Digestive health for women

When I started my practice in the early 1980’s, I was amazed by the number of women suffering from constipation, diarrhea, increased gas, bloating after eating, fatigue and the many other symptoms of gastrointestinal distress.

It wasn’t long before I realized this was a real women’s health issue. Research now indicates that gastrointestinal distress is more than twice as common in women as in men, that women have a greater incidence of complicating factors (like fibromyalgia, migraine and heartburn), and that for some women digestive health problems follow their menstrual cycle.

This kind of distress is considered a “functional condition” (meaning not a disease) by the conventional medical community, and as a result it is often not taken seriously. But from a holistic perspective, we know these GI symptoms indicate serious functional problems that can lead to disease.

Digestive problems often cause poor absorption of the nutrients our bodies need to maintain good health. The resulting nutritional deficiencies contribute to an increased risk of chronic disease (for more information, read our article on health and vitamins.) Resolving GI problems does not just improve your immediate quality of life by eliminating unpleasant symptoms — it also promotes long-term health.

Fortunately, there are many steps every woman can take to support healthy GI function and resolve digestive health problems. This section of our website is dedicated to helping women find relief from their gastrointestinal distress. The following links provide information about the digestive system, the symptoms and causes of common digestive conditions, and natural treatments for digestive problems.

Our most popular resources on digestion and GI health

To access an article, just choose from the list of excerpts below. To find more articles, use the search function below. Don’t see a topic that’s important to you? Let us know.

• Probiotics
  Over millions of years, we have established a vital give-and-take relationship with the trillions of tiny life forms inhabiting our skin, vagina, and gut. Probiotic foods and supplements support a healthy balance of these beneficial flora, as well as helping to reestablish colonies wiped out by antibiotics, illness, poor diet, or more invasive microorganisms. Here is the lowdown on the many benefits of probiotic use.
• Systemic yeast (Candida)
  Candidiasis causes a host of unpleasant symptoms, is often misdiagnosed, and can lead to a systemic yeast infection — i.e., one that pervades the entire body. Many women suffer for years without relief, but most Candida yeast infections can be eliminated with natural methods. Here are our guidelines for treating systemic yeast, including instructions for a yeast–free diet.
• Leaky gut syndrome — how healing your digestive tract promotes total wellness
  Women to Women explains leaky gut syndrome and its relationship to women’s symptoms.

 

Last Modified Date: 05/09/2011
Principal Author: Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP