Digestive CARE Online Blog

April was IBS Awareness Month

Posted on May 1, 2012 by admin Leave a comment

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects over 30 million people in the U.S. It’s not always
easy to talk about but you don’t need to suffer in silence! IBS can negatively affect a person’s quality of life. It is second only to the common cold as a cause of absenteeism from work.

IBS Awareness Month - April

In IBS, tests for abdominal pain are “normal”, but the intestines are “irritable”. The cause of IBS is unknown, but it is postulated to be due to abnormalities in the nerves of the “gut” which lead to increased sensation of the intestines (causing abdominal pain) and changes in the propulsion (or motility) of the intestines leading to diarrhea, constipation, or both. Sometimes, even normal activities – eating a meal, having one’s menstrual period, feeling pressure at work – may lead to a flare up of symptoms for people with IBS.

What can you do?

Exercise regularly. Regular exercise improves bowel function. Take breaks from sitting in order to stretch your legs (and abdomen).
Eat small meals throughout the day.

Abdominal pain is the key symptom of IBS and is often improved with a bowel movement. Sometimes, diseases such as Celiac Sprue (a sensitivity to gluten) and Crohn’s disease can mimic IBS and be misdiagnosed as IBS. If you think you are suffering from IBS, the first step is to see one of our gastroenterologists to make a diagnosis.

There are some medications to treat IBS as well as dietary measures. Treatment is individualized with IBS and our doctors and dietitian can help formulate a plan specific to your needs. Before your appointment, try to identify factors that may make your symptoms worse. Keep a daily food diary for at least a week. Look for and address any sources of stress in your life that may impact your symptoms. Digestive CARE is here to assist you in identifying and managing your IBS.

Digestive CARE™ is a medical Group of 52 Broward and Palm Beach County gastroenterologists dedicated to providing state-of-the-art, efficient and high quality medical care. Our commitment is to ensure the South Florida Community receives the ultimate access to a broad range of high-quality gastroenterology services including diagnostics and treatments. Dedicated to excellence in gastroenterology care, we are sure you’ll find that our Digestive CARE™ physicians are among the very best in Florida.

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Team Digestive CARE is Taking Steps to Bring Awareness to Crohn’s & Colitis on April 28

Posted on April 26, 2012 by admin Leave a comment

Over 1.4 million American adults and children are affected by digestive diseases – one out of every 200! Digestive CARE is here every day to assist your managing these diseases so that you can live your best life. But this weekend, we are walking in the Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis Walk.

Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis is CCFA‘s largest fundraising event. The money raised through Take Steps helps support patient programs, enhances professional education efforts, and propels critical research for a cure. In the past four years alone, Take Steps has succeeded in bringing together over 100,000 people and rose close to $32 million to help further CCFA’s mission.

Your donation will help support local patient programs, as well as important research projects. This cause is very important to us and we appreciate your help as we fight for a cure! In addition to donating, you can join the party! There will be food, music and activities, so join us on Saturday at 8:00 PM at Arts Park at Young Circle in Hollywood. The more money we raise, the closer we will become to making life more manageable for patients who live with these diseases every day.

Please join our team or donate to our efforts to support CCFA in finding a cure!

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Talking About Colon Cancer Can Save Lives

Posted on March 23, 2012 by admin Leave a comment

Colon, rectum, cancer. For most people, these are not generally the topics of dinner conversation. Most people don’t like to talk about them as much as we do. However, talking about them increases awareness. Raising awareness reduces stigma.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It’s the perfect time to start the conversation and a great opportunity to openly discuss the disease and learn what can be done to prevent it. When it comes to colon cancer, you don’t have to look very far to find someone, know someone, know someone who knows someone, who has been affected. The fact is, colon cancer is the most preventable and beatable cancer if detected early. However, it’s also the number two cancer killer in the US for both men and women.

In the US, the stigma of cancer has been reduced over the past 50 years. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was founded in 1985, and since then, breast cancer has become a non-threatening (figuratively — and hopefully, literally), open topic of conversation. It’s time for colon cancer to become part of the dialogue. Let’s talk about it and encourage everyone 50 or older to get screened.

So, who’s talking about it and are you getting the message?

The American Cancer Society’s Tag2Nag (https://www.facebook.com/AmericanCancerSociety/app_352757751422557) campaign encourages you to spread the word about screening for colorectal cancer by choosing one of the Tag2Nag images, and tagging your relatives and friends age 50 and older who need to be screened for colon cancer.

The Undy 5000 (http://support.ccalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=undy_landing) is a family-friendly 5K run/walk that was created by the Colon Cancer Alliance (ccalliance.org). Participants are encouraged to run in their boxers to bring attention to the area affected by colon cancer.

