[(The American Dietetic Association Guide to Better Digestion: Choosing the Right Foods for Your Body)] [Author: ADA (American Dietetic Association)] published on (February, 2003)

Self-manage digestive disorders through dietary choices Suffering from a gastrointestinal disorder-whether it's irritable bowel syndrome, gas, constipation, heartburn, or another condition-can be embarrassing and debilitating. While medical treatments and prescriptions can offer relief, one of the most important ways you can help yourself is to choose the right foods to eat. Backed by the American Dietetic Association, this user-friendly guide shows you how to analyze your eating habits so that you can map out a dietary plan to manage and reduce the uncomfortable symptoms of digestive disorders. You'll find practical recommendations for implementing changes in your lifestyle and advice on steering clear of common dietary mistakes. Your meals will be pleasurable and nourishing experiences-not painful ones-when you discover how to make the best and most comfortable food choices so you can embark on the road to digestive health. Doody Review Services Reviewer: Willem J.S de Villiers, MD, PhD(University of Kentucky College of Medicine) Description: This book serves as a dietary resource for persons suffering from a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. Purpose: The purpose is to provide sound, nutritional information to persons with gastrointestinal disorders. The book discusses dietary modifications, lifestyle habits and eating survival tips from which patients can develop a specific dietary plan to manage uncomfortable symptoms. These are worthwhile objectives. As a practicing gastroenterologist, I see patients who often have questions regarding diet as it pertains to their specific symptoms or GI disorder. This will be a handy resource to refer them to. Audience: The book is written for patients with specific GI disorders. It emphasizes a self-management approach, providing the reader with an understanding of the causes and triggers of various GI disorders and how dietary strategies may help to minimize symptoms. The author, a registered dietitian, is a credible authority. She has extensive experience in working with patients with digestive disorders and has the endorsement of several well respected gastroenterologists and the American Dietetic Association. Features: The book begins with an overview of gastrointestinal physiology and nutrition principles that provides the reader with a basic framework of concepts. Following is a discussion of a number of GI disorders. Each chapter discusses causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and the role of diet for each disorder. Included are sample food diaries as well as personal diaries to aid patients in managing their disease. I found the sections on supplement use and medication and herb interactions to be very informative, especially as patients are turning to alternative therapies to manage or cure disease. Assessment: This is a well-written, comprehensive, yet user-friendly book that focuses on the role of diet in the management of common gastrointestinal disorders. Unfortunately, "nutrition quackery" is all too commonplace in magazine and television ads. This book provides strategies and recommendations based on sound nutrition principles. American Dietetic Association Guide to Better Digestion......Page 3 Contents......Page 5 Acknowledgments......Page 7 Introduction......Page 9 PART ONE Understanding Your Digestive System......Page 13 1 How Your Gut Works......Page 15 2 Survival Skills for Self-Managing Your Digestive Condition......Page 21 3 Getting Started......Page 35 PART TWO Moving toward Better Digestion......Page 47 4 Food-borne Illnesses and Prevention......Page 49 5 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease......Page 58 6 Ulcers......Page 70 7 Inflammatory Bowel Diseases......Page 82 8 Irritable Bowel Syndrome......Page 107 9 Diverticular Diseases......Page 122 10 Celiac Disease......Page 135 11 Lactose Intolerance......Page 148 12 Gas and Bloating......Page 163 13 Nausea and Vomiting......Page 174 14 Diarrhea......Page 181 15 Constipation......Page 192 16 The Supporting Cast: Disorders of the Liver, Pancreas, and Gallbladder......Page 209 Appendixes......Page 237 Appendix A Personal Food, Supplement, and Symptoms Diary......Page 239 Appendix B Personal Food and Supplements Diary to Record Fiber......Page 240 Appendix C Personal Food Diary to Record Gluten-Free Foods......Page 241 Appendix D Personal Food Diary to Record Dietary Fat Intake and Symptoms......Page 242 Appendix E Personal Food Diary to Record Fluid, Sodium, and Protein Intake......Page 243 Appendix F Resources......Page 244 Index......Page 247 About the Author......Page 258 Self-manage debilitating digestive disorders through dietary choices One of the most important ways to self-manage gastrointestinal disorders such as gas, constipation, heartburn, or irritable bowel syndrome is to choose the right foods to eat. Backed by the imprimatur of the American Dietetic Association, this guide teaches how to analyze one's diet in order to identify the negative and positive impact certain food choices can have on a digestive condition. It also points out the most common dietary mistakes people make in an attempt to manage gastrointestinal disorders, indicating how to mak