Constipation and Diarrhoea

Posted on May 20, 2012 by soogie89

What is constipation?

Constipation is an abnormal infrequency or irregularity of defecation, abnormal hardening of stools that makes their passage difficult and sometimes painful, a decrease in stool volume, or retention of stool in the rectum for prolonged period often with a sense of incomplete evacuation after defecation.

What causes Constipation?

Change in regular diet or routine; traveling
Antacid medicines containing calcium or aluminium.
Frequent use of laxatives (stool softeners) which, over time, weaken the bowel muscles
Certain diseases or conditions.
Inadequate water intake.
Inadequate fibre in the diet.
Resisting the urge to have a bowel movement, which may cause pain from hemorrhoids.
Medicines ( especially strong pain medicines such as narcotics, antidepressants or iron pills).
Inadequate activity or exercise or immobility.

Clinical Manifestations

Clinical manifestations of constipation include :

Fewer than three bowel movements per week
Abdominal distention
Pain and pressure
Decreased appetite
Headache
Fatigue
Indigestion
A sensation of incomplete evacuation
Straining at stool
The elimination of small-volume, lumpy, hard, dry stool

Dietary Recommendations

Foods to Avoid

Processed and refined foods

Avoid processed and refined foods. These are foods containing white flour and white sugar, including white bread and breads containing bleached flour, cookies, pastries, cakes, white rice and white pasta. Prepared foods commonly have eliminated most or all of the original fiber, such as instant mashed potatoes, boxed potatoes and potato chips.

High-fat foods

These include whole milk and whole milk dairy products such as cheese, ice cream and butter; high-fat meats including bacon and regular ground beef; poultry skin; fried foods; processed snacks such as chips; certain gravies, cream sauces and soups; and prepared foods such as pot pies, boxed dinners and frozen dinners.

Fluids to Avoid

Avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea and sugary carbonated drinks. Caffeine drinks can have a dehydrating effect on the body which then can contribute to constipation.

Foods to Increase

Whole Grains

Increasing whole grains such as brown rice, millet, buckwheat and quinoa are excellent sources of complex carbohydrates.

Fibre

Include plenty of dietary fibre to encourage gut motility and peristalsis. Soluble fibre holds water and brings bulk to the faeces. Food rich in soluble fibre include barley, oats, oat bran, prunes, figs, vegetables, fruits (apples, pears, peaches, papaya, pineapples, bananas), seaweed, lentils and pulses.

Fluids

Drink more water. This is particularly more important when adding more fiber to your diet. Increase your daily intake of purified water, especially in between meals. For variety drink diluted fruit juices, organic vegetable juices and herbal teas.

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is an increased frequency of bowel movements (more than three per day), an increased of stool (more than 200g/day), and altered consistency (ie. increased liquidity) of stool.

What causes diarrhea?

Bacterial infections
Viral infections
Parasites
Functional bowel disorders
Intestinal diseases
Food intolerances and sensitivities
Reaction to medicines

Clinical manifestations

In addition to the increased frequency and fluid content of stools, other clinical manifestations include :

Abdominal cramps
Distention
Intestinal rumbling (ie. Borborygmus)
Anorexia
Thirst
Bleeding

Dietary Recommendations

Foods to Avoid

Fatty foods

Foods with a high fat content can speed up intestinal contractions and cause a reaction to a system that is already sensitized. Therefore, try not to eat anything that is greasy, fried, creamy, or covered in gravy. Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats) found in many processed foods, deep-fried foods, fast food, and junk food.

Diary products

Diarrhea can cause a lessening of the amount of the enzyme lactase. Lactase is needed in order for the body to digest lactose, the sugar found in dairy products. If this “milk sugar” goes undigested, it can result in further symptoms of gas, bloating, nausea and diarrhea. Here are some common lactose-containing foods:

Butter
Soft cheese, such as ricotta or cottage cheese
Ice cream
Milk

Sugar free foods

Some artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes can have a laxative effect, as well as contribute to gas and bloating. So until you are feeling better, it is best to avoid:

Diet soda
Sugar-free candy
Sugar-free gum
Sugar substitute packets for coffee and tea

Gas-producing foods

Certain vegetables have a well-documented reputation for increasing intestinal gas which could contribute to further diarrhea:

Beans
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Onions
Peas

Unsafe Foods

Whether you have diarrhea or not, you should always make sure that you only eat food that has been safely washed, prepared and stored. Foods that are not safely prepared and stored put you at risk for a serious gastrointestinal illness.

