SUNDAY STAR, 2 JUNE 2019
DIGESTIVE HEALTH & YOU
Early detection can save your life
THE colon or large intestine plays a crucial
role in your digestive functions. However,
there may be a hidden danger – colorectal
cancer. According to the Malaysian National
Cancer Registry Report 2007-2011, colorectal
carcinoma (CRC) is the second most common
cancer in Malaysia, with an average of 13.2
cases per 100,000 people.
The National Cancer Patient Registry on
Colorectal Cancer 2008-2013, on the other
hand, reports the overall incidence rate for
CRC was 21.3 cases per 100,000.
Knowing what is inside has cancer. It is best performed at the pre-
Dr Loong Yik Yee, consultant physician
and gastroenterologist at Ara Damansara
Medical Centre, says colon cancer is a type of
cancer that develops in the large intestine.
“The cancer usually begins as small,
non-cancerous or benign clumps of cells
called polyps that form on the inside of the
large intestine. Over time, some of these
polyps can become colon cancers,” he says,
adding that the time it takes for a polyp to
develop into a cancerous tumour is between
three and five years.
This time interval provides patients with
the opportunity to screen, detect, and
remove the polyp before it becomes
cancerous. However, CRC is difficult to detect
as symptoms only occur very late into the
cancer’s cycle, thus lowering the probability
of an early diagnosis, leading to a poor
prognosis.
There are several choices of screening that
everyone can go for:
l Faecal occult blood testing – This test
checks for small traces of blood in your stool.
Should blood be detected, your doctor will
Getting to the root of dyspepsia
DYSPEPSIA is the medical term for
indigestion, which is a disease that mainly
causes discomfort in the upper abdomen
area.
“Patients with dyspepsia will complain of
bloating, feeling of fullness, nausea, vomiting
and heartburn, accompanied by a lot of
belching. These symptoms can become more
pronounced after meals. Sometimes, the
discomfort can be reduced with the ingestion
of food,” says Dr Raymond Chua Leong Chai,
consultant gastroenterologist and
hepatologist at ParkCity Medical Centre.
Caused by excess release of
gastrointestinal acids, the symptoms of
dyspepsia can be controlled through simple
medications. However, it is essential to
determine the underlying reason for the
disease.
Simple tests, including ultrasonograms
and endoscopies, can help doctors diagnose
the root cause of dyspepsia, but these
examinations are only performed if the
symptoms have persisted for some time and
have become more severe.
Dr Chua says that when a patient comes in
with symptoms similar to dyspepsia, a lot of
factors are taken into account, such as if the
patient is on any regular medications for a
chronic disease, lifestyle, age and how long
they have had the symptoms. Depending on
these factors, either medications are
prescribed, tests are done, or both.
This is because dyspepsia can be split into
two types depending on what is causing the
symptoms, with the treatment dependent on
the root cause. The two kinds are structural
dyspepsia and functional dyspepsia.
Structural dyspepsia is when there is a
diagnosable cause for the symptoms.
Oftentimes, underlying diseases, such as
Dr Loong Yik Yee.
recommend you undergo a colonoscopy to
screen for polyps or cancerous tumours.
l Colonoscopy – The most common and
recommended screening by doctors, a
colonoscopy screens the entire colon for
lesions, polyps or cancerous tumours on the
intestine wall.
l Double contrast barium enema –
Liquid containing barium is put into the
rectum before the rectum and colon are
X-rayed to spot any abnormalities.
l Flexible sigmoidoscopy – Similar to
colonoscopy, but the sigmoidoscopy screens
only the first half of the colon.
l CT colonography – This procedure uses
a CT scan to perform a virtual colonoscopy.
However, Dr Loong recommends
colonoscopy as the method of choice for
individual-based screening and faecal occult
blood testing for population-based mass
screening.
“A colonoscopy is a safe choice for CRC
Seeking medical help early for dyspepsia can help your doctor determine whether you have
a more serious underlying disease that needs treatment.
ulcer and cancer, are causing the symptoms.
