Digestive Health Monthly

Because Digestive Health Matters

International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders

May 2024 eNewsletter

May is Food Allergy Awareness Month.

During this awareness month, we encourage you to educate yourself about various types of allergies and ways to ensure the safety of individuals with allergies. Research indicates that approximately 6% of both adults and children have food allergies.

The body's immune reaction to typically harmless substances can result in reactions ranging from mild to life-threatening. The only effective way to prevent these reactions is to completely avoid the allergens that trigger them. However, this can pose a challenge when consuming foods with multiple ingredients or when dining outside the home. It is crucial to carefully read and comprehend labels and communicate your allergies effectively to others.

It's important to note that food allergies are often confused with food intolerances. Food intolerances cause the body to experience a chemical reaction to a particular food which can lead to unpleasant GI symptoms, similar to a food allergy. A food allergy is an immune system response that may cause harmful or life-threatening symptoms such as anaphylaxis. Distinguishing between the two can be challenging for many individuals, particularly those dealing with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. To learn more about food allergies, click here.

EoE Awareness Week

May 19th- 25th is recognized as the 2024 National Eosinophil Awareness Week. We aim to bring awareness to eosinophil-associated diseases, some of which are known to affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune system disease that can be triggered by food, environmental allergies, or even acid reflux. The trigger causes the immune system to overreact, sending a large number of white blood cells called eosinophils into your esophagus, where they collect and can cause symptoms like difficulty swallowing, chest pain, nausea, and vomiting.

To learn more about EoE and other EGIDs, click here.

What the FDA Does and Does Not Approve

Do you have questions about what the FDA does and does not approve? If so, you aren’t alone. Understanding the approval process can be tricky. Here are a few of the facts:

Vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements are not FDA-appoved to treat or prevent disease
The FDA does not approve e-cigarettes as an aid to quit smoking
The FDA does not approve cosmetics

Learn more by clicking the button below.

What the FDA Does and Does Not Approve

5 Minutes in GI

This month’s ‘5 Minutes in GI’ video is now live!

Top healthcare providers are geared up to break down the answers to the most commonly asked GI questions in only 5 minutes. We've stripped away the unnecessary details, ensuring that the information is easy to grasp and accessible to everyone.

Join us as we chat with Dr. Alejandro Llanos-Chea about the most common types of tests to determine GI motility.

Click the button below to watch the latest release.

5 Minutes in GI

Upcoming Events

IFFGD's 2024 Virtual Digestive Health Wellness and Walk Event

Registration opens Sunday, May 19, 2024

Event dates are Saturday, July 6, 2024 – Saturday, July 13, 2024

The 2024 Virtual Digestive Health Wellness and Walk Event is a charitable event to raise money to support gastrointestinal illness research.

Like a traditional walk event, participants register to walk and be active to get credit for steps taken during the event. However, this event goes beyond a step goal. The event will provide goals that can be achieved by people of varying abilities as activities will focus strongly on wellness, self-care, traditional and non-traditional fitness activities.

Goals will go beyond physical fitness by encouraging participants to schedule a doctor’s appointment or colonoscopy, meditate or journal, or tune in for a curated cooking experience. By adding these alternative activities, we hope that anyone that wants to participate, can participate. #Moves4GIhealth24.

Visit the event page for more information.

Virtual Premiere of 2024 Education and Advocacy Event Coming Soon

Did you miss out on our Education and Advocacy event?

If so, don't fret! The virtual YouTube premiere will be launching Saturday, May 11th at 10 a.m. Learn about everything you missed about current beneficial legislation from access to care issues to nutrition.

Set your alarms and check our social media pages for the link.

Virtual Premiere of 2024 Education and Advocacy Event Coming Soon

New Wellness and Walk Event Activities

We are excited to announce several new activities for the 2024 Virtual Digestive Health Wellness and Walk Event. These include:

IFFGD coloring pages designed by artist Kayla Griffin
Journal Club with Dr. Amol Sharma and Dr. Kyle Staller
Cooking demonstrations with GI Dietitians
YouTube series on wellness and self- improvement from Phenomenol Communications

Participate in these exciting new additions and earn points to help move your team up the scoreboard! Learn more about this event by clicking the button below.

New Wellness and Walk Event Activities

RESEARCH CORNER

Clinical trials and research studies help to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of diseases and advance the development of new and better treatment options. By participating in a study, you can help further the advancement of research and learn more about your condition.

Here are 3 studies currently recruiting participants:

Coexisting Conditions

Safety And Efficacy Study Of Intravenous (IV) Administration Of Elezanumab To Assess Change In Upper Extremity Motor Score (UEMS) In Adult Participants With Acute Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) (ELASCI)

Gastroparesis

A Study to Evaluate Safety and Effectiveness of G-POEM for Gastroparesis

Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction

Randomized Controlled Trial of an Internet-based Prevention Intervention for Parents With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (REACH)

May Spotlight

2024 Junior Academician Dr. Joy Lui

Dr. Joy Liu, MD is an Instructor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Northwestern University. She has clinical interests in chronic nausea and vomiting including gastroparesis, disorders of gut-brain interaction including irritable bowel syndrome, and pelvic floor disorders. She was chief fellow for the Northwestern University GI & Hepatology fellowship program in 2021-2022 and the Irene D. Pritzker Neurogastroenterology & Motility fellow the same year.

Dr. Liu has written on topics including the management of constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). She currently serves as a Junior Academician for the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disease where she recently sat down to discuss diverticulitis in the new '5 Minutes in GI' series.

Donate

IFFGD is a nonprofit organization. We rely on donor support to fund research and to provide reliable information and support to those affected by chronic gastrointestinal disorders.

IFFGD | 414-964-1799 | iffgd@iffgd.org | www.iffgd.org

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