Control Chronic Diarrhea with Chocolate?

Chronic diarrhea is the frequent passage of loose, watery, soft stools combined with bloating, pressure, and cramps, and gas. Diarrhea is usually a temporary condition brought on by a variety of causes. Anxiety, stress, and virus related diarrhea are common causes.

Diarrhea is one of the most common illnesses in all age groups and is second only to the common cold as a cause of lost days of work or school. It is estimated that there are almost 100 million cases in the adult population last year, in the US alone.

Chronic diarrhea is also a common condition and can be equally as frustrating and dangerous as constipation. Usually IBS with diarrhea is the result of a specific food allergy or intolerance, medications, or improper food combining. In rare instances, diarrhea is associated with a bowel obstruction and medical intervention should be sought immediately.

A new study found that dark chocolate, seems to help this condition and I'll get to that in a minute. First let consider some of the reasons you may have loose stools.

Cause of Diarrhea

Try limiting or eliminating certain foods from your diet in order to figure out which ones are aggravating your system. Many times chronic diarrhea is caused by a certain food you're eating.

Known aggravaters are wheat, whey, corn, and sucrose. Allergies to these foods can all contribute to this condition.

Dairy and excessive fatty foods can also aggravate this condition, especially if you have had your Gall Bladder removed.

Chronic diarrhea also seems to be a problem if you experience improper food-combining. Improper food-combining simply means that you are eating the wrong blends of food together.

It is suggested you try eating meat alone, vegetables alone, etc., if you feel that improper food-combining might be the source of your chronic diarrhea. Its this process of elimination that will help you find which foods are MOST contributing to your loose stools.

Treatment

If you have prolonged periods of diarrhea, then be sure to seek medical help, as your body will be heavily depleted of essential nutrients, especially your electrolytes.

Adequate levels of minerals such as magnesium, sodium, calcium and potassium are essential in maintaining your body at a cellular level. Disruption of your body's fluid and mineral levels can create a serious electrolyte imbalance.

Medicines that stop diarrhea should not be used for people whose diarrhea is caused by bacterial infection or a parasitic infection because they may prolong the infection. Bacterial infections must be treated with antibiotics. Most viruses that cause temporary diarrhea are either treated with diarrhea medication or left to run its course.

On the flip side, balancing electrolytes may actually help assist to control chronic constipation too.

Recent research has shown that dark chocolate may have some benefits for people who have chronic diarrhea. According to the report, the darker the chocolate the better.

There is something about the flavanoids contained in dark chocolate that cause the water levels in the bowels to calm. When there is too much water in the bowels, you can get diarrhea.

There have not been enough studies done about this yet to draw any clear conclusions, but it’s a great suggestion to try if you like dark chocolate.

Another way to get rid of diarrhea, is to take digestive enzymes, more commonly called probiotics. Many people associate these with constipation, but in essence, they are good for treating both conditions. Probiotics balance the amount of intestinal bacteria you have in your colon. It doesn't matter whether you have diarrhea or constipation, probiotics help both types of bowel problems.

Just remember if your diarrhea lasts for more than a few days to seek medical help. Diarrhea, just like constipation, is a reaction to something that's NOT NORMAL in your body.

Imported Dark Chocolate

Dark Chocolate Candy Gift Baskets

Active Culture Probiotics

Digestive Enzymes

Bromelain Pineapple Digestive Enzyme

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