Latest news with #digestiveHealth
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
What is mace? All about nutmeg's less known twin, how cooks use it and a recipe idea
I am not sure why mace is not as well known as its twin, nutmeg. The two spices come from the fruit of the Myristica fragrans tree – mace is the seed coating and nutmeg the seed. But while nutmeg is quite common – which cook, after all, does not have a nutmeg in the spice cupboard for grating onto eggnog or adding to a béchamel sauce? – mace is not. The two spices are prised together out of the fruit, and the mace, which tightly surrounds the nutmeg, is removed. When processed, nutmeg is a hard kernel that is easy to grate. The thin, delicate piece of mace remains flexible and leathery, which makes it hard to grate – I have tried without success to use a rasp grater, a hand-cranked spice grinder and an electric grinder. Store pre-ground Mace in an airtight container in the freezer, so the spice keeps its flavour for longer. Photo: Shutterstock If you are not using the mace whole, in stews or braised dishes, it is better to buy ground mace and store it in an airtight jar in the freezer. As with all pre-ground spices, the flavour and fragrance will fade over time. Mace is used in alternative medicine, to treat digestive disorders, insomnia and anxiety. Like nutmeg, mace goes well in milk-based dishes.
Health Line
21-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
IBS vs. Colon Cancer: How to Tell the Difference
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and colon cancer symptoms can look alike. However, unlike IBS, colon cancer may cause bloody stool, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss, among other unique symptoms. IBS is a chronic disorder of your large intestine. Your bowel or large intestine is the end of your digestive tract, known as the colon. Because IBS and colon cancer each affect the same part of your body, the symptoms can look the same. If you have IBS, it can be helpful to understand what signs may indicate something more serious and when you should speak with a doctor. IBS vs. colon cancer symptoms Although some symptoms of IBS and colon cancer are the same, there are some differences to keep in mind. This chart summarizes how IBS and colon cancer can appear similar and how they may differ. Read on to learn more details about each. Symptom IBS Colon cancer abdominal cramps or pain related to bowel movements X X changes in bowel habits lasting more than a few days X X constipation X X diarrhea X X feeling that bowel movements are incomplete X X bloating or excess gas X X whitish mucus in stool X dark stool or blood in stool X fatigue X general weakness X narrowing of stool X rectal bleeding X unexplained weight loss X What are the symptoms of IBS? Some of the most common symptoms of IBS are changes to bowel movements, including: constipation diarrhea Other symptoms can include: abdominal pain bloating excess gas a feeling that bowel movements are incomplete whitish mucus in your stool Certain foods, stress, anxiety, or depression can trigger symptoms of IBS. Even though it's a chronic condition, these symptoms can come and go. People assigned female at birth may experience increased symptoms during their period. This happens because of changing hormone levels. For most people with IBS, symptoms can be managed with lifestyle measures. However, those with severe symptoms may require medication to treat the condition. Diagnosing IBS To diagnose IBS, a doctor will want to know your medical history, including the following: all the medications you take recent infections recent stressful events basic diet and foods that seem to affect symptoms Your personal and family history is also essential. This includes a history of: celiac disease colon cancer inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) A doctor will do a physical exam to check for abdominal bloating and tenderness. You may not need additional testing to get a diagnosis of IBS. Even so, some tests can rule out other conditions. These include: Blood tests to check for infections, anemia, and other digestive problems. Stool tests to check for infections, the presence of blood, and other diseases. A pattern of symptoms may help a doctor diagnose your condition. For example, you may have abdominal pain plus two or more of the following symptoms: abdominal pain that gets better or worse after a bowel movement movements that are more or less frequent than you're used to a change in the appearance of your stools You may be told you have IBS if your symptoms began at least three months ago and you've experienced them over at least three days a month. What are the signs and symptoms of colon cancer? Symptoms of colon cancer can include changes to your colon and bowel habits that last for more than a few days, such as: abdominal cramping or pain constipation dark stool or blood in your stool diarrhea excess gas fatigue a feeling that bowel movements aren't complete narrowing of the stool