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Irritable Bowel Syndrome – a Western disease?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (also known as IBS) does seem to be a disease of the Western world. If you were to travel across the world and visit remote tribal communities, the incidence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is likely to be far lower, if not absent altogether.
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The IBS is triggered by a number of factors including:
- Stress
- Poor diet
- Environmental pollution
- Irregular eating patterns
- Refined foods
- Low dietary fibre
- Prescribed medicines
- Excessive alcohol consumption
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These is because each of these factors can contribute to the erosion of digestive health and pave the way to other health problems. |
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Whilst we may have no wish to live like a ‘primitive’ community, many of them experience a complete absence of Western health problems and, frequently, remarkable longevity. |
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This is true of the ancient Hunza people of the Himalayas. These incredible people frequently live to over 120 years of age. They enjoy excellent health and cancer, bone and tooth decay are practically unheard of. Indeed they are characterised by their robustness and strength and extraordinarily they can conceive and give birth even in old age! |
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Their simple diet and lifestyle is legendary and the envy of many people living in more sophisticated but less healthy environments. For thousands of years they have eaten a diet of raw foods and are unaffected by man made substances like pesticides or environmental pollutions from cars and trains.
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Whilst it may be completely unrealistic to live like the Hunzas, there are steps which can be taken to simplify and improve the quality of our diets and lifestyles. This in turn can help reduce the severity of Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. A qualified Nutritional Therapist or Naturopath should be able to provide personalised and structured help and advice towards achieving this. |
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Please Note:
We are happy for you to re-publish this article as long as you do not change any of the copy and include the following “about the author” box:
Elizabeth Harfleet is a Manchester based nutritional therapist specialising in the treatment of IBS http://www.wellbeing-nutrition.com/treatment-for-ibs.htm
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Other IBS Articles:
The importance of water in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Foods and drinks which can worsen Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms
Irritable Bowel Syndrome – a Western disease?
Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome curable?
The link between IBS and food intolerance |
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