Supplements have soared in popularity over the last year with many health experts recommending them to help ailments from arthritis to high blood pressure.
With winter fast approaching and cosy nights spent indulging in sweet treats and tipples, out guts can often take a nutritional hit.
From the moment we eat or drink something, the guy plays an essential role in helping to absorb the nutrients we need to keep us feeling healthy and well.
Certain foods can cause the tummy to bloat, such as beans, onions, broccoli, cabbage, sprouts and cauliflower. But an exert recommends taking a particular supplement to get relief.
Bloating
Bloating is a very common gut problem. Research shows that over two thirds of people experience bloating a few times a month or more, with a quarter of those suffering a few times a week.
Particularly during the festive season over indulgence can often trigger bloating symptoms. The most obvious symptom is a swollen and ‘full’ abdomen.
Consultant dietician Helen Bond said: “You can improve your microflora with probiotics, which are friendly strains of gut bacteria.
“You can boost your level of probiotics with yogurt or drinks, fermented foods such as kimchi or sauerkraut, and fermented milk drinks, like kefir. You could also take a high quality probiotic supplement, like ProVen Probiotics Adult Acidophilus and Bifidus – 25 billion.
“The richer and more diverse the microflora in your gut, the healthier and more resilient to illness you will be – so it’s in your best interests to take action to keep your bacteria in fighting form.”
Other causes of a bloated stomach include irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and diarrhoea.
Irritable bowel syndrome
IBS is a common condition of the digestive system with nearly one in four people in the UK known to suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Symptoms can include abdominal pain and discomfort, diarrhoea, constipation as well as bloating of the abdomen.
Dr Anthony Hobson, of The Functional Gut Clinic, said: “My best advice to IBS patients is not to be stigmatised by the condition. Lots of people are afraid to talk about their digestive health, but it’s very important that you share your diagnosis with your friends and family, so that they can understand what’s going on.
“Once it’s out in the open, then it gives you the mechanisms that you can try and control this, either through diet, about planning your day. And if you do feel unwell, people will understand.”
Buscopan IBS Relief is recommended.
Constipation
Nearly a third of adults suffer from constipation. Poor diet and inactive lifestyle are the most common causes.
When it comes to endless parties and winter get-togethers, we can often forget to fuel our bodies with the nutrients it requires.
Constipation is a common problem which may often cause people to feel sick, bloated or achy from lack of goodness entering the body.
Experts recommend taking Care Senna Tablets, a herbal remedy, available from Boots, Rowlands and independent pharmacies nationwide.
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is normally caused by a bowel infection or poor food hygiene, but it can also be due to a food allergy or side effect of a medicine.
Watery or loose stools, stomach cramps, feeling sick and vomiting, a headache and having no appetite are some of the most common symptoms of diarrhoea.
Expedition doctor Dr Daniel Quemby said: “People suffering with diarrhoea might be at risk of dehydration because the fluid (and food) they’ve consumed won’t be retained by the body as it would normally.
“When they go to the bathroom, the vital fluids the body needs will be lost and therefore there will be a deficit in liquid – this is when you’re at risk of becoming dehydrated.”
Rehydration sachets such as Dioralyte are recommended to replace any essential fluids the body may have lost during a season of over-indulgence.
In some cases a bloated stomach can be the sign of something more serious, such as bowel cancer, ovarian cancer and stomach cancer.
