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Cutting-edge information and tips for creating health in all areas of life – wellness, nutrition, fitness, attitude, and relationships

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January 16, 2025

Managing IBS: When Almost Everything You Eat Gives You Gas or Stomach Pain

There’s so much confusion and misinformation about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Most of it comes from the fact that symptoms vary from one person to the next and doctors don’t really know what causes it. IBS is a painful condition that affects the large intestine causing what seems like constant abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea. While most people have mild to moderate symptoms, for some it’s a debilitating condition. It affects nearly 20 percent of the population and is the second most common reason why people miss work and school (the number one excuse is the common cold). IBS has no visible signs like inflammation, polyps or tumors, so it’s diagnosed by a process of elimination. And while the symptoms can be treated with diarrhea medication, laxatives, nerve pain medication and antibiotics, they can also be managed with dietary and lifestyle changes. Figure Out Your Triggers Tracking your diet and keeping a food journal is the easiest way to figure out which foods give you stomach pain or gas. Most “attacks” happen right after meals, so it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out what’s causing your symptoms. Keep in mind that there are also non-food triggers, the most common is stress. If you think some of your symptoms are caused by stress, it’s time to explore stress reduction methods like counseling and exercise. Eat a Low FODMAP Diet Research has shown that a low FODMAP diet provides relief for more than half of IBS patients. FODMAP refers to Fermented…

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been around for a long time (80 years) and is an effective method to relieve many mental health issues. What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? It’s a combination of cognitive and behavioral therapy treatments that Aaron Beck developed in the 1960s.  It’s based on the belief that our thinking (cognition), actions…

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There’s a lot of talk about resiliency these days, but what is it?  According to the dictionary, with regards to an object, it’s the ability to spring back into shape; elasticity. Regarding you and me, it’s the ability to recover quickly from tragedies and challenges; it’s mental and emotional toughness. But resiliency is more than…

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The day will come when your parents or grandparents will need your help and support. They might not ask for it because they don’t want to be a burden.  As their caregiver, you’ll want to help them stay healthy and happy and for them to avoid feeling lonely and isolated.  What can you do to…

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Anger is a helpful emotion if we learn how to manage it. There are times when we should get angry, especially when our loved ones are threatened or people are facing injustice and cruelty.  Everyone gets angry. Anger is a natural emotion. Getting mad isn’t the problem; how we manage and express and anger is…

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Regret is a bitter pill to swallow. Most people make decisions or fail to take advantage of opportunities that end in painful outcomes or feelings of missing out. Regret creates disappointment. Who wants to reach the end of life’s journey with a soul overflowing with sadness and missed opportunities? Here are six healthy ways to…

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How often do you feel pressured to mask who you really are? How often do you withhold how you feel or think, keep your opinions to yourself, and do your best to fit in or conform?  Whether it’s work colleagues, family, friends, or even social media, we tend to hide our true selves.  But if…

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We are what we think. That’s what they say. Is it true – do you believe it? Maybe, maybe not. But there is a relationship between the quality of our thoughts and the quality of our life. Some people try to improve their lives with materialistic things and experiences, or they turn to mind-altering substances…

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Think about your life for a second. What are some special memories? What makes those memories feel so special? Emotions. To a large degree, our emotional experience determines our life experience. We experience a variety of emotions. Some are pleasurable. Others are painful. Sometimes we process them productively. Sometimes we avoid them. Denying unresolved emotions…

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What is happiness? People talk about it all the time, “I just want to be happy,” “you deserve to be happy.” It’s even in our Constitution, “pursuit of happiness.” According to the dictionary, one definition of happiness is “feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.” Everyone wants to be happier. And you can be. Consider these…

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A positive role model is someone you respect. But it’s more than just having someone to look up to. It’s about finding someone you feel is worthy of modeling. It can be more than one person. You can have positive role models for your personal and professional life or your intimate relationship. They influence how…

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Loneliness is feeling sad about being socially disconnected and isolated from people. When you’re going through something very difficult and you wish you had someone to talk to but don’t, you can feel emotionally lonely. Most people feel sad, lonely or even depressed from time to time because of life’s challenges and pain from loss…

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One of the most well-known personality tests is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It’s a psychometric assessment designed to measure preferences in how a person perceives the world and makes decisions. The test is based on Carl Jung’s book Psychological Types published in 1921 A mother-daughter team did the original work for the Myers-Briggs Type…

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