Dr Chua elaborates, “Apart from cancer
and ulcer, gallstones, helicobacter pylori and
gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly
known as acid reflux, can also cause
dyspepsia symptoms. Once the root cause is
determined, the symptoms can be treated
accordingly.”
Usually, the symptoms of dyspepsia caused
by serious illnesses such as cancer or ulcer
will be more severe, ranging from black
stool triggered by bleeding ulcers to weight
loss. Dr Chua urges people with common
dyspepsia symptoms that are also
accompanied by such indications to seek
professional consultation at once.
screening, with very low incidences of
complications such as gastrointestinal
bleeding and perforations.
“Overall, colonoscopy screenings reduce
CRC incidence by 56% and death by 68%,
which is quite significant. The risk of CRC is
reduced by 91% for up to 10 years for
people who have undergone colonoscopy
screenings,” says Dr Loong.
Prevent and erase uncertainty
Screening is a tool to detect if someone
cancerous stage or in the early stages of
cancer. Therefore, one should not wait until
they have symptoms to consider screening.
Dr Loong provides some steps to preventing
colon cancer before it even develops:
1. Know your risk factors
2. Discuss cancer screenings with your
doctor
3. Undergo a screening if you are at
increased risk
4. Make lifestyle changes such as
reducing smoking, alcohol consumption
and red meat/burnt meat intake.
Colon cancer is preventable, curable and
has high survival rates when detected in
the early stages. Unfortunately, Dr Loong
states that most patients are only diagnosed
when they are in the later stages.
He says, “Many people do not undergo
screening for colon cancer because there is
a lack of awareness on the importance of
screening. He suggest that more screening
facilities should be made available,
especially in rural areas, and primary care
doctors should also be proactive by
Functional dyspepsia is when no direct
causes can be determined. The diagnosis in
such cases is done by going through the
process of elimination, where tests are done
to confirm the underlying reasons one by
one.
Dr Chua explains, “Stress and ageing can
cause dyspepsia, and so can taking certain
medications for chronic diseases, but these
cannot be determined by running regular
tests.”
According Dr Chua, dyspepsia is quite
common in Malaysia, and functional
dyspepsia especially, is on the rise because of
unhealthy lifestyle choices.
“People wake up late and skip breakfast to
recommending cancer screenings for their
patients.
“Many patients may be avoiding screening
because they are afraid of pain during the
screening process, possible findings, bowel
preparation and the cost of the screening.”
However, these concerns are outweighed
by the fact that screenings can prevent or
reduce the incidence of a very common and
deadly cancer in Malaysia. The cost and
discomfort of screening procedures is
meagre compared with the suffering of colon
cancer and the price of treatment, which
includes surgery, chemotherapy and
sometimes radiotherapy.
n For more information, call 03-5639 1212.
Are you at risk?
Anyone can get colon cancer. These
factors increase your risks:
l Above 40 years old
l Family history of CRC or colonic
polyps
l Personal history of colorectal
cancer or colonic polyps
l Personal history of ovarian
juvenile polyposis or uterine cancer
l Familial adenomatous polyposis
l Hereditary nonpolyposis CRC
l Long-standing inflammatory
bowel disease
l Physical inactivity (less than three
hours of exercise per week)
l Obesity
l Smoking
l Excessive alcohol consumption
Dr Raymond Chua Leong Chai.
rush to work. They also go to sleep late, eat
oily and spicy food and binge on
carbonated drinks, caffeine or alcohol. All
these can cause functional dyspepsia.”
While functional dyspepsia is not fatal, it
can lower the quality of life of people
suffering from it due to continuous
discomfort. Dr Chua opines that simple
medications can bring quick, temporary
relief, but the only way to completely cure
functional dyspepsia is through lifestyle
changes.
“The awareness for dyspepsia is lacking
in Malaysia. People will only go for check-
ups when the symptoms persist for a long
time and is causing them so much
discomfort that they can cannot go about
their daily lives. If it is functional dyspepsia,
this is still acceptable, but with a serious
underlying disease causing the symptoms,
delaying treatment can be dangerous,”
cautions Dr Chua.
n For more information, call 03-5639 1212.