Fluids to avoid

Alcoholic beverages in excess since they hinder the functioning of the immune and digestive systems. Carbonated drinks. Excessive caffeine intake as it can disrupt the body’s system, causing insomnia and digestive irregularity (constipation or diarrhea). Sweetened fruit juices that spike blood sugar levels too rapidly.

Food to Take

BRATTY diet – Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast, Tea and Yogurt.

Bananas

Bananas have high potassium content, which is excellent for replacing lost potassium. They also have a healthy balance of starch and fruit sugars that can help firm bowel movements. Rice and white or wheat toast should be served without added spices or butter, since fats and spices may prolong frequent or watery bowel movements.

Rice

Due to their low-fiber content, these starches are easily digested way up high in the GI tract. Eat your rice and potatoes plain. Rice and white or wheat toast should be served without added spices or butter, since fats and spices may prolong frequent or watery bowel movements.

Apple sauce

Apples are a good source of pectin. However, the high fiber in raw apples makes them too rough for a dicey intestinal system. Therefore, by cooking the apples makes them easier on your system to digest, and allowing you to benefit from the pectin, sugar and other nutrients that lie within.

Toasts or Crackers

When you are experiencing acute diarrhea, however, it is better to turn to processed wheat foods. The removal of the outer husk of the grains in these foods results in easier digestion. As an added bonus, the salt (sodium) in crackers will be beneficial in terms of restoring the electrolyte balance.

Tea

Two teas in particular are especially good for quieting a diarrhea episode: peppermint and chamomile.

Peppermint Tea: Peppermint has a soothing effect on the gastrointestinal system. It is thought to calm and relax the muscles along the intestinal tract, thus reducing spasms. Peppermint also seems to be effective in reducing intestinal gas.

Chamomile Tea: Chamomile is a flowering herb. Chamomile tea appears to be effective in reducing intestinal inflammation and calming intestinal spasms.

Yoghurt

Yogurt would be a good introduction as it is a calcium dense probiotic which can restore colon health. These probiotics help to establish a healthier balance of bacteria in the digestive tract.

References :

1. Brunner and Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing by Lillian Sholtis Brunner, Suzanne C. Smeltzer, Brenda G. Bare, Janice L. Hinkle, Kerry H. Cheever
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-constipation
http://www.slideworld.com/slideshow.aspx/CONSTIPATION-ppt-2771906
http://www.thefooddoctor.com/Article-Ahealth_fst_constipation/
http://naturopathconnect.com/articles/constipation-dietary/
http://ibs.about.com/od/diarrhea/tp/DiarrheaFoodsAvoid.htm
http://ibs.about.com/od/diarrhea/tp/Diarrhea-and-Food.–04.htm

Diabetes Mellitus

Posted on May 19, 2012 by soogie89

Diabetes (diabetes mellitus) is classed as a metabolism disorder. Metabolism is the way our bodies use digested food for energy and growth. What we eat is broken down into glucose. Glucose is a form of sugar in the blood and also the main source of energy in our body.

Glucose makes its way into our bloodstream when food is digested. However, glucose cannot enter our cells without the presence of insulin.

Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. After eating, the pancreas automatically releases an adequate quantity of insulin to move the glucose present in our blood into the cells, and lowers the blood sugar level.

A person with diabetes has a condition in which the glucose level in the blood is higher than normal (hyperglycemia). It’s either because the body does not produce sufficient insulin, produces no insulin, or has cells that do not respond properly to the insulin the pancreas produces. This results in the accumulation of glucose in the blood. This excess blood glucose eventually passes out of the body in urine. So, even though the blood has plenty of glucose, the cells are not getting it for their essential energy and growth requirements.

