digestion

Irritable. Bowel. Syndrome. It's a straight forward diagnostic name for a not-so-straightforward condition.  A publication from the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation describes it beautifully, as a "disorder affecting the intestine. IBS involves problems with motility (movement of digested food  through the intestines) and sensitivity (how the brain interprets signals from the intestinal nerves), leading to abdominal pain, changes in bowel patterns and other symptoms. Although often disruptive, debilitating and embarrassing, it may be some comfort to know that IBS is not life-threatening, nor does it lead to cancer or other more serious illnesses." They go on to suggest roughly 5 million Canadians suffer from it with growing numbers annually. Why [...]