You can send a Screen-A-Gram (http://screeningsaves.org/screen-a-gram/) through The Prevent Cancer Foundation Screening Saves Lives project (http://screeningsaves.org/). Tell your loved one to get their butt/booty/badonkadonk to the doctor.

Share Ms. Butt Meddlers’ “Start at 45” video. The age for colonoscopy in ACG guidelines dropped to 45 for African Americans in 2009. This is a parody but colon cancer is not a joke. “Start at 45” is an important message. The American College of Gastroenterology and The American Cancer Society recommend beginning colorectal screening at age 50 for people at average risk. http://youtu.be/LSpyaGgA4rs

Now, you’ve heard about it and hopefully, you are spreading the message that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable. Talking about it, then screening for it, saves lives. To schedule your colonoscopy appointment, contact one of our 52 physicians located throughout South Florida. Get your butt to Digestive CARE!

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Taking Control of Crohn’s Disease and Your Life

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin Leave a comment

Learn how you can take charge of Crohn’s

What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s Disease causes inflammation of the digestive tract, most commonly the small intestine or colon. Crohn’s Disease can often be confused with ulcerative colitis, which belongs to the larger disease group identified as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In people suffering from Crohn’s Disease, the immune system reacts inappropriately.

What Causes Crohn’s Disease?

Studies have not found an immediate cause to developing Crohn’s Disease but attribute the disease to a series of complex factors: genes, immune system or foreign substances in the environment.

Do I need a special Diet?

There is no evidence that certain foods affect those dealing with Crohn’s Disease though during high levels of discomfort, sticking to bland foods may help the digestive tract as opposed to spicy or high fiber foods. You should stick to a balanced and nutritious diet.

Does stress cause more problems?

There is no evidence to prove that stress, anxiety, or tension is responsible for development or increase in Crohn’s Disease. The CCFA says it is more likely that emotional distress that patients feel is more of a reaction to the symptoms of the disease itself. Chronic illnesses can have this control over your body and emotional well-being. You should seek emotional support through family and friends as well as their caring physician.

Living with Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s is a very serious disease but is not considered a fatal disease. Most people carry on very normal and productive lives. Everyone will react differently to the disease and it is up to you and your physician to create a plan that is effective in helping you through the good days and the bad.

Digestive CARE is here to assist you through identifying and managing Crohn’s Disease in your life so that you may live the best life possible. Do not hesitate to contact one of our 52 physicians located throughout South Florida so that we can help you get the relief you seek.

Also, visit our Helpful Links page and find a link to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America for more facts, information and support.

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Stomach Growls After Eating Are Common Source of Embarrassment

Posted on February 10, 2012 by admin Leave a comment

Don’t be embarrassed, it is your body at work

The noise we attribute to the stomach growl, is actually not coming from your stomach at all. It is coming from your intestines. The process causing the noises: digestion. Your intestines are hollow tubes which allow food and liquids to flow through them. Acid travels through the tubes breaking down food for the body to absorb it. The noises happen when food is being moved and gas and liquid are displaced in the intestine.

This can also occur when there is no food to digest. Your digestive tract has a two hour cycle in which acid is moved through the intestines and thus could still create this growl or gurgle noise. The noise is often louder when there is no food in the mix, but it can still occur even after there is food present.

Don’t be fooled that you’re still hungry or needing food; it is not necessarily a call to action or cry of help from your stomach. If you are in good health and seek to eliminate the noise, drink a glass of water or eat a few crackers to quiet your tract down.

If you experience a growling noise with cramping and or burping, your body is trying to emit a bacteria or gas. If you experience vomiting or diarrhea after these symptoms, you should rehydrate with water and electrolytes and seek medical attention from one of our Physicians at Digestive CARE located in South Florida, with offices throughout Broward County and Palm Beach County including cities such as Coral Springs, Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach and more.

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Fast Food is Not OK for Seniors

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin Leave a comment

Avoiding fast food and focusing on your nutrition lowers your health risks and increases your energy!

Your fast food encounter may go something like this: You decide to take a trip but you didn’t pack any food. You are excited about reaching your destination and don’t want to spend time eating a long meal so you see a fast food place and you decide to stop. You should really think twice. A majority of these foods are packed with bad carbs and fats and sodium which contribute to health complications, lower energy and digestive problems. This “short fix” will lead to a lifetime of lasting problems. In South Florida, throughout Broward andPalm BeachCounties, fast food restaurants abound and inside each one, gastroenterological (GI) problems are lurking. Fast food can cause everything from indigestion to constipation to flatulence and burping, and even more serious issues.

Eating healthy shouldn’t just be a phase, it should be a lifestyle. The benefits of healthy eating for a senior citizen are plentiful. Use the word nutrition instead of the word diet when developing healthy eating habits. Diets are often fads and have deadlines. Focusing on your overall nutrition and not just a cookie cutter diet will help you understand, welcome, and enjoy a more nutritious lifestyle.

