
Pitta individuals have strong digestion and good production of enzymes. They get hungry on time and are irritable when meals are late. When their stomach is empty it feels irritated. Pitta individuals may overeat. Over time, Pitta digestion wanes and...
Got a gassy gut? Frequent farting and flatulence isn't just embarrassing, it's also unhealthy. Prompt action is necessary. Passing gas is an important warning sign your body has weak digestion, metabolism, and compromised immunity. Gas is considered a...
Gurgling noises indicate the presence of gas or fluids. Easy to digest foods, massage, stretching, and appropriate use of laxative should help to eliminate the stagnant gas and fecal matter.
Gas is a sign of toxicity in your body. When you eat food and it doesn't digest well, it ferments in you gut. As the food rots it starts to smell. When food is poorly digested, toxins enter your bloodstream. This heavily taxes your liver and kidneys-...
Bloating and distension can come from trapped gas, stagnant stools, uterine swelling during menstruation, or other causes. The gas becomes trapped if the muscles of the abdomen are too tense, if bowel tone is too lax, if peristalsis is asynchronous, or...
Introduction When you experience a "nervous stomach," a looming sense of uneasiness overwhelms your abdomen, right to the pit of your gut. You get that familiar "uh-oh" feeling, even in situations where the threat is minimal, or...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder of the colon characterized by cramping pain & discomfort. Bowel habits may shift between diarrhea, constipation, or sometimes both. Other signs include bloating, gas, and a feeling that you haven't...
Normally, the intestines contract in a wave-like motion called peristalsis, propelling the food or fecal matter smoothly through the intestinal tract. Sometimes, the intestines contract in an irregular way leading to colicky pain and cramping. This...
Malabsorption is the inability to absorb nutrients from food. The problem may be general, or specific to a certain nutrient. Some common types include fat, carbohydrate, protein, fructose, bile, iron, vitamin A, D, B12 or vitamin K...
Leaky gut occurs when the intestinal lining becomes too porous, letting toxins and food particles into the bloodstream. At home, signs may include bloating, fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, food sensitivities, or skin issues. If you suspect leaky gut,...
Should You Get Tested for a Parasite?A parasite can wreak havoc on your body. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms caused by parasites are common to individuals who don't have parasites as well. That leaves everyone wondering -...
Blastocystis hominis is a protozoan bacteria. Billions of people have Blastocystis hominis have no symptoms. Blasto was not even considered a 'bad bacteria' by most doctors until the 2000s. Even if you have Blasto, look for other potential root causes...
Diarrhea is a serious condition that should be reviewed by a medical doctor. Traveler's diarrhea is often due to parasite infestation. It is impportant to treat parasites quickly.
Food allergies are an abnormal immune reaction to certain foods. For many reasons, food allergies have become more common. This article explores the causes of food allergies, as well as ways to identify and manage them. Food allergies cause a range...
There is a misconception that it is the citric acid in citrus fruits that causes allergies, but it is proteins and substances specific to citrus fruit, and not the acid. Read more: Citrus Allergy Symptoms | eHow.com...
Fasting from dairy for several months can lead to lactose intolerance, as your body no longer produces dairy digesting enzymes. Many lactose intolerant clients report that they can eat ghee without symptoms.
A wheat intolerance is an inability to digest wheat. A gluten allergy is slightly different. Gluten is a protein molecule found in wheat and some other grass family foods (such as barley). A gluten allergy means that your immune system attacks the...
Celiac disease is an allergy to wheat. Wheat intolerance (the inability to digest wheat) and wheat allergies are different even though the symptoms may be similar. In celiac disease, the immune system attacks the gluten. The symptoms are generally...
A GI Bleed may occur spontaneously in those who are on blood thinners. As a person ages, the colon becomes more fragile and occult bleeding becomes more common. IBD including ulcerative colitis and crohn's may cause fecal occult blood and more...
Fructose malabsorption affects up to 30% of the population in western countries. A healthy individual can digest between 25g-50g of fructose per meal. Poor fructose digestion results in gas & bloating, as the fructose is quickly fermented by bacteria...
These may be lipomas (benign) however this condition should be checked by a medical doctor. Ayurveda considers lipomas of the abdomen a sign of lipid and lymphatic stagnation of the belly, a Kapha condition.
Intestinal perforation is an emergency, life threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
An ulcer is an open wound or sore on the lining of the GI tract. If you have a stomach ulcer, you may experience a gnawing or scraping sensation in your upper abdomen, usually in the top center or slightly to the left. This article will help you...
A moving palpable mass in the abdomen could signify the presence of gas or impacted fecal matter. An immovable mass could indicate tissue changes. Either way, this condition should be reviewed by a medical doctor. Enema and purgation therapy may be...
A person with a strong abdominal pulse can feel a throbbing, pulsing heart beat in the just above or around the belly button, more noticeable when resting. In many healthy people, especially those who are thin or lie flat on their back, it's normal...
DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.
On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalanced biocharacteristics. By eating an optimal diet that balances your biocharacteristics, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing.
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’