Dietary Factors in Gastrointestinal Diseases

The gastrointestinal (GI) complaints commonly associated with reactions to food include dyspepsia, heartburn, bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea, and constipation. The exact dietary factors that contribute to these symptoms in functional GI disorders, such as IBS, are poorly understood. Clearly, there is a need for more research to examine the relationship between food intake and functional GI symptoms. However, a substantial amount of research has been done to determine the relationship between food and other digestive diseases. This article will examine five such diseases that affect the GI system – gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), celiac disease, food allergies, lactose intolerance, and eosinophilic gastroenteritis.