Good Digestive Health

Pacific Coast Digestive Health is committed to helping you take a proactive approach to your health. The following are tips for good digestive health.

To help prevent belching, bloating, and gas:

Avoid carbonated drinks (soda pop), chewing gum, and hard candy.
Make sure your dentures fit properly.
Eat and drink slowly.
Broccoli, baked beans, cabbage, cauliflower, milk products, dairy products, wheat, oats, corn, and potatoes can contribute to the condition.
Keep your abdominal muscles strong by performing crunches or sit ups.

To help prevent heartburn and difficulty swallowing:

Avoid smoking, fatty foods, caffeine (coffee, chocolate, soda pop), peppermint, overeating, eating before bedtime, tight fighting clothes around the waist, heavy lifting, certain medications (ask your doctor about your medications).

To help prevent gallstones:

Avoid rapid weight loss.
Eat a low-fat diet.
In some cases, gallstones may not be preventable.

Aging and good nutrition:

Limit salt and alcohol consumption.
Total fat intake should be 30% of total calorie intake, and saturated fats should account for 10% of fat calories.
Focus on consuming monosaturated fats, such as olive oil, and polyunsaturated fats, such as canola, corn, and fish oils.
Avoid whole milk and dairy products made from whole milk, such as ice cream, cheese, butter.
Avoid baked goods and processed foods, such as cookies, hot dogs, and cold cuts.
Ask your doctor about your specific dietary needs or ask for a referral to a nutritionist who can help you with healthy menu planning.

To help prevent hemorrhoids:

Avoid straining during bowel movements.
Do not abuse laxatives.
Increase your fiber and fluid intake.
Go to the bathroom promptly when you feel the urge.
Talk to your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

To help prevent constipation:

Increase your fiber and fluid intake.
Eat meals on a regular schedule.
Increase your exercise and activity level.
Go to the bathroom promptly when you feel the urge.
Ask your doctor if any of your medications may contribute to constipation.
Talk to your doctor if you symptoms do not improve.

Tips to help prevent digestive cancer:

Attain and maintain a healthy weight.
Eat mostly plant foods - fruits, vegetables, grains.
Exercise or be active for 20 minutes or more each day.
Do not smoke or use chewing tobacco.
Limit red meat and avoid processed meat, such as cold cuts.

Information about dietary fiber:

Recommended fiber intake for adults is 20-35 grams per day.
Increase fiber to your system gradually and increase your fluid intake as well.
Foods with the highest fiber content include: apples, pears with skin, artichokes, blackberries, blueberries, dates, raspberries, figs, prunes, beans, broccoli, chickpeas, lentils, pumpkin, rutabaga, winter squash.
Good sources of fiber include: barley, whole wheat or bran products, cereal (bran flake, bran, oatmeal, shredded wheat) coconut, whole wheat or rye crackers, nuts (almonds, Brazil, peanuts, pecans, walnuts), brown rice, sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
Ask your doctor about specific fiber recommendations for you.

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Good Digestive Health

Pacific Coast Digestive Health is committed to helping you take a proactive approach to your health. The following are tips for good digestive health.

To help prevent belching, bloating, and gas:

Avoid carbonated drinks (soda pop), chewing gum, and hard candy.
Make sure your dentures fit properly.
Eat and drink slowly.
Broccoli, baked beans, cabbage, cauliflower, milk products, dairy products, wheat, oats, corn, and potatoes can contribute to the condition.
Keep your abdominal muscles strong by performing crunches or sit ups.

To help prevent heartburn and difficulty swallowing:

Avoid smoking, fatty foods, caffeine (coffee, chocolate, soda pop), peppermint, overeating, eating before bedtime, tight fighting clothes around the waist, heavy lifting, certain medications (ask your doctor about your medications).

To help prevent gallstones:

Avoid rapid weight loss.
Eat a low-fat diet.
In some cases, gallstones may not be preventable.

Aging and good nutrition:

Limit salt and alcohol consumption.
Total fat intake should be 30% of total calorie intake, and saturated fats should account for 10% of fat calories.
Focus on consuming monosaturated fats, such as olive oil, and polyunsaturated fats, such as canola, corn, and fish oils.
Avoid whole milk and dairy products made from whole milk, such as ice cream, cheese, butter.
Avoid baked goods and processed foods, such as cookies, hot dogs, and cold cuts.
Ask your doctor about your specific dietary needs or ask for a referral to a nutritionist who can help you with healthy menu planning.

To help prevent hemorrhoids:

Avoid straining during bowel movements.
Do not abuse laxatives.
Increase your fiber and fluid intake.
Go to the bathroom promptly when you feel the urge.
Talk to your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

To help prevent constipation:

Increase your fiber and fluid intake.
Eat meals on a regular schedule.
Increase your exercise and activity level.
Go to the bathroom promptly when you feel the urge.
Ask your doctor if any of your medications may contribute to constipation.
Talk to your doctor if you symptoms do not improve.

Tips to help prevent digestive cancer:

Attain and maintain a healthy weight.
Eat mostly plant foods - fruits, vegetables, grains.
Exercise or be active for 20 minutes or more each day.
Do not smoke or use chewing tobacco.
Limit red meat and avoid processed meat, such as cold cuts.

Information about dietary fiber:

Recommended fiber intake for adults is 20-35 grams per day.
Increase fiber to your system gradually and increase your fluid intake as well.
Foods with the highest fiber content include: apples, pears with skin, artichokes, blackberries, blueberries, dates, raspberries, figs, prunes, beans, broccoli, chickpeas, lentils, pumpkin, rutabaga, winter squash.
Good sources of fiber include: barley, whole wheat or bran products, cereal (bran flake, bran, oatmeal, shredded wheat) coconut, whole wheat or rye crackers, nuts (almonds, Brazil, peanuts, pecans, walnuts), brown rice, sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
Ask your doctor about specific fiber recommendations for you.

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Good Digestive Health

Pacific Coast Digestive Health is a gastroenterology and hepatology provides treatment for digestive, pancreatic, biliary, gallbladder, and liver disorders. Dr. Shahram Javaheri identifies general GI problems, inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, gas and bloating, and GERD using the latest diagnostic methods including upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, ERCP, and capsule endoscopy. Our GI doctor serves Mission Viejo, Southern Orange County California in the Saddleback Valley.