Basic gastrointestinal education is very important if you wish to avoid preventable GI problems and diseases down the line. Dr. Ari Nowain, a Beverly Hills GI doctor, hopes that you will take heed of this educational page so that you can prevent gastrointestinal problems as you progress through life.
It is important to take care of your stomach and learn what your body can and cannot digest. Granted some people may have a condition that is out of their control despite the best efforts to control diet and behaviors. However, for the majority of people, stomach problems can be controlled through diet and lifestyle modifications.
Peptic ulcers, also called stomach or duodenal ulcers, can be caused by the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; such as Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, and Aspirin) or from a bacterial infection (H. pylori) of the stomach. Therefore, it is best to limit your dosages of these drugs to protect the lining of your stomach and check for H. pylori if you have symptoms of abdominal pain.
Heartburn is very common in the U.S. It is estimated that over 60 million adults experience indigestion at least once a month, while an estimated 15 million adults experience heartburn daily. Fortunately, you can change your diet to decrease the occurrence of heartburn.
Diet changes to decrease heartburn: Avoid consuming foods that can increase the likelihood of developing heartburn:
Lifestyle changes to decrease occurrence of heartburn:
Healthy Digestion – Not everyone’s body is alike. Some people cannot tolerate certain foods and it is important to recognize when your body is having difficulty digesting foods. You may experience gas after a meal, intermittent diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal pain. Once you find out what foods your body cannot tolerate, you can plan to avoid those foods. This will cause you to feel physically better while your body will be under less stress. These are some of the most common foods that people have trouble digesting:
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S among men and women. In the United States, one in every twenty people will be diagnosed with colon cancer if they do not undergo a colonoscopy or an alternative colon cancer screening. Colon cancer has been decreasing over the past few years because of increased screening procedures and the removal of polyps. If diagnosed early, colon cancer is very treatable.
Things you can do for a healthy colon:
The Center for GI Health places a lot of importance on preventative care and colon cancer screening. If you would like to find out more information about how to prevent colon cancer and other cancers of the digestive tract, please call 310-657-4444 or contact us.
Dr. Nowain is a double board certified Gastroenterologist in Beverly Hills with expertise in advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for digestive disorders. 