rectal bleeding unexplained weight loss weakness It's recommended to speak with a doctor as soon as possible if you develop a combination of these symptoms. Diagnosing colon cancer As with IBS, a doctor will ask for your complete personal and family medical history. Risk factors may include: colorectal polyps Crohn's disease familial adenomatous polyposis family history of colorectal cancer hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer, also known as Lynch syndrome lack of physical activity unhealthy diet type 2 diabetes ulcerative colitis A doctor may order blood and stool tests and a physical exam. If cancer is suspected, other tests may include: colonoscopy, along with tissue biopsy imaging tests, such as X-ray or CT scan of your colon and rectum Since colon cancer is slow-growing, colonoscopy screenings can catch precancerous polyps (tissue growth). Doctors can remove these polyps before they develop into cancer. A polyp biopsy can confirm the presence of colon cancer, and imaging tests can help check if cancer has spread. You may not feel like you need a colonoscopy, but colorectal cancer can be silent until cancer starts to spread. This is why routine screenings are so important. When to see a doctor Talk with a doctor if you have any concerns about abdominal discomfort or changes in bowel habits. Symptoms such as IBS can also point to other conditions, including colon cancer. Red-flag symptoms that you should see a doctor right away include a combination of the following: persistent abdominal pain rectal bleeding vomiting weight loss diarrhea during sleeping hours iron deficiency anemia family history of colon cancer, IBD, or celiac disease Having IBS doesn't increase your risk of colon cancer, but that doesn't mean you should ignore symptoms. To be safe, tell a doctor about new symptoms such as rectal bleeding, narrowed stool, or weight loss. Talk with a doctor about colon cancer screening. For most people, colonoscopy screening should begin at age 45. If you have a family history of colon cancer or other risk factors, your doctor may recommend earlier or more frequent screening. Can IBS lead to colon cancer? IBS, with all its discomforts and inconveniences, rarely causes damage to your digestive tract or leads to other health problems. In 2021, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) published clinical guidelines for managing IBS. The ACG says that when undergoing colonoscopy, people with IBS were no more likely to have precancerous polyps or colon cancer than healthy people. Overall, most people with IBS have a healthy colonoscopy report. Frequently asked questions My doctor says anxiety is the cause of my IBS. Is this true? Research shows that there's a genetic link between stress, anxiety, depression, and IBS symptoms. That said, anxiety isn't the main cause of IBS. Instead, a mix of diet, hormones, medical conditions, recent infections, and your ability to manage stress can contribute to IBS. Research shows that there's a genetic link between stress, anxiety, depression, and IBS symptoms. That said, anxiety isn't the main cause of IBS. Instead, a mix of diet, hormones, medical conditions, recent infections, and your ability to manage stress can contribute to IBS. Does colon cancer cause mucus in stool? A small amount of mucus in your stool is typical. Both IBS and colon cancer can cause this. Still, mucus is much more common in people with IBS and may appear white. In colon cancer, mucus may appear bloody or dark black, along with other red-flag symptoms. Studies show mucus testing may be an important tool in the future to solve colon problems without a colonoscopy. A small amount of mucus in your stool is typical. Both IBS and colon cancer can cause this. Still, mucus is much more common in people with IBS and may appear white. In colon cancer, mucus may appear bloody or dark black, along with other red-flag symptoms. Studies show mucus testing may be an important tool in the future to solve colon problems without a colonoscopy. Are colon spasms a sign of cancer? Colon spasms can happen in both IBS and colon cancer. They're most common in IBS. Colon spasms can be a sign of cancer when the spasms occur along with other red-flag symptoms. Colon spasms can happen in both IBS and colon cancer. They're most common in IBS. Colon spasms can be a sign of cancer when the spasms occur along with other red-flag symptoms. Takeaway IBS can generally be managed by making specific dietary and other lifestyle changes. More severe cases can be treated with medications. Having IBS doesn't increase your risk of developing colon cancer. Symptoms of colon cancer tend to appear only after the disease has spread. Screening for colon cancer can detect and remove precancerous polyps before they can become cancer. Because the symptoms of IBS, colon cancer, and other gastrointestinal disorders overlap, it's best to connect with a doctor to get the right diagnosis. They can help you manage or treat your condition so you can start feeling better.
