself.

Bitters are sold as aperitifs or tinctures made from gentian, barberry, Oregon graperoot and wormwood. To keep your digestive juices flowing, try adding salads to your diet that are made from bitter greens such as dandelions, escarole, watercress and mustard greens.

Carminatives include herbs with volatile oils--peppermint, spearmint, chamomile, ginger, anise, caraway and fennel seeds--that calm the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and spur the body to release digestive enzymes. Peppermint is the most widely studied of this group, with clinical research showing that enteric-coated peppermint oil is a quick fix for bloating, diarrhea and gas.

Bitter and carminative herbs are also cholagogues, known for assisting in the function of the liver and gall bladder--two organs essential in digesting fats. One cholagogue, encapsulated turmeric--commonly used in Indian spice blends--has gained the attention of the medical community for its ability to naturally stimulate bile production.

Supplemental digestive enzymes include products made from plants, fungi and animal organs. If you are a vegetarian, be sure to ask your natural products retailer or pharmacy which type of enzyme you should buy. Animal-derived pancreatic enzymes are currently being studied at the National Institutes of Health for their role in increasing the life expectancies of pancreatic cancer patients.

Plant-based digestive enzymes blended with herbs are another possibility for tummy troubles. "The herbs we use help eliminate gas and bloating while the enzymes break food down further," says Susan Beck, LAc, CN, director of technical services for Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems in Santa Cruz, California. Rainbow Light is introducing a new lactase-based product for milk intolerance and a stronger enzyme-herb blend to help with chronic problems.

If indigestion persists or symptoms such as intestinal pain, chronic diarrhea, bloody stools and weight loss arise, seek immediate medical attention. The early stages of inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), parasites and some cancers can share the same symptoms, so getting help early is vital.

Digestive specialists use a barrage of therapies for patients with repeated problems. Treatments include diet changes, plant-based remedies, supplements such as glutamine and vitamin A, digestive enzymes, prebiotics and probiotics. Clinical studies are showing that some of these therapies are on the right track.

"Probiotics" wasn't exactly a household term in 1979. That year, UAS Laboratories--a firm based in Minnetonka, Minnesota-successfully manufactured two types of helpful bacteria--strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria. The two bacteria normally inhabit the gastrointestinal tract--acidophilus in the small intestine and bifidus in the large intestine. Imbalance between the strains of bacteria in the intestines can lead to a variety of health problems, which is why many health professionals recommend regular use of probiotics.

Probiotics provide a number of benefits. According to UAS Labs, they assist in digestion, enhance the synthesis of B vitamins, protect against the infection of E. coli bacteria, improve lactose tolerance and the digestion of dairy products, reduce vaginal and yeast infections, improve immune functions, promote cancer-fighting activity, help prevent ulcers and acne and reduce cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.