Living with tummy troubles? Here’s how nutrition can help
(BPT) – Everyone suffers from common digestive and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms from time-to-time — gas, bloating, stomach pain, and frequent diarrhea to name a few. But did you know that nearly 60-70 million Americans have some form of digestive disease? Building good nutrition habits is a key component of treatment for many of these conditions, which can range from chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome to lesser-known conditions like exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).
“Proper nutrition is important for everyone. But for people living with GI conditions like EPI, paying attention to the types of foods you put into your body is a crucial part of helping to manage the disease,” says Joy Bauer, a registered dietitian and best-selling author. “It’s important to pair good nutrition and actively working with your doctor to find an overall management plan that is right for you.”
Could you have EPI?
EPI is often associated with other conditions that affect the pancreas, such as chronic pancreatitis or cystic fibrosis. In people with EPI, the pancreas — an organ located behind your stomach — fails to produce the digestive enzymes needed to break down nutrients in foods such as fats, proteins and carbohydrates. As a result, people who have EPI may not receive the right amount of nutrition they need.
Common EPI symptoms like bloating and gas can be similar to those of other GI conditions, making it difficult to diagnose.
Nutrition’s role in helping to manage EPI and other GI conditions
“I truly believe that you feel better when you eat better and even making small changes to one’s diet may make a positive impact,” Bauer says.
To help people with EPI get the nutrition they need, Bauer partnered with AbbVie, Inc. to create a free, downloadable Nutrition Guide for people living with GI conditions. Along with nutrition advice that is good for everyone, such as eating a well-balanced diet, the guide includes delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes and useful tips, including:
* Eating five or six “mini meals” daily instead of three large meals a day; this can aid with digestion.
* Use a calendar, journal or smartphone app to help keep track of your symptoms so you can have better-informed discussions with your doctor and identify potential patterns.
* Because EPI makes it hard for the body to absorb nutrients, many people with the condition can experience deficiencies of key vitamins which are key to living healthy. Talk to your doctor about whether a vitamin or mineral supplement is right for you.
To learn more about EPI, visit www.identifyEPI.com and try this healthy recipe developed by Bauer:
Chipotle Chicken Salad Lettuce Cups
Ingredients:
1 pound cooked skinless chicken, finely chopped (leftover rotisserie chicken works great for this recipe)
1 container (8 ounces) nonfat plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons adobo sauce (from can of chipotle peppers in adobo)
2 tablespoons packed fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped scallions (approximately 2)
4 tablespoons chopped celery (approximately 1 stalk celery)
2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
2 teaspoons lime zest (approximately 1 lime)
2 tablespoons lime juice (approximately 1 lime)
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste
8 leaves of Bibb or butter lettuce, washed and dried
Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine chicken with Greek yogurt. Add the rest of the ingredients to the yogurt and mix well to combine. Add 1/4 cup salad to the center of each leaf and enjoy. Note: For a spicier salad, add more adobo sauce or a squirt of your favorite hot sauce.