View Heather's IBS Newsletter Online ~ December 27, 2007
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IBS Hypnosis Program
Gut-directed hypnosis is one of the most effective ways to help relieve all IBS symptoms! Results can last more than 5 years.

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Now On Sale for the Holidays!




In this Issue...

Food & Recipes

Special Letters

Rx News & Research

Ask Heather




New IBS Stress Kit!

IBS Stress Kit

On Sale - $25 Off!

Break the vicious cycle
of worry and fear that
triggers and perpetuates
IBS symptoms












Did you miss our latest newsletter, and how one reader is no longer bloated and tired?

All past issues
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Heather's IBS Newsletter ~ For Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Last Chance, Sale Ends! ~ the IBS Self-Hypnosis Program and New! IBS Stress Kit!

An IBS story too embarrassing to print? Not when Judy finally has her life back!


What are the red flag symptoms with IBS? Ask Heather.

A holiday favorite dessert splurge!



Hello to everyone -

I'm on vacation this week, so we've got a special holiday recap issue! From a
beloved gingerbread recipe to a reader who has a story almost - but not quite - too embarrassing to share.

Don't forget that we're continuing our special holiday sale for just another four days. The IBS Audio Program 100™ and the new IBS Stress Kit are both on sale, but only through midnight December 31.

Enjoy!

Best Wishes,
Heather Van Vorous

Did a friend send you this newsletter? Sign up here for your own free subscription. divider

Luscious Holiday Gingerbread

My favorite winter dessert! This gingerbread is moist, rich, spicy, and delicious. It's also low fat, trigger free, and has the added digestive benefits of ginger. Enjoy without guilt or worry!

Makes 8 Servings

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9" square baking pan with cooking oil and set aside.

Sift together in a large bowl:
2 T Acacia Tummy Fiber (great for extra soluble fiber and a rich, moist cake)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached white flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
2 t ground ginger
1/2 t cloves
1/2 t nutmeg
1/8 t salt

Whisk dry ingredients with a metal whisk until thoroughly blended.

In a medium bowl beat together:
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup fresh orange juice, strained
4 organic egg whites
3 T canola or safflower oil
1 1/2 T finely grated fresh gingerroot
2 T finely chopped crystallized ginger
2 t vanilla

Add the wet ingredients to the dry with a few swift strokes of a wooden spoon. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center of the gingerbread comes out clean. Cool on rack.

For an extra-stabilizing and delicious treat, serve the gingerbread with a hot cup of peppermint or fennel tummy tea!

Are you just learning how to eat for IBS? A little intimidated at the thought of special IBS recipes? Not quite sure just what makes these recipes special in the first place? Don't worry! Find the answers to all your questions in the IBS Diet Kit.

Fennel Tummy Tea Peppermint Tummy Tea
Organic Fennel & Peppermint Tummy Tea Bags

Extraordinary Quality ~ Very Economical


Fennel is terrific for bloating & gas, Peppermint is great for IBS pain & spasms.

divider An IBS Story Too "Yucky" to Share?

Hi Heather,

I'm a 53 year old woman and this is my story. Up until 5 months ago I had been a healthy, once-every-morning person, until a sudden, drastic change to a diet of all raw, harsh vegetables. I started having miserable gas and bloating, and constipation so bad even enemas and suppositories didn't do anything. I had to gouge out pellet-like stools with my finger, yuck!!! But my finger could only reach so far!

My gastroenterologist was good at quickly diagnosing IBS, even before all the other tests came out negative. He was sympathetic, saying he'd work with me. But IBS is an every second of every minute of every hour of every day problem, and an appointment would take a month. The most my doctor could offer was stool softeners and laxatives and the advice to take a fiber supplement, but Metamucil gave me hell!

Then I miraculously discovered your website, and boy how it saved my life with that soluble Acacia Tummy Fiber. I've also gained tons of educational knowledge on everything about IBS.

Thank you, thank you, for giving me my life back.

Judy Tran

When I asked Judy if I could print her letter in the newsletter, her response was, "Oh please, of course I wouldn't mind, whatever you need to help more of us. But, don't you think my story is a bit too ... yucky, the 'finger' part?!?"

My answer to that is no - embarrassment is one of the worst enemies of people with IBS. It prevents us from asking for help when we need it, from talking to others about our problem, and from feeling good about ourselves. So, a huge thank you to you, Judy. I am tickled pink you were brave enough to share your story! ~ Heather


Did you miss the last reader letter from Joanna, who is no longer bloated and tired - and on her very first try?

~ Heather's Tummy Fiber ~
For the Dietary Management of Abdominal Pain, Diarrhea, &, Constipation

IBS Acacia Tummy Fiber

Organic Acacia ~ Pure Soluble Fiber

The prebiotic fiber that relieves both diarrhea and constipation!

** Very Economical ** Only 3 cents per gram of fiber!

divider Gut Motor Function: Enteric Infection & Inflammation
An article in Clinical & Experimental Immunology noted that an alteration in gastrointestinal (GI) motility occurs in a variety of clinical settings which include acute enteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Most disorders affecting the GI tract arise as a result of noxious stimulation from the lumen via either microbes or chemicals. However, it is not clear how injurious processes initiated in the mucosa alter function in the deeper motor apparatus of the gut wall. Activation of immune cells may lead to changes in motor-sensory function in the gut resulting in the development of an efficient defense force which assists in the eviction of the noxious agent from the intestinal lumen.

This review provides information on the immunological control of gut motor function and its role in host defense in enteric infection, but also provide a basis for understanding pathophysiology of gastrointestinal motility disorders such as in IBS. Go here for more information about this study...


Peppermint Relieves IBS Symptoms
A very interesting IBS treatment guide by American Family Physician noted that, given the absence of a cure and the adverse effects of medications, patients with IBS often turn to complementary therapies such as peppermint. Peppermint possesses antispasmodic properties and has long been associated with improvement of digestive function. Peppermint leaves contain oils that have mild anesthetic properties, relieve nausea, and relax smooth muscle spasticity caused by histamine and cholinergic stimulation.

A systematic review identified five trials that showed that peppermint oil relieved IBS symptoms. Three of these trials showed statistically significant benefit of peppermint over placebo. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study of enteric-coated peppermint oil involving 110 patients showed 79 percent with less pain, 83 percent with decreased stool frequency, and 79 percent with less flatulence. Go here for more information about enteric coated peppermint oil capsules...

Go here for more information about this study...

Looking for more IBS research and news? Check the IBS Research Library!



~ Heather's Tummy Tamers Peppermint Oil Capsules ~
IBS Peppermint Caps
Peppermint Oil Caps Called "Drug of Choice for IBS"

Our Peppermint Oil Caps have the added benefits of fennel and ginger oils, and they help prevent abdominal pain, gas, and bloating!

divider Red Flag Symptoms
"I saw your newsletter article a few months ago about IBS misdiagnoses. What signs might indicate I actually have something other than IBS?"

In general, any symptoms that do not dovetail with the Rome Criteria for diagnosing IBS should be considered red flags, and should prompt further medical investigation. In a nutshell, this means any symptoms other than bowel dysfunction (diarrhea, constipation, or alternating) in association with abdominal pain, possibly with gas and/or bloating.

The American Academy of Family Physicians recently published a very helpful chart with symptoms that are not typical of IBS. If you have any of these red flag symptoms, and you're not sure that you've had the tests necessary to rule out illnesses other than IBS, please make sure you see your doctor again for a more thorough examination. Most studies show that the vast majority of IBS diagnoses are accurate and that most people with IBS do not also have other serious diseases. But, it's always better to have a very firm diagnosis and subsequent peace of mind.

Once you're certain that you do not have any red flag symptoms, and you do in fact have a solid diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is, check here for an overview of treatments for IBS so you can begin to successfully manage the disorder.

~ Heather
Chart copyrighted by American Academy of Family Physicians.



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