Life Blog
Cutting-edge information and tips for creating health in all areas of life – wellness, nutrition, fitness, attitude, and relationships
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…
What To Do When Things Don’t Go Your Way
When we were young, our parents had their ways of telling us that we won’t always get what we want. There were times that we resented them for it, but as we got older, we realized those denials actually had nuggets of wisdom in them. It’s easy to conclude that life’s out to get us…
Learn More4 Ways You’re Making Life Harder Than It Has To Be
Making life harder than it needs to be is silly! But that’s what a lot of us do. Maybe we do it because it makes us feel more in control…or because we want everything to be perfect. Whatever the reason, here are four ways people make life way harder than it has to be. Do…
Learn More5 Tricks That Let You Eat MORE but Weigh Less!
Eating more and weighing less – Is it possible? Although this topic seems to resemble one of those outrageous infomercials you stumble across at 2 a.m. when you can’t sleep, it isn’t so. In this article, you’ll find 5 cool and tricky ways of how to weigh less while eating more! Most of us believe…
Learn MoreWhat’s The Difference Between Complementary and Alternative Medicine?
Complementary and alternative medicine fall outside of mainstream health care. And although most people believe these two terms are the same, they’re not. There are many differences. Complementary medicine refers to treatments used alongside traditional medicine. Alternative medicine means treatments that are used instead of traditional medicine. These treatments can be risky to patients, which…
Learn More4 Ways to Enjoy Life More!
There are so many ways we can improve the quality of our life. Usually, it starts by choosing a healthier lifestyle. What is a healthy lifestyle? Many people think that diet and exercise are pretty much the only important factors when creating a healthy lifestyle, but that isn’t so. A healthy life includes your physical,…
Learn MoreSweet Tooth? Reach for Dark Chocolate
Who doesn’t have a sweet tooth? Well, not only will dark Chocolate satisfy it, but it comes with several health benefits too. (Just to be clear, we’re not talking about a Milky Way candy bar – we’re talking about high-quality dark Chocolate.) Chocolate is one of the most popular comfort foods on the planet. Since…
Learn MoreWhy Boredom Could Be Killing You, Literally
You might as well add “boredom” to the list of things we’ve survived these past few months. Staying cooped up at home with nothing to do is enough to drive one mad! And it has. We’ve all been bored. Boring zoom meetings. Boring meals. Boring stories. Boring jokes. Ugh! But boredom is more than a…
Learn MoreDoes Self-Help Work?
Self-help “wisdom” is everywhere these days. New self-help books pop up every day, and social media is overflowing with inspirational quotes from self-help experts. Although people want to improve their lives, many are skeptical of self-help books and personal development gurus because they wonder if it really works. The good news is that research shows…
Learn More4 Ways to Avoid Caregiver Burnout
Caring for an aging or ailing loved one is never easy – but throw in a fulltime job, kids of your own, and a busy household, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed fast. Nearly half of all caregivers have trouble balancing work and caregiving, and 20 to 40% of them suffer from depression. But just…
Learn MoreWhen Is Taking Too Many Supplements Dangerous?
Sure, we’d all love to eat nutritionally-balanced, home-cooked meals every day, but that’s not always possible. Sometimes, we have to make do with takeout and frozen dinners. Sadly, most takeout meals and frozen dinners aren’t designed with nutrition or health in mind. If they were, they probably wouldn’t be as popular! Most of us worry…
Learn MoreHow Vegetarians Can Get Enough Protein
New vegetarians often worry if they’re getting enough protein. Most people associate protein with meat, dairy, and other animal products. Their knowledge of plant-based protein starts and ends with beans! While beans are a good source of plant-based protein, it’s totally possible to get enough protein as a vegetarian without eating beans. But, first, let’s…
Learn MoreDiabetes: Beyond Diet and Exercise
The key components of diabetes management are diet, exercise, medication, and regular check-ins with your healthcare team; everyone knows this. It’s the best-known way of preventing long-term complications. However, diet, exercise, and medication are just part of the equation. To truly live well with diabetes, you also need to practice self- care (not everyone knows…
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