b'INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE (IBD)actually encompasses two gastrointestinal conditions that can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea: Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. Some people may also experience anemia, rectal bleeding, weight loss, or other symptoms. Both disorders may arise from a wayward immune system that leads the body to attack the gastrointestinal tract. Crohns involves ulcers that burrow deep into the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to infection, a thickening of the intestinal wall, and blockages that may require surgery. Ulcerative colitis, by contrast, afflicts only the colon and rectum, where it also causes ulcers.IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)affects approximately 15 percent of all Americans. Symptoms can include constipation or diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bowel urgency, gas, and bloating. While the actual cause of IBS is not known, there are certain factors that have been identified, including abnormal contractions of the intestine, problems with the nervous system signals that regulate digestion, intestinal inflammation, and an imbalance of the gut microflora. Symptoms can be triggered by stress, hormones, and certain foods, such as dairy, wheat, chocolate, alcohol, dietary fats, corn, and vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.The Lowdown on Leaky GutYour large intestine is designed to be naturally permeable. This allows small molecules containing vital nutrients to pass through your intestinal lining and into your bloodstream. It does this by opening and closing tiny passageways in the wall called tight junctions. The problem is, a number of factors like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gluten, toxins, and stress can weaken these tight junctions and cause them to lose their selectivity. This means that pathogens, toxins, and undigested bits of food can then leak into the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. As a result, leaky gut has been linked to a number of seemingly unrelated health problems, including autoimmune conditions, food sensitivities, joint pain, and mood disorders. 6THE G O OD GUT'