Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (216 page)

Enhance your digestion to help relieve any symptoms of IBS by taking a probiotic supplement, such as acidophilus. Improving your digestion will also ensure that you absorb the vitamins and minerals from your food more efficiently.

If digestive problems are present, supplement with probiotics and digestive enzymes. These will improve digestion, absorption, and immune health.

EXTRA TIPS

Detoxify your body. Drink half a gallon of water a day to help flush out toxins. Consume just fruits, vegetables, and vegetable juices and broths for a couple of days once a month.

Reduce fatigue by stabilizing blood-sugar levels. Reduce blood-sugar dips (hypoglycemia) by removing sugar and other white, refined foods from your diet and replacing them with brown, whole-wheat varieties.

Regularly consume small meals and healthy snacks to keep a steady supply of protein and carbohydrate available for proper muscle function and energy.

Reduce your stress levels and learn how to relax, particularly as stress depletes magnesium in the body.

Do low-intensity, regular exercise. This can be a daily walk and gentle stretching, which will keep muscles and joints flexible. Yoga is a good form of exercise and may aid relaxation.

Make sure you get enough rest, even if sleep eludes you.

Lavender oil can be useful in helping to induce relaxation and sleep.

Take up meditation.

Further help is available at www.gillianmckeith.info/fibromyalgia.

FRACTURES

A fracture is a crack or break in a bone. An open fracture is when the skin is pierced, while a closed fracture is when the skin is not broken.

There is likely to be extreme pain and swelling and sometimes tingling or numbness around the fracture. Fractures are more common as we grow older as bones become more brittle.

CAUSES MAY INCLUDE

Accident and injury.