At Beckon Ice Cream, gut health is at the center of what we do – along with delicious ice cream. We use the lactase enzyme added to break down the lactose sugar so your body doesn’t have to. In simpler terms, Beckon is easier to digest! We had a conversation with Liz McMahon to learn more about gut health, digestive issues and the stigma around talking about it.
Please briefly explain who you are and what you do.
My name is Liz McMahon and I’m a Clinical Dietitian. I work in a large hospital in Philadelphia and run my own virtual private practice. My specialty is GI/Digestive nutrition!
Why is digestive health so important?
I think the short answer is that if your digestion is “off” it can impact your quality of life! The long answer is that we are still discovering what a huge role our microbiome has on our overall health, not just our digestive health. Studies are showing that role our gut has in relation to our brain (i.e. gut-mind axis), chronic diseases, etc.
What role does someone’s diet play in their digestive health?
Diet probably plays the biggest role in our digestive health, along with stress management. If your diet is poor (i.e lots of processed foods, sugar, no fiber), you’re not providing your digestive system with the things it needs to run smoothly and create good gut bacteria.
A lot of people have a hard time talking about digestive health, why do you think it is so stigmatized?
I think that a lot of us were raised to be polite/proper, and talking about your gas and bowel movements don’t go along with that lol. I definitely think that people are more comfortable talking about it now, but I still have so many patients that apologize to me for telling me about their bowel movements. It’s my job! I want to know all the info! Hopefully, people will become more comfortable talking about their digestive health struggles/successes so that people don’t have to suffer in silence!
How do you hope this will change in the future? And what role do you think food brands and our food system can play in that change?
Hopefully, people will feel comfortable talking about digestive health the same way we’re comfortable with talking about diabetes or heart disease. Food brands play a HUGE role in this! It’s definitely started with having more gluten-free and lactose-free options available on the market, along with the increasing need for Low FODMAP friendly foods. The Low FODMAP diet is still not widely known in the U.S. despite the fact that so many people suffer from IBS.
** See our blog post on FODMAPs for more info!
When working with clients whats one misconception about the relationship between eating and digestive health?
A big one is all or nothing thinking. A lot of people believe they need to completely remove dairy or wheat from their diet, whereas a reduction in lactose or portion size may actually help. Other misconceptions are that food is the only cause of digestive health issues. Stress management is so very important too! Think about how your stomach feels before a big presentation or something your nervous about. Your stomach may feel like “it has butterflies” or is “just off”. This has nothing to do with what you ate but your current stress level!
What are some good habits for a healthy digestive system?
For the average person without any diseases (i.e. Celiac’s, IBS, etc), the best habits for a healthy digestive system are to include a wide variety of foods in their diet, specifically fruits, and veggies; get enough fiber and water each day; include fermented foods or foods rich in probiotics.