By eating healthy as a senior you can continue to develop increased mental awareness, a stronger immune system, higher energy, faster recovery time and help prevent or manage chronic health problems. Just by changing your eating habits you can reduce your medical visits and bills.

It is important to eat nutrient and antioxidant rich foods. Eating healthy reduces your risk for heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, bone loss and cancer. Eating less processed foods and eating more fresh and colorful fruits and vegetables can make a significant difference in your attitude and well-being.

A woman over 50 should need between 1600-2000 calories depending on her activity level. A male over 50 should need between 2000 and 2800 calories depending on his activity level. Eating whole grains, as opposed to refined ones, can help boost your energy for physical activity.

Physical activity is very important moving into your fifties to maintain flexibility, joint movement and heart health. You don’t need to run a marathon to be active. Gardening, taking a walk on the beach or bird watching can all be activities that will keep you healthy. If you already suffer from joint or muscle pain you can exercise in a pool as to alleviate impacting activities while still helping your overall health.

Nutrition Tips:

Plan ahead – To avoid stopping at fast food places, pack your meals ahead of time in BPA free containers or coolers in the car as well as small snack bags of fresh fruits or veggies

Important vitamins to consider taking: Vitamin B and Vitamin D

Reduce sodium intake – High amounts are found in processed foods

Eat good fats – Avocados, salmon, almonds, olive oil

Fiber for Fuel – Raw fruits and veggies, whole – grains and beans

Label Look out – Read food labels for hidden sugars like corn syrup, cane juice, fructose or

Fried out – Frying foods should be eliminated from your cooking. Grilling, steaming or baking are much healthier options

Waterfall – Continue to drink water throughout the day 8-10 glasses is ideal

For a closer examination of your health, please contact our nutritionist Melissa Ventura Marra, PhD, RD, LD/N. Digestive CARE can sort through your nutrition to point out areas where you can improve a live healthy and happily into your senior years.

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What is the FODMAP Diet for People Dealing with IBS?

Posted on January 30, 2012 by admin Leave a comment

FODMAP’s are types of carbohydrates that some people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) may have trouble absorbing. A FODMAP diet is one in which you are reducing your FODMAP consumption. FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols.

These carbohydrates are poorly absorbed into the small intestine and therefore are not digested properly which can lead to unwanted gas or bloating, especially for people with IBS.

The most common FODMAP is fructose. Fructose is the sweetest of all naturally occurring carbohydrates and because of its taste can be added to prepared foods in smaller amounts then if using table sugar. Among other foods are those high in lactose, alcohols and wheat.

Switching to a FODMAP diet could help you experience relief in as little as a few hours and will continue to have relief over the next two weeks. People who suffer from IBS will notice that a reduction in fructose alone will help relieve many of their symptoms.

Starting a FODMAP diet can be an undertaking and is not a simple diet to follow. You should have the assistance of a dietitian to ensure a balanced diet. Digestive CARE has a full time Registered Dietitian, Melissa Ventura Marra, PhD, RD, LD/N, is experienced in working in a variety of settings including individual and group counseling. Our Registered Dietitian can provide you with practical advice regarding your nutritional needs to enhance your overall well being and lifestyle. Feel free to contact our dietitian at Digestive CARE to schedule an appointment to develop a custom diet for your needs.

Here is a small list of foods that you should avoid eating as well as a list that is safe to eat:

Fruits NOT to eat

Apples
Apricots
Cherries
Mango
Pears
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums and prunes
Watermelon

Vegetables NOT to eat

Asparagus
Avocado
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Garlic
Mushrooms
Okra
Onions
Peas
Sugar snap peas
Snow peas

Fruit you CAN eat

Banana
Blueberry
Grapefruit
Grapes
Honeydew melon
Kiwi
Lemon
Lime
Mandarine oranges
Orange
Raspberry
Strawberry

Vegetables you CAN eat

Bok choy
Carrots
Celery
Corn
Eggplant
Green beans
Lettuce
Parsnip
Scallions (green parts only)
Tomato

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Colorectal Cancer Most Common in People Over 50

Posted on January 16, 2012 by admin Leave a comment

Warning signs of colorectal cancer for people over 50

Colorectal cancer can develop at any age but is more common in people over 50. In fact, 9 out of 10 people who are diagnosed with this cancer are over the age of 50.

What is Colorectal cancer?

It is a disease that develops when abnormal cells in the colon or rectum divide without control. These divisions can lead to a primary tumor. These tumors can spread and travel to other parts of the body and even develop new tumors.