2 Digestive Health & You
By NGEH CHEE YEN
THE Malaysian National Cancer Registry
Report 2007-2011 shows that out of the 10
most common forms of cancer in Malaysia,
three are gastrointestinal (GI) cancers –
colorectal, liver and stomach. Colorectal
cancer is the second most common cancer
overall after breast cancer.
Because GI cancers greatly affect the
population, it is crucial that the Government,
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and
opinion leaders work together to ensure
more people receive early diagnoses and
adequate treatment.
Few in the know
GI cancers, as explained by Malaysian
Upper Gastrointestinal Surgical Society
president Dr Ramesh Gurunathan, are
cancers of the alimentary tract, beginning
from the oesophagus down to the anus.
Different types of cancer can occur along
this tract, depending on the location of
origin.
Because of this, the estimated outcome of
cancer treatment differs as well. He says,
“The prognosis of each cancer depends on
the stage of presentation of cancer. The
further down the stage of advancement, the
poorer the prognosis of the cancer. It is
harder to treat the cancer in its later stages.
In general, colorectal cancers have better
prognoses than upper GI cancers, such as
stomach and oesophageal cancer.”
Unfortunately, Dr Muhammad Faiz Md
Taib, chief medical officer at National Cancer
Council Malaysia, observes that while cancer
treatment in Malaysia is on a par with most
developed countries, the five-year survival
rates of GI cancers are considered
unsatisfactory compared with other
countries in the region.
He says, “The main contributing factor is
that symptoms of GI cancer are insidious
and rarely present themselves until it is too
late. Colorectal cancer, for example, usually
occurs in elderly people. Because it
manifests no symptoms, it is suspected that
Reaching those in need
People living in rural areas have little to no access to diagnosis and treatment of stomach
cancer. In many cases, detection only occurs in the late stages of the disease.
many people who died of old age actually
died from colorectal cancer. The Malaysian
National Cancer Registry Report 2007-2011
reported that 65.5% of colorectal cancer
diagnoses were in Stages 3 and 4.”
According to a World Gastroenterology
Organisation (WGO) statement by
co-chairmen Kentaro Sugano and Joseph
Sung, 70% of deaths by GI cancer occur in
low- to middle-income countries.
National Cancer Society Malaysia director
Dr Murallitharan Munisamy agrees with this
statement and identifies the challenges in a
Malaysian context, saying, “Screening tests
are cheap and are used for early detection of
disease. However, there are no
recommended tests to screen for stomach
cancer. Detection of the disease is only
possible by visiting a gastroenterologist to
undergo an endoscopy or a radiologist to
undergo a barium-swallow X-ray.
“This is made worse in poorer countries
where such services are lacking, with
trained specialists concentrated in urban
areas. Hence, poor people living in rural
areas have little to no access to diagnosis
and treatment because they are
geographically and economically
disadvantaged. In many cases, detection
only occurs in the late or final stages of the
SUNDAY STAR, 2 JUNE 2019
The prognosis of each cancer
depends on the stage of
presentation of cancer. The
further down the stage of
advancement, the poorer the
prognosis of the cancer. It is
harder to treat the cancer in
its later stages.
disease, at which point treatment is even
more expensive and difficult.”
The value of financial security
Besides the WGO statement and Dr
Muralli’s observations, socio-economic
inequality was highlighted in a 2018 U.S.
News & World Report article titled Study:
Lifestyle, income linked to cancer death
disparities. It claimed that living situations
affect the number of deaths by cancer, even
though there is an overall decrease in the
United States.
Common factors include:
l Food insecurity
l Smoking
l Physical inactivity
l Quality of healthcare provided in the
area
Dr Faiz shares, “Locally, it is the same.
Cancer treatment is expensive, so the
Health Ministry provides standard
treatments at highly subsidised rates.
