Indigestion on a stick.

Whoops - grammar - should read there were.

What concerns me is how many people treat themselves for 'indigestion' with buckets of Gavison when really if the condition doesn't improve by eliminating foods which upset you then it needs investigating. My father did just this and he had inoperable oesophageal cancer when it was found.

If these foods were included in the diet regularly they are less likely to cause indigestion. These are all things I eat on a regular basis with no ill effects.

"Flatulence on a stick" would be more to the point!

Again - the more often you eat them, the less likely it is that you will suffer. I eat lots of beans but never have problems. DBH hates them, apart from in a chilli. He suffers after that - and as a result, so do I. I find myself sneaking lentils into everything to toughen up his intestines.

I've stopped eating wholegrain bread or the 'sweepings of the granary floor' as DH calls it. I used to love all the crunchy bits but my stomach felt so cramped and bloated afterwards it wasn't worth it.

I also have to be careful with fruit now I'm older.

My doctor advised a friend to eat a less purging diet as he grew older. There was a well known Methodist Minister who was given the same advice in his later years. I just can't remember his name. Also my mother was advised to do this in her 60s. Some people have a good digestion all their lives others not so good even in their youth.

I dread the day when DBH and I may be forced to share a single loo, coupled with him being told to eat 'less purging' foods. Either one on their own could be grounds for a divorce.

My DH keeps the company that owns Rennies in business

My DS2 has always inflicted his flatulence on his nearest and dearest. Charitably, I put it down to his having had a big operation on his bowel when he was 2. He has tried many things but mint tea seems to have a soothing effect. I can't help wondering how he controls himself at work... Incomprehensibly, his partner has been with him for over 20 years and how she stands it, I can't imagine. So it's not exclusively am old man's problem!

My DH broke wind whenever he felt the need and my DS is the same. My dear old mum used to say,

"Where ever you be let your wind go free.
In church or in chapel let it rattle."

Are foods that cause indigestion good for us?

Interesting point soontobe and something I've been thinking about a lot.

Foods that cause wind are high in "soluble fibre" which is broken down by friendly bacteria to produce fatty acids etc. So yes flatulence causing foods are good for us.

Oooh, goody!!

We had a take away curry last night and, after due consideration of our commitments today, gave in to the temptation to have garlic rice! I'm staying in to watch TV, on my own, so I'll be ok but DH is going to the football with DS. I pity anyone else who sits in the Corporate area today!

Had my stomach examined by a doc recently and she said "a rumbly tummy is a healthy tummy."

My dad used to say: 'Better an empty house than a bad tenant'.

Gut bacteria are very interesting (honestly) ! They do an amazing job, they differ from person to person, depending on all sorts of factors such as how you were delivered into this world, if you were breastfed or not, your diet, and so on.

I think we're going to hear more about the role they play in our health before too long.

well I find them fascinating anyway

And, of course, use of antibiotics causes problems with our bacteria. I very much need to cut out bread again as I always feel lousy when I start eating it.

I remember how you could go to your GP with a bit of a sniffle and be prescribed a huge bottle of pink anti biotic.

When I was a teenager we used to be thrilled to have a bottle because we believed it would clear up any pimples we had.

Be surprised if it was antibiotic Falconbird - I remember my GP in the 70s muttering that he just used to prescribe "pink medicine" i.e. coloured syrup for patients and they would go away happy. Any retired pharmacists in the house?

Ah yes - could have been some sort of placebo but fairly certain it was anti biotic because the doc used to say "be sure to take all of it".

I worked for an old doctor that used to hand antibiotics out like smarties; to him they were the best invention ever [which they were]. It was the younger doctors that went totally the other way to the point where some of them won't prescribe them even when [imo] they should be used [eg sending people away with pneumonia and telling them to get more exercise etc].

How do they work differently between natural birth and caesarean Anya?