Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (270 page)
Read Gillian McKeith's Food Bible Online
Authors: Gillian McKeith
A good six months on an intestinal probiotic powder or capsule is beneficial.
Rice bran oil is very helpful for IBS. Ask your health-food store for gamma oryzenol.
EXTRA TIPS
Have a stool analysis done. There are so many conditions that can be similar to IBS.
Do not overeat and chew your food really well. Only swallow it once it has become liquid.
Learn to manage stress and engage in daily relaxation; yoga, tai chi, meditation, and breathing exercises are all good. In particular, relax before, during, and after meals to allow digestion to take place.
Have several treatments of reflexology.
Massage your stomach with peppermint oil and almond oil together.
JET LAG
Jet lag is caused by traveling across time zones—which upsets the body’s circadian rhythm—as well as by the reduced oxygen levels on board planes. The recycled air can also lead to dehydration and the risk of picking up a bug.
Action plan
Before you board the plane, set your watch to the time in your new destination. Aim to eat and sleep according to the new time zone while on the plane.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine both the day before and during the flight. These are dehydrating and stimulating and will prevent good-quality sleep or rest.
Make sure your immune system is in tip-top condition before you fly. Airplanes can be breeding grounds for bugs and bacteria, so drink a vegetable juice daily for a week before travel and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Get some exercise before you fly. This can help you to feel calm during the flight.
Eat lightly during the flight. Particularly avoid foods high in sugar, salt, refined carbohydrates, and fat, as these will tax the body, increase dehydration, and leave you feeling more tired. Take your own snacks of fruit, nuts, and seeds.
Drink plenty of water throughout the flight. Sip it regularly to avoid becoming dehydrated, which can cause tiredness and headaches.
Walk around and stretch regularly to keep the circulation going. This helps the tissues remain oxygenated and reduces the chances of developing muscle cramps or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
If you are traveling overnight, invest in an eye mask and earplugs. These are inexpensive ways of helping you get some sleep during the journey.
Avoid planning to do too much as soon as you arrive at your destination. Take time to adjust and rest if necessary. However, if you arrive in the morning or during the day, avoid going to bed until the early evening if possible. Try to get into the day-night routine of the place you are in. Exposing yourself to daylight will help you stay awake, so take a walk around and get the feel of the new place.
Drink calming teas to aid sleep on the plane or in the evening before you go to bed when you reach your destination. Chamomile, lemon balm, and lime flowers are all calming. Other herbs, such as passion flower, skull cap, and hops can also be taken as tinctures or capsules to aid sleep and relaxation.
Include high tryptophan foods in your evening meal when you arrive. Tryptophan is an amino acid that can be converted into melatonin (the sleep hormone) in the brain. Tryptophan-rich foods include chicken, turkey, brown rice, soy, fish, bananas, and eggs. Oats are also a relaxing food.
Supplement with melatonin before you go to bed when you arrive at your destination. Melatonin is a brain chemical that is released during
darkness to aid sleep. The dose is between two to five mg, depending on your weight and needs.