What you should keep in mind

What, when, and how much you eat all affect your blood glucose level. You can keep your blood glucose at a healthy level if you:

Eat about the same amount of food each day.
Eat at about the same times each day.
Take your medication at the same times each day.
Exercise at regular times.
Limit the amounts of fats and sweets you eat each day.

Diabetic Diet and Calories

Have about 1,200 to 1,600 calories a day if you are:

– a small woman who exercises
– a small or medium woman who wants to lose weight
– a medium woman who does not exercise much

Have about 1,600 to 2,000 calories a day if you are:

– a large woman who wants to lose weight
– a small man at a healthy weight
– a medium man who does not exercise much
– a medium to large man who wants to lose weight

Have about 2,000 to 2,400 calories a day if you are

– a medium/large man who does a lot of exercise or has a physically active job
– a large man at a healthy weight
– a large woman who exercises a lot or has a physically active job

When your blood glucose level goes too high or too low?

It’s does not matter, whether you are diagnosed with diabetes I or II. What, when and how you eat will affect your blood glucose level!

Your blood glucose can also go too high or drop too low if you don’t take the right amount of diabetes medicine.

You can have problems if your blood glucose level stays both too high (hyperglycaemia) or too low (hypoglycaemia). If your blood glucose stays high too most of the time, you can get heart, eye, foot, kidney, and other problems.

Blood Glucose Levels: What Should My Blood Glucose Levels Be?

For most people, target blood glucose levels are:

Before meals – 90 to 130
1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal – less than 180

Why Should I Eat About the Same Amount at the Same Times Each Day?

Your blood glucose goes up after you eat. If you eat a big lunch one day and a small lunch the next day, your blood glucose levels will change too much. Keep your blood glucose at a healthy level by eating about the same amount of carbohydrate foods at about the same times each day.

Diet for Diabetes Patients

Less than 25 to 35 percent of calories per day from fat, and less than 7 percent of calories per day from saturated fat

There should be minimal trans fat. Saturated and trans fats are found in solid fats like cheese, red meats, butter, margarine, and shortening. People with diabetes are at increased risk for heart disease and stroke, and eating a diet low in saturated and trans fats and cholesterol can help to manage cholesterol levels and decrease these risks.

Total cholesterol intake should be less than 200 mg per day

The major sources of cholesterol in the diet are foods such as organ meats and egg yolks. Shrimp and squid are also moderately high in cholesterol, but can be included in your diet occasionally because they are low in fat.

Between 15 and 20 percent of calories should be from protein

Except in people with certain kidney problems (chronic kidney disease or CKD). People with CKD are sometimes advised to eat a low-protein diet.

High fiber (25 to 30 grams per day)

To control blood sugar levels and AIC.

Low sodium (less than 1500 mg per day), fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy products

Recommended and can help manage blood pressure. For people with diabetes and heart failure, a low sodium diet may reduce symptoms.

Sorbitol, xylitol, lactitol, mannitol, and maltitol

Sugar alcohols (sorbitol, xylitol, lactitol, mannitol, and maltitol) are often used to sweeten sugar-free candies and gum, and increase blood sugar levels slightly. When calculating the carbohydrate content of foods, one-half of the sugar alcohol content should be counted in the total carbohydrate content of the food. Eating too much sugar alcohol at one time can cause cramping, gas, and diarrhea.

Take sugar in moderation

If you take insulin, calculate your dose based upon the number of carbohydrates, which already includes the sugar content.

Tips

Products that are “sugar-free” or “fat-free” do not necessarily have a reduced number of calories or carbohydrates. Read the nutrition label carefully and compare it to other similar products that are not sugar- or fat-free to determine which has the best balance of serving size and number of calories, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber.Some sugar-free foods, such as diet soda, sugar-free gelatin, and sugar-free gum, do not have a significant number of calories or carbohydrates, and are considered “free foods.” Any food that has less than 20 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrate is considered a free food, meaning that there are not enough calories or carbohydrates to affect your weight or require additional insulin.