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Q: Is Irritable Bowel
Syndrome related to risk of colon cancer? What sort of diet is
currently recommended?
A: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is not related
to cancer risk. IBS is a cluster of symptoms that varies among
individuals. Symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, abdominal
pain and bloating. These symptoms result from spasm or other
abnormal function of the bowel, with no physical change that
can be seen with an x-ray or colonoscopy. People sometimes confuse
IBS with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which is linked to
some increased risk of colon cancer. IBD is an inflammation in
the intestine and physical changes can be seen with a barium
x-ray or colonoscopy. Diet can affect IBS but the same recommendations
don’t work for everyone. People with IBS may feel better
if they avoid or limit foods that may produce extra gas, such
as beans, onions, broccoli or cabbage. Symptoms sometimes improve
by avoiding milk and other lactose-containing foods, chewing
gum, carbonated drinks, caffeine, alcohol or high-fat foods.
Some people find improvement by gradually increasing dietary
fiber and/or spreading several small meals throughout the day.
Certain probiotics may improve symptoms; ask your physician or
registered dietitian for help identifying best choices. Yoga
and other forms of exercise may help reduce stress-related symptoms
and new medications offer relief for many, so keep talking with
your doctor about this. |
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Q: How much caffeine
is in coffee yogurt, ice cream and frozen yogurt?
A: It’s not like having a cup of joe, but the
level of caffeine may affect people who are sensitive to caffeine
or who eat large portions. One popular brand of coffee yogurt
contains 36 milligrams (mg) in a six-ounce container, comparable
to two or three ounces of brewed regular coffee or a 12-ounce
can of some cola soft drinks. Yet a mocha-flavored yogurt contains
less than 1 mg in the same size container. Among ice creams and
frozen yogurts, some popular brands contain 30 to 35 mg per half-cup.
But here’s where portion size may become an issue: for people
who use a cereal bowl as an ice cream dish, as calories, sugar
and fat also multiply, caffeine can add up to equal more than
a cup of coffee.
Q:bCan diet influence
jet lag?
A: Jet lag refers to feelings of irritability, insomnia,
indigestion and general disorientation that occur when the body's
inner clock is not in sync with life at a new destination. Dietary
recommendations include drinking plenty of water before, during
and after air travel to prevent dehydration from planes’
dry air and avoiding alcohol while in transit. Beyond that, we
have little data from well-controlled human studies. Some may
find the widely publicized Anti-Jet-Lag Diet helpful, but it
has little research support. The only human study involved 186
soldiers and did not have full research controls. Following this
diet may pose significant health issues for some people with
diabetes or other metabolic disorders, but otherwise is unlikely
to cause any harm. You may see reports that melatonin supplements
can help our inner clock adjust, but according to the American
Dietetic Association, the amounts in over the counter products
far exceed what our body needs to promote sleep and are not recommended
to prevent jet lag. |
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