> TURN TO PAGE 5
SUNDAY STAR, 2 JUNE 2019 3
4 Digestive Health & You SUNDAY STAR, 2 JUNE 2019

Managing acid reflux

“HAVING heartburn is like suffering every
day with a sick stomach,” laments Sabri, 45.
Sabri has a stressful job as a sales executive,
but he found having to deal with heartburn
even more stressful. Every time after eating,
Sabri felt the food and acid refluxing into his
throat. Worse was the discomfort.
At first, Sabri would find relief by taking
antacids. Over time, however, antacids no
longer worked. It didn’t matter if he ate spicy
food or plain food; there would be a burning
sensation in his chest and great discomfort
in his stomach. Sleeping was also a problem.
Sabri was given acid blockers to relieve his
symptoms. Although he didn’t like relying on
the medication long term, he reckoned that
life without being able to eat or sleep well
wasn’t much of a life at all.
Heartburn occurs when the acidic
contents of the stomach rise into the
oesophagus. While the human stomach is
built to withstand highly acidic conditions,
the oesophagus isn’t. When the lower
oesophageal sphincter becomes damaged or
weakened by ageing or use of certain
medication, stomach acid flows back into the
oesophagus, causing pain in the chest area.
Persistent heartburn over several years
may lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD), where the oesophageal lining is
continually damaged by stomach acid.
Common risk factors for developing GERD
are smoking and increased belly fat. GERD is
not only a burden on our quality of life, but
also a risk factor for oesophageal cancer.
Conventional treatment options for acid
reflux, heartburn and GERD focus on
reducing acid production in the stomach,
such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
including pantoprazole, omeprazole and
esomeprazole.
However, PPIs may not be a viable long-
term solution for the problem as they can
block up to 99% of stomach acid production.
Stomach acid is important for digestion and
protection from bacteria, which can enter
the body through food. These processes can
be compromised without sufficient acid
production in the stomach.
Current guidelines recommend that PPIs
only be used for about eight weeks.
However, many patients continue taking
PPIs for much longer as symptoms tend to
recur. With the advance of research in
natural therapies for gastrointestinal
disorders, patients with heartburn or GERD
can consider a complementary option of
managing their condition.
The conifer green needle complex
known as Bioeffective A is the result of an
extensive botanical research programme
spanning more than 80 years. A 2016
study in Evidence-Based Complementary
and Alternative Medicine showed that
patients treated with Bioeffective A
experienced a 92% improvement in
dyspeptic and gastritis symptoms, as well as
normalisation of stomach functionality and
reduction in precancerous lesions.
Bioeffective A is natural and works to heal
or strengthen oesophageal valves – a key
issue in patients with GERD. The better after a couple of weeks. Now, during
recommended dose is 320mg three times a Ramadan, Sabri can fast comfortably:
day. Each dose is to be taken about 30 something he hasn’t been able to do in years.
minutes before meals with some warm
water. This article is brought to you by the
Sabri discovered Bioeffective A when he Nuvaceuticals Division of Nuvanta Sdn Bhd.
was researching pine needle heartburn
remedies online and managed to find it at a n For more information, call 03-5636 3758 or
local pharmacy. Although the results were 1300 881 712, or email pharmacist@nuvanta.
not immediate, Sabri found that he felt com

Lower cholesterol
with plant sterols
HIGH cholesterol level is a major risk factor
for heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
According to international guidelines,
dietary intervention is the cornerstone of
therapy for dyslipidemia. Dyslipidemia is an
abnormal amount of lipids (such as
cholesterol and fat) in the blood. Diet also
plays an important role when cholesterol
medication has already been initiated, since
diet can have other beneficial effects
beyond its effects on lipid concentrations.
Organisations including the American
Heart Association and World Heart
Federation (WHF) are recommending that
the public consume foods containing plant
sterols as part of a cholesterol-lowering diet.
Plant sterols are found in everyday foods
such as vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, grain
products, fruit and vegetables. The average
daily intake of plant sterols from regular
foods is about 0.3g per day. The optimal
intake of plant sterols for significant
cholesterol lowering is 2g per day. To reach
this recommended intake, large quantities
of food would need to be consumed.
