Page 51 - Demo

Gut health can often be traced to many conditions, including autoimmune disease, cancer and obesity. In fact, it’s linked
to all conditions.
This is the opinion of Stay Well
Pharmacy owner Mark Webster, who says all conditions have a component of good or ill gut health contributing to them, with digestive problems being “far more common than commonly thought”.
This has resulted in many people becoming preoccupied with their gut health and eager to try gluten free diets and probiotics, among many other fads that come and go.
However, care must be taken. Research suggests some people needlessly follow a gluten free diet at the expense of their nutrition,
or consume probiotics avidly with limited evidence for their efficacy in providing functional benefits to improve gut health.
Regardless of the dos and don’ts, Mr Webster says the prevalence
of digestive issues is found in the remedies his pharmacy sells daily.
“The amount of prescriptions and OTC requests I get for omeprazole for digestive discomfort are mind boggling, as an example, with many people needing a replacement after the recall of ranitidine,” he said.
The ubiquitousness of gut health problems is reinforced by Dr Damien Belobrajdic, a senior research scientist at CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, who tells Retail Pharmacy Assistants that
one in two Australians experience gut health issues, with such issues being severe in one in seven.
Gut health symptoms include heartburn, reflux, nausea, cramping, abdominal pain and bloating, which can occur even independent of foods consumed.
In addition, people can suffer with constipation and/or diarrhoea, which can be of varying degrees and can even be painful and affect their quality of life.
With a multitude of reasons for these varying symptoms, pinpointing the cause or causes can be challenging and requires evidence-based medical advice, Dr Belobrajdic says.
Coeliac disease and the gluten free diet
“In Australia, we’ve seen a rise in the availability, marketing and popularity of the fashionable gluten free diet, among other digestive product and health trends, in response to individuals seeking relief from these common gut health symptoms,” Dr Belobrajdic said.
“We know that people with medically diagnosed coeliac disease can suffer these symptoms with dire health consequences with even the smallest amount of gluten in their diet, and as such must follow a strict gluten free diet for life.”
Coeliac disease is an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.
Over time, undigested gluten fragments trigger a reaction by the
DIGESTIVE HEALTH 49 immune system in the small intestine
in someone with coeliac disease, leading to medical complications and preventing nutrients from being absorbed, Dr Belobrajdic says.
The classic symptom is diarrhoea, with others being wind, bloating, lethargy, fatigue, low blood count (anaemia) and osteoporosis.
People with coeliac disease, which is incurable, are required to follow a gluten free diet to heal the intestines and manage symptoms under medical supervision.
Dr Belobrajdic says gluten free
is often seen as the ‘go-to’ diet for improved gut health among non- coeliac individuals, but no evidence supports this trend.
Such a trend has been evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, with experts imploring shoppers not to unnecessarily buy the gluten- free foods required for people with coeliac disease.
He says a growing dialogue has emerged around the avoidance
of bread and cereal-based wheat products containing gluten – in efforts to reduce bloating or cramping,
for instance.
“However, it may be other
components of these foods impacting gut health, rather than the gluten or wheat itself, and caution should be applied when avoiding these foods without health professional diagnosis and/or support,” Dr Belobrajdic said.
“Avoiding gluten unnecessarily
T0 PAGE 50
For the lasting relief of frequent heartburn and stomach acid complaints due to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
Available in 7 & 14 pack
Available to order via all major wholesalers, your Sales Representative or call 1300 9 27769 ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, TALK TO YOUR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.
RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • JUL 2020