Q: I'm a 35-year-old woman and for years I have had trouble with mydigestion. I've been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. My doctor has put me on the drug Rowasa, but I still have bloating, gas, and constipation. Do you have any natural remedies?
A: I believe physicians have been short-sighted about the importance of intestinal health. An astonishing 30% of our immune system is located around the lining of the intestine. Poor digestion isn't just about your gut, it's about your overall health. An inflamed intestinal lining will not allow you to absorb nutrients properly and may let bacteria and toxins into the bloodstream.
A complete nutritional program is crucial for patients with bowel disease, but no nutrient is more important than the amino acid glutamine. It's the primary fuel for the gut, and it helps heal the lining. A 1993 study in The Lancet showed that glutamine-treated patients had healthier intestinal linings. And a study in the British Journal of Surgery showed that glutamine significantly decreased the permeability of the gut lining. For my patients, I recommend 500 milligrams of glutamine twice daily, a half hour before meals.