The benefit of plant sterols lies in their
ability to reduce the absorption of
cholesterol in the blood, be it from dietary
or endogenous sources (such as cholesterol
produced by the liver). Consuming 2g of
plant sterols a day reduces the absorption
of cholesterol by 30% to 40%. The
unabsorbed cholesterol will pass through
the digestive system and be excreted.
As a result, total blood cholesterol and
“bad” cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) decreases, while “good” cholesterol or
high-density lipoprotein levels are not
affected. Clinical research has shown that an
intake of 1g to 3g of plant sterols per day can
substantially and consistently lower blood
levels of total cholesterol by 6% to 10%, and
LDL by 8% to 15%.
Leveraging the benefit of plant
sterols
Vitamode ReduSterol is a drink containing
plant sterols. It comes in single-serve sachets
that make it convenient and easy to prepare,
ideal for those on the move. Vitamode
ReduSterol does not contain preservatives or
artificial colouring. It is also suitable for
vegetarians and people who are lactose
intolerant. This natural drink can be enjoyed
hot or cold.
One sachet of Vitamode Redusterol
supplies 1g of plant sterol. Just one to two
sachets taken daily can help you reduce your
LDL level. Vitamode ReduSterol is suitable for
those with high cholesterol levels and heart
health concerns. It is available at selected
clinics, hospitals and pharmacies in Malaysia.
This article is brought to you by Vitamode
Sdn Bhd.
n For more information, call 1300 800 228 or
email enquiry@medispec.com.my

It is important to consume an adequate amount of plant sterols daily to reduce the absorption
of cholesterol.
SUNDAY STAR, 2 JUNE 2019 Digestive Health & You 5

When current setups are inadequate

> FROM PAGE 2
However, it is still too expensive for some
B40 communities, who have to ask for
deferred payments when visiting doctors.
“Besides that, it is a known trend that
patients don’t seek treatment because of
travel expenses. There are currently only
seven government cancer hospitals in
Malaysia. Patients who do not live near these
hospitals are forced to pay for travel,
accommodation at the hospital and even
hotel rooms if the hospital is fully booked.
This does not take into account their loss of
income from days taken off work.”
These costs add up substantially, and Dr
Faiz illustrates their struggles with an
example of when a patient undergoes
adjuvant radiotherapy. While the treatment
can be done in five minutes, it needs to be
done daily for four to six weeks. It is not
hard to imagine the costs incurred for
patients who have more serious illnesses.
He says, “This is where many NGOs can
come in with services such as free
accommodation and financial assistance for
the B40 group.”
“Despite efforts to educate and advise the
public, it is still not enough. Information is
available online about all kinds of diseases,
but they are only available to people who
have Internet access. We must work harder
to create awareness among the lower-
income groups in Malaysia. Hence, we need
to seek other ways to spread awareness on
the recognition of symptoms, and the
importance of seeking early consultation
when there are symptoms.”
Some of them are:
l Mass media – Using the right media to
target the lower socioeconomic community
can play a large role in spreading awareness.
l Constant education and public
forums – Public efforts targeting all
demographics is a good way to increase
awareness.
l Manpower and facilities – There is a
need for more resources to
handle larger numbers
of patients to provide
the best possible
treatment to everyone.
On a brighter note, Dr Faiz presents efforts
that have already been done to spread
awareness to all Malaysians. “The problems
resulting from cancer are always difficult to
solve as there are many things to consider,
such as financial issues and lack of
awareness, even in urban areas. Currently,
many NGOs and the Health Ministry have
expended efforts to raise awareness, most
recently in conjunction with World Cancer
Day in February.”
However, he thinks efforts made to spread
awareness are still not enough as
misinformation and myths spread fast,
especially through social media and
messaging platforms. Organisations are
trying to shift their focus onto social media
by disseminating posts instead of physical
material such as pamphlets and brochures.