Start by checking with your family about their health history to know if you could be at greater risk. Find out when they were diagnosed so you can be sure to be checked for symptoms early. There are several factors related to your lifestyle that can lead to colorectal cancer which include diet, weight and exercise. These types of factors are some of the most influential for any type of cancer. These lifestyle factors can all be corrected and help you lower your risk for cancer.

A diet that is high in red or processed meats puts you at a higher risk for colorectal cancer. Having a diet high in vegetables, fruits and whole grains has been shown to lower the risk of colorectal cancer and has other added health benefits. Also it is known that heavy alcohol drinkers or people living with Type 2 Diabetes are also at a higher risk for colorectal cancer and should monitor their health closely.

Early detection is the best method of removing the threat that this cancer carries. Through early detection the abnormal cells can be removed and reduce the risk of it spreading. These symptoms can be detected though a colonoscopy or stool test that can be performed at our Digestive CARE offices located throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties.

All cancer is serious and our staff at Digestive CARE makes this process less terrifying with our inviting staff that truly cares about your wellbeing and overall health. Don’t wait, contact us today to schedule an appointment and put your health first in 2012.

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Digestive CARE’s Tips on How You Can Get Heartburn Relief

Posted on January 5, 2012 by admin Leave a comment

A few simple changes to your daily eating habits.

Did you know that over 60 million Americans suffer from heartburn during the month and almost 25 million Americans deal with heartburn on a day to day basis? If you are someone who suffers from continuous pain, use these tips from us at Digestive CARE to help develop better habits to alleviate your heartburn and enjoy much need relief.

Size Matters | Change your eating focus from three meals a day to four or five smaller meals. This will not only increase your metabolism but it will keep you feeling full throughout the day without a heavy amount of food digesting at one time.
Stay Vertical | After you eat, refrain from laying down horizontal at least two to three hours to avoid stomach acids from irritating your esophagus.
H20 | Drink plenty of water after meals to help dilute your stomach content and any acid that may develop.
Blow Bubbles | It is okay to chew gum after eating as well. Chewing gum helps stimulate the glands in your mouth to produce saliva which will also help to neutralize stomach acid. Avoid peppermint flavored gum!
Hi-Fi | Get more fiber into your diet. Studies have shown that more fiber in your diet helps reduce symptoms of reflux and heartburn.

To receive additional help in controlling your heartburn talk to our clinical physician or contact Digestive CARE to get relief today!

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Make the playoffs and Super Bowl XLVI a light one!

Posted on December 26, 2011 by admin Leave a comment

You’ve waited all week for Monday Night Football! Well it’s here. The last one after sixteen weeks of highs and lows and I’m sure drinking beer. So why make the switch?

First let’s determine how healthy beer is for you. Studies from Emory University discovered that those who consume 1.5 drinks daily had half the risk of suffering from heart failure. Studies have also shown that beer may have anti-inflammatory properties and can lower the risk for heart disease. Lastly MRI scans have shown light to moderate drinking can reduce strokes.

I think it is safe to say that in moderation that beer can benefit your health. Now why light beer?

Light beers, or “lite beers”, typically contain half as many carbs and one third less calories than regular beer. You may not think you are gaining a lot when you could be losing taste but let’s think about it in terms of calories and weight.

If you drink two beers a night, seven days a week, that could amount to 2016 calories from drinking regular beer. If you drink light beer you would be saving 672 calories alone. What do calories mean to you? Consider that in order to burn these extra calories you would need to go cross country skiing for over an hour to burn them off. Don’t like to work out? Over the course of one year, these extra calories could add up to an extra 10 pounds of weight!

Now back to football. Super Bowl XLVI is only four weeks away on February 5, 2012. In those four weeks you could save 2688 calories! So now is the time to make a pact with your friends to lose the weight this year and not gain it. People who are overweight carry a higher risk for heart disease which means beer can both help and hurt your heart health. Don’t let it be the later.

Why should you do this with your friends? Statistics prove that working with other people keeps you more accountable and raises you chances for success. So in order to win during the NFL Playoffs, even when your team might be losing, cheer your friends with a bottle of light beer and score a touchdown with your health in 2012!

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Nutrition calories, football, healthy, heart disease, heart health, light beer, Monday Noght Football, NFL Playoffs, Super Bowl XLVI

April was IBS Awareness Month

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Team Digestive CARE is Taking Steps to Bring Awareness to Crohn’s & Colitis on April 28

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Talking About Colon Cancer Can Save Lives

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Taking Control of Crohn’s Disease and Your Life

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Stomach Growls After Eating Are Common Source of Embarrassment

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Fast Food is Not OK for Seniors

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What is the FODMAP Diet for People Dealing with IBS?

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Colorectal Cancer Most Common in People Over 50

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Digestive CARE’s Tips on How You Can Get Heartburn Relief

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Make the playoffs and Super Bowl XLVI a light one!

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