did you know...
Hopefully these bits of information will make for good dinner table “did you knows”. Mmm…perhaps some of this you’d prefer to share after dinner!
Bon appetit!
Sophia
Conventional gastric medication and dependency
A 2009 report in The American Journal of Gastroenterology suggests that PPIs may cause dependency in digestive ailment sufferers by increasing gastric symptoms if they are discontinued.
What to expect when stopping your gastric medication
A 2010 report in the American Journal of Gastroenterology reported on another study where healthy volunteers who were given a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or placebo for four weeks and then followed for six additional weeks. One week after treatment was stopped, 44% of the PPI recipients reported symptoms of dyspepsia, compared to 9% of the placebo recipients. By the third week, this difference between the two groups had disappeared. The conclusion is that rebound hyperacidity mediated by gastrin hormone secretion occurs following the discontinuation of PPI's and that one should expect symptoms of hyperacidity to worsen for a week or two after stopping these drugs.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
A recent study by the Mayo Clinic found that nearly 30% of the general population suffers from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS can cause a lot of discomfort and distress amongst sufferers. If your body’s digestion is inhibited, preventing the absorption of important nutrients, it can lead to a decline in general health and immunity.
Serotonin
Did you know that the “feel good” hormone, Serotonin is not only located in our brain but in our gastrointestinal tract too! Another misconception is that Serotonin is known to be a hormone, the “happy hormone” or “feel good hormone ” (as I’ve incorrectly named it) but it’s actually a neurotransmitter that contains one amino group.
Digestive juice, hydrochloric acid
Did you know that our digestive juices are mainly made up of hydrochloric acid the same stuff that is used to clean brick paving and galvanize iron. This is probably where the idiom “cast-iron stomach” comes from.
Did you know that 3 litres of hydrochloric acid are secreted daily by more than 30 million stomach glands.
Protecting our stomach
Did you know that a 1.5 mm (thin) layer of alkaline and viscous mucus protects our stomach? That’s how fragile our stomach armour is.
Drug irritants
Aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs are known to be major stomach irritants, they are also responsible for causing major side effects.
Antacids and food allergies
According to Professor Erika Jensen-Jarolim and colleagues at the University of Vienna, regular use of antacids can increase the risk of food allergies. Medications that reduce acid secretion OR neutralize the acidity within the stomach may set up a situation where harmless food proteins become potential allergens, which can then trigger an immune system response resulting in an allergic reaction.
Digestion and stress
Digestion is impacted by stress. The gut is highly sensitive and full of nerves, just like the brain, and so when a stressful or emotional event occurs, it has a significant effect on the digestive system.
The body produces cortisol in reaction to stress. This is what is commonly termed the “natural fight or flight" reaction. Extreme stress causes the body to over-produce cortisol to counter these higher stress levels. Excessive cortisol hinders sleep patterns, digestion and metabolism, resulting in stomach disorders and weight gain.
Stress reducing foods
Carbohydrates, fibres, vegetables and foods rich in omega 3 are great stress busters.
did you know...
Hopefully these bits of information will make for good dinner table “did you knows”. Mmm…perhaps some of this you’d prefer to share after dinner!
Bon appetit!
Sophia
Conventional gastric medication and dependency
A 2009 report in The American Journal of Gastroenterology suggests that PPIs may cause dependency in digestive ailment sufferers by increasing gastric symptoms if they are discontinued.
What to expect when stopping your gastric medication
A 2010 report in the American Journal of Gastroenterology reported on another study where healthy volunteers who were given a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or placebo for four weeks and then followed for six additional weeks. One week after treatment was stopped, 44% of the PPI recipients reported symptoms of dyspepsia, compared to 9% of the placebo recipients. By the third week, this difference between the two groups had disappeared. The conclusion is that rebound hyperacidity mediated by gastrin hormone secretion occurs following the discontinuation of PPI's and that one should expect symptoms of hyperacidity to worsen for a week or two after stopping these drugs.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
A recent study by the Mayo Clinic found that nearly 30% of the general population suffers from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS can cause a lot of discomfort and distress amongst sufferers. If your body’s digestion is inhibited, preventing the absorption of important nutrients, it can lead to a decline in general health and immunity.
Serotonin
Did you know that the “feel good” hormone, Serotonin is not only located in our brain but in our gastrointestinal tract too! Another misconception is that Serotonin is known to be a hormone, the “happy hormone” or “feel good hormone ” (as I’ve incorrectly named it) but it’s actually a neurotransmitter that contains one amino group.
Digestive juice, hydrochloric acid
Did you know that our digestive juices are mainly made up of hydrochloric acid the same stuff that is used to clean brick paving and galvanize iron. This is probably where the idiom “cast-iron stomach” comes from.
Did you know that 3 litres of hydrochloric acid are secreted daily by more than 30 million stomach glands.
Protecting our stomach
Did you know that a 1.5 mm (thin) layer of alkaline and viscous mucus protects our stomach? That’s how fragile our stomach armour is.
Drug irritants
Aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs are known to be major stomach irritants, they are also responsible for causing major side effects.
Antacids and food allergies
According to Professor Erika Jensen-Jarolim and colleagues at the University of Vienna, regular use of antacids can increase the risk of food allergies. Medications that reduce acid secretion OR neutralize the acidity within the stomach may set up a situation where harmless food proteins become potential allergens, which can then trigger an immune system response resulting in an allergic reaction.
Digestion and stress
Digestion is impacted by stress. The gut is highly sensitive and full of nerves, just like the brain, and so when a stressful or emotional event occurs, it has a significant effect on the digestive system.
The body produces cortisol in reaction to stress. This is what is commonly termed the “natural fight or flight" reaction. Extreme stress causes the body to over-produce cortisol to counter these higher stress levels. Excessive cortisol hinders sleep patterns, digestion and metabolism, resulting in stomach disorders and weight gain.
Stress reducing foods
Carbohydrates, fibres, vegetables and foods rich in omega 3 are great stress busters.