He also notes that diseases such as
colorectal cancer occur mostly among
patients aged 50 and above, most of whom
do not engage with social media as much.
Therefore, there is need to tailor awareness
efforts to them. A balance must be found
because while traditional print and
television may be more appropriate for this
target group, it is costlier, forcing most NGOs
and even the Health Ministry to opt for
cheaper or free online campaigns instead.
In the end, it is not just effort by the
Government and NGOs that will bring on a
change of cancer awareness in Malaysia, but
the mentality of the masses themselves
towards cancer. Cancer is no longer a death
sentence, and once we get past the
misinformation spread online, the sooner we
Malaysians can put ignorance behind us and
seek diagnoses and
treatments earlier,
increasing the
five-year
survival rate of
GI cancers in
Malaysia.

Building healthier communities

While socio-economic status affects the
early diagnosis and treatment of GI cancers,
Dr Muralli recognises the many other factors
that are equally contributory.
He says, “In Malaysia, this includes a poor
level of knowledge and understanding about
GI cancers, as opposed to, for example,
breast cancer. There is also a lack of
knowledge about specific details of cancer
management, including the many ways to
diagnose and treat. This contributes to
reasons why patients seek alternative
therapy.”
Dr Ramesh is of the same opinion, and
advocates for awareness to be spread on GI
cancers.
6 Digestive Health & You
CONSTIPATION is a digestive problem
where an individual has irregular bowel
movements (less than three times a week).
Generally, a person with constipation has
difficulty emptying his bowels. The condition
is usually associated with dry, hard stools.
Below are some of the common causes of
constipation:
l Insufficient fibre intake – Individuals
with insufficient intake of dietary fibre are
prone to develop constipation as fibre helps
promote regular bowel movement by
increasing stool weight and softening the
stool.
l Insufficient fluid intake – Fluid and
fibre work together to soften the stools.
Insufficient fluid intake can cause the stools
to become hard and difficult to move.
A high-fibre diet can improve intestinal function and encourage regular bowel movement.
Happy gut, healthy you
l Physical inactivity – Exercise helps
stimulate the contraction of intestinal
muscles. Individuals who are physically
inactive tend to have more sluggish
bowel movements.
l Pregnancy – Pregnant women are
more susceptible to constipation because
of hormonal and physical changes.
According to the American Pregnancy
Association, the
uterus may
compress
some parts of the intestine and slow the
passage of food.
l Ageing – The composition of gut
microbiota changes with age. The most
marked change is the reduced level of a good
bacteria called Bifidobacteria, which might
increase the risk of the constipation among
the elderly.
l Overuse of laxatives – Laxatives are
often used to relieve constipation. However,
regular use or overuse may lead to
dependency and decreased intestinal
function, subsequently increasing the risk of
developing lazy bowel syndrome in which
the bowels move at an abnormally slow and
sluggish manner.
Constipation is a lifestyle disorder that
is preventable and can be improved through
lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly
and practising a balanced diet that includes
a variety of nutrients, especially fibre, as a
high-fibre diet has been associated with
bowel movement regularity and improved
bowel function.
In addition, numerous research studies
have shown that consuming probiotic-rich
food can also nourish the gut and improve
intestinal function by balancing gut
microbiota and bowel movement frequency.
A natural way to manage bowel
movement
Biogrow ProGut is a natural food
supplement formulated with dual action
with well-researched oat fibre (soluble and
insoluble fibres) from Oat BG22 fibre powder
as well as B. lactis, a BB-12 probiotic strain
and one of the more well-documented
Understanding
gastric disorders
THE gastrointestinal (GI) tract forms the
passage from the mouth to the anus. Any
ailment that affects any part of this passage
is known as a GI disease. It is, however, an
umbrella term that can be broadly divided
into two types – functional and structural
GI disease.
Functional GI diseases
l Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – As
the name implies, people with IBS suffer
from irregular and inconsistent bowel
movements and either experience
constipation (IBS-C) or diarrhoea (IBS-D),
with a few who experience both.
