Health & Wellness

What is menopause and when will it start? While some people call the time leading up to their last period ‘menopause’, menopause is actually when your period stops permanently. The process of menopause usually starts when a woman is around 45 years old and is a natural part of aging whereby the ovaries slowly stop producing hormones, such as estrogen.

Feeling cursed with an irritable bowel but still want a happy (candy-filled) Halloween? While IBS flare-ups can be frightful at any time of year, many people find that Halloween treats can trigger a variety of uncomfortable gut symptoms, such as pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.

Growth mindset or fixed mindset—can the way we think about ourselves and our abilities shape our lives? Absolutely. The way we think about our intellect and talents not only affects the way we feel, it can also affect what we achieve, whether we stick to new habits, or if we will go on to develop new skills.

If you have IBS, you’ve probably wondered “is there a scientifically-proven diet to improve my symptoms?” We’re here to tell you that, yes, there is! The low FODMAP diet has been shown in numerous studies to improve symptoms such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain for people with IBS.

Looking for ways to treat your IBS at home? Whether you’re searching for relief between doctor’s appointments or wanting to take control of your symptoms without medication, there are a range of effective at-home treatments for IBS. Lifestyle changes, diet changes, or even gut-brain hypnotherapy programs can improve IBS symptoms. And, as an added bonus, many at-home remedies are simple to do and are low or no cost.

Have you ever wondered why poops are different during your period? While people might not talk about it, most women will experience a monthly change in their toilet habits. In addition to your period causing symptoms like headaches, bloating, and skin breakouts, your menstrual cycle can also affect your digestive system. One reason for this is because the same hormones that stimulate uterine contractions can also stimulate your bowels. The result: period poops. 

Can peppermint oil help with IBS? Peppermint oil has been used for centuries as a lip balm, toothpaste, and cold remedy but recent evidence shows that it is useful for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

In an unlucky twist of fate, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) places you at a higher risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Both conditions affect the digestive system and may impact quality of life.Occasional heartburn is common, but GERD occurs when heartburn is frequent. IBS is a collection of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as pain in the abdomen and constipation or diarrhea. Having one of these conditions is bad enough, but many people have to deal with both.

In a recent randomized controlled trial, Australian researchers showed that hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. The team from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, showed hypnotherapy was equal in effectiveness to the low FODMAP diet for relieving symptoms of IBS such as bloating and abdominal pain.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and depression often occur together. However, depression does not directly cause IBS and depression is not the sole cause of IBS. Understanding the connection between IBS symptoms and mood disorders will help patients who suffer from both to receive better treatment. This article will discuss the overlap between depression and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and outline the available treatment options.

Nervous stomach? You're not alone. Pain in the stomach and abdominal area is a common symptom for a range of issues, and anxiety and stress may be responsible for this pain if no other biological cause (e.g., stomach ulcers) can be found.

If you’ve ever experienced 'butterflies in your stomach' then you have felt the effects of the stress-gut connection. For many, stress and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) go hand in hand. By understanding and managing stress you can help reduce your symptoms of IBS.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-term gastrointestinal disorder that causes discomfort and pain abdomen. It is also known as spastic colon, mucous colitis and nervous colon. IBS may cause distress and impact quality of life, but does not lead to severe complications.

If you are in pain right now, you’re not alone. Pain is one of the most common reasons people visit the doctor. Studies estimate that between 11 % and 40 % of the population experiences pain.[1] Low back pain, neck pain and headaches are the leading causes of disability worldwide, with almost two billion people affected by recurrent tension-type headaches alone.[2]

Can self hypnosis help you sleep better? Being able to relax and drift to sleep is a skill that we can teach ourselves through self-hypnosis and can not only help you get to sleep in the moment but change how you sleep long term. This article explains how to perform self-hypnosis for sleep and describes some of the benefits of this technique.

Have you ever felt ‘butterflies in your stomach’ when nervous? According to science, there is a very real connection between gut and mind. This ‘gut-brain’ explains how stress and anxiety can contribute to IBS, and also how the food you eat can impact your mental health. By understanding the mind-gut connection, science can help improve your mental and gastrointestinal health.

Ever since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a “public health emergency of international concern”, lives have changed for many of us. Our thoughts, conversations and daily activities have become dominated by the coronavirus narrative.

The colon is the part of the large intestine responsible for storing and excreting feces. A ‘spastic colon’ describes an increase in muscle contractions of the large intestine that creates a spasm sensation, frequent bowel movements, cramping and diarrhea.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm and become a global pandemic. The flu-like symptoms are well known, such as dry cough and fever, however, the gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are less widely acknowledged. Symptoms such as diarrhoea and loss of appetite occur in up to half of patients with coronavirus, and it is crucial that these symptoms are made known (1). This article explains the digestive issues caused by the Coronavirus and compares them to symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition experienced by 1 in 7 people globally (2).

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic. The virus causes well-known symptoms such as a dry cough, fever, and shortness of breath. However, the virus may also induce digestive (gastrointestinal) symptoms in around half of the patients, and may be transmitted through poo. It is important clinicians and the public are aware of the link between the coronavirus and the digestive system to prevent the spread of the virus.

Looking for natural home remedies for IBS? While prescription medicines may help relieve some IBS symptoms, they're not appropriate for everyone, and many people prefer to use herbs and other non-medicated tools to promote better gut health and ease IBS symptoms.

Ever just know that someone else doesn’t like you without ever finding out for real? If you have, you may have been suffering from one of the many thinking traps or cognitive distortions that can hijack your brain. In 1976, psychologist Aaron Beck first proposed the theory behind cognitive distortions and in the 1980s, David Burns was responsible for popularizing it with common names and examples for the distortions.

Anxiety causes activation of the ‘fight or flight’ response – which can be a good thing, prompting us to take extra precautions. However, when these feelings persist in when there is no threat, they may take a toll on our physical health and cause diarrhea. Understanding this link may help you avoid symptoms and feel well again.

IBS and nausea are unfortunately interlinked. Nausea is an unpleasant sensation involving the urge to vomit, and a common symptom in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Nausea affects roughly one-third of people with IBS. (1) The symptom of nausea may substantially affect quality of life and may lead to anxiety and depression. (2)

Have you arrived home after a drive and not remembered the details of the drive? Almost everyone who drives has had this common experience, a phenomenon that has come to be called highway hypnosis.