HEALTH & WELLNESS S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
include celiac disease, sensitivity to food additives, food
toxins, and absence of an enzyme needed to fully digest
a food.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) – A chronic
digestive disease, GERD is defined as experiencing acid
reflux and heartburn at least twice a week. It affects 20
percent of Americans and can cause persistent bad breath,
tooth erosion, nausea, and pain in the chest or upper
abdomen, or it can make swallowing and breathing hard
to do.
• Hemorrhoids – Hemorrhoids are inflamed blood vessels
found at the end of your digestive tract. Often painful and
itchy, they are caused by chronic constipation, diarrhea,
or a lack of fiber in your diet. Seventy-five percent of
Americans over the age of 45 suffer from hemorrhoids.
Staying hydrated, eating more fiber, or over-the-counter
creams may provide relief from hemorrhoids.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – Affecting 15 percent
of Americans, IBS is characterized by stomach pain
or discomfort at least three times a month for several
months. Symptoms vary widely with IBS, making it hard
to determine the exact cause. Treatment focuses mostly
on diet, eliminating common trigger foods such as dairy,
alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners and beans. Doctors
also recommend a diet high in fiber and consumption of
probiotics found in yogurt.
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Skin
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Most likely, if you are unhealthy on the inside, it will show
on the outside. Your skin often mirrors your body’s true
overall health, so a healthy diet, exercise, and drinking lots
of water will do wonders. But keep in mind: there are other
ways to make your skin shine bright!
• Wear sunscreen.
• Get a full night’s sleep.
• Exfoliate to shrink pores.
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