Symptoms include bloating, excessive gas,
abdominal discomfort and altered bowel
habits. It is difficult to diagnose IBS
because its symptoms are similar to many
other diseases such as giardia,
endometriosis and food allergies.
Treatment usually includes dietary
changes and medication.
l Celiac disease – An autoimmune
disease where the small intestine becomes
hypersensitive to gluten. Whenever a
person with celiac disease ingests gluten,
his immune system responds by attacking
the small intestine, resulting in symptoms
such as bloating, rashes, changes in bowel
habits and weight loss. The disease can
manifest at any age and the only treatment
available is to follow a strict gluten-free
diet.
l Constipation – This disease is
described as infrequency and difficulty in
passing motion. A person with constipation
usually has hard and dry stools, causing
them to strain while passing motion. This
straining often leads to painful structural
GI diseases such as fissures and
haemorrhoids. The only way to treat
constipation is through dietary and
lifestyle changes. Laxatives are also often
used as a treatment for constipation, but
overuse might worsen the condition.
SUNDAY STAR, 2 JUNE 2019
Bifidobacterium, with more than 300
scientific publications and over 130 clinical
studies.
One to two sachets taken daily can provide
a synergistic effect for improved intestinal
function and regular bowel movement.
Each sachet (≈7g) contains 2.4g of soluble
and insoluble fibre, as well as a guaranteed
potency of one billion colony-forming units
(CFUs) of live probiotic cultures. The dose of
one billion CFUs of B. lactis, BB-12, has been
clinically tested and shown to have desired
benefits on gastrointestinal health and bowel
movement frequency, according to Effect of
the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis
subsp. lactis, BB-12®, on defecation frequency
in healthy subjects with low defecation
frequency and abdominal discomfort: a
randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
parallel-group trial published in The British
Journal of Nutrition.
l Directions for use: Take one to two
sachets daily after meals or anytime
convenient. Mix one sachet in a glass of cold
water, fruit juice or soy milk, or sprinkle on
cold cereal, salads or yoghurt. Do not mix
with hot water.
Biogrow ProGut is suitable for all who
wish to maintain or improve gut health as it
offers a natural way to manage bowel
movement with the benefits of fibre and
probiotics. Biogrow ProGut is available in all
leading pharmacies.
This article is brought to you by Legosan
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n For more information, call 03-7956 2220 or
email info@biogrow.com.my
The gastrointestinal (GI)
tract forms the passage from
the mouth to the anus. Any
ailments that affect any part
of this passage is known as a
GI disease.
Structural GI diseases
l Haemorrhoids – Caused by excessive
straining while passing stool, pregnancy
and chronic diarrhoea, haemorrhoids are
extremely painful and are of two kinds –
internal and external. Internal
haemorrhoids are the swollen blood vessels
that form inside the anal opening. If the
straining continues, it can cause a prolapse,
in which the haemorrhoids stick out of the
anus. A prolapse can only be corrected
through surgery.
External haemorrhoids, on the other
hand, are blood clots that form when the
external veins lining the anus walls burst
because of excessive straining. Popularly
known as piles, it can be treated with
medication in the initial stages but might
require surgery if medication does not
solve the problem.
l Diverticular disease – It is a chronic
condition that is common among middle-
aged and older people. Small pouches
known as diverticula form along the bowel
and undigested food sometimes gets
trapped within these pouches, causing
inflammation. Since there are rarely any
symptoms, it is often only diagnosed during
screening for colorectal cancer. It is
thought to be caused by a low-fibre diet.
Treatment includes a fibre-rich diet, pain
medications and sometimes surgery.
SUNDAY STAR, 2 JUNE 2019
Leading
an active,
robust life
AFTER the age of 50, life is not
supposed to slow down. Instead,
it should be more interesting and
productive. As your children
have grown up, you are now free
to indulge in and explore things
that you love or have always
wanted to do.
It is time to seriously think
about your next move and
decide how you would like to
live life. Not sure where to start?
Ask yourself these questions:
l Am I staying engaged with
the world and people I care
about?
l Am I taking care of my body,
mind and spirit?
l Am I having more fun now
compared with my younger
days?
l Do I still enjoy travelling
now?
l Am I able to perform my
daily task with ease?
The reality of ageing
You would have realised that
you don’t feel the same once
you’re in your 50s. You
may face two main
challenges: reduced
cognitive (brain)
function and energy
levels. This is
because as you age,
so do your brain
cells, affecting your
analytical thinking,
multitasking skills and
memory retention.
Besides, the lack of physical
activity and decline in metabolic
rate may cause you to easily gain
weight, making losing even just a
kilogram a chore.
Eventually, cutting down on
your food intake becomes a
norm and later, a habit.
However, this change has a
downfall as it often results in
insufficient nutrients intake to
maintain a healthy body and
brain functions.
Did you know that people with
How ageing affects certain body functions
Brain function as one ages
High Brain function
Body function as one ages
High Body function
Digestive Health & You 7
Unlocking nutrients in
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Even the most complete diet may combination includes amylase, daily diet.
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need as many calories as it did symptoms. grains, legumes, dairy products,
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improve your quality of life to body.
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You may have limited food interfere with the body’s ability to
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8 Digestive Health & You SUNDAY STAR, 2 JUNE 2019

Friendly
gut bacteria
HOW much do you know about your
intestines? You will be surprised to learn that
at any one time, you have about 100 trillion
bacteria in your digestive tract, particularly
in your intestines. These trillions of bacteria
are made up of about 500 different species,
which began settling in your body from the
day you were born.
About 85% of these bacteria perform
beneficial functions such as digesting food,
protecting against infections and influencing
a few physiological processes in the body.
The rest of the bacteria may either not
provide any benefits or be potentially
harmful. The second kind is sometimes
referred to as “bad” bacteria.
Most of the body’s immune system lives in
your digestive tract, which is home to about
70% to 80% of immune cells. Therefore, any
changes that occur in the gut have a strong
impact on not only your digestive health, but
also your overall health.
Good versus bad: Your digestive
lifestyle can disrupt it, causing bad bacteria
to flourish.
When that happens, a person is likely to
experience digestive health problems such
as bloating, intestinal pains, constipation or
diarrhoea.
On the other hand, a healthy, balanced
environment in the gut can protect the
immune system from pathogenic bacteria,
toxins, allergens, chemicals and pollutants.
For instance, research suggests that a
particular strain of bacteria may help
maintain a healthy balance of intestinal
microflora.
One way to boost your good bacteria count
is by taking probiotics with your food or as
supplements. Probiotics are live bacteria that
help re-establish a healthy bacterial balance
in the intestines.
As more probiotic products appear on the
market today, it is important to ensure you
are choosing a product that provides you Your body's immunity depends on your digestive health, so take care of your gut.
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have been scientifically tested to be from patented microencapsulation

and immune systems are
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The balance of good and bad bacteria in
the gut has to be maintained in a fragile
balance. This ratio between “good” bacteria
and other bacteria becomes one of the
critical factors determining your optimal
health.
The ideal balance between them is 85%
good, 15% other. Our environment greatly
influences this balance, and a poor diet,
stress, medications and an unhealthy
Choose wisely. Are your
probiotics getting through?
The first criterion of a good probiotic
product is the strain of bacteria used. It
should be clinically documented in
published clinical studies, safe for
consumption, able to withstand the stomach
acid and bile during the digestive process,
and able to attach to the intestinal lining.
L. Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium are
two groups of bacteria commonly used in
probiotic products, of which a few strains
beneficial to gut health. The bacteria must
be alive, viable and resistant to gastric acid
and bile salt, as well as have a better
survival rate in order to perform their
beneficial functions after they have been
consumed.
Probiotics that contain highly stable
microencapsulated strains with the right
stabilisation processes during packaging
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confer benefits to its host, not dead ones!
This article is brought to you by Legosan
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or visit www.biogrow.com.my
This is a supplement product advertisement.
KKLIU No.0085/2017