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| whole grains, and pumpkin seeds for chromium and zinc. |
| Shrimp, wheat germ, tofu and other soy foods, dried apricots, brown rice, and nuts and seeds for magnesium. |
| F.Y.I. |
| Diarrhea hits everyone occasionally; usually contaminated food or drinking water is to blame, but it can also stem from incomplete digestion or overuse of antacids or laxatives. If you are afflicted with chronic diarrhea, however, you may have a more dangerous intestinal condition that requires medical attention. See your physician for an evaluation. |
| Diarrhea |
| Diarrhea is characterized by frequent and liquid bowl movements that can cause dehydration, weakness, nausea, gas, abdominal pain and cramps, and sometimes fever and vomiting, not to mention inconvenience. |
| It's impossible to avoid occasional bouts of diarrhea, but eating the right foods can help prevent some cases and can help shorten its duration. If you have lactose intolerance, for example, eating milk and other dairy products may cause diarrhea and other digestive problems. Overconsumption of fruit can also cause trouble for some people. |
| Smart Foods |
| Water and fruit juices to replenish fluids, sugars, and minerals that are depleted by diarrhea. |
| Bland foods such as brown rice, bananas, and whole-grain bread to soothe the digestive tract and provide fibrous bulk. |
| Wine, which may kill diarrhea-causing bacteria. |
| Gout |
| Gout, a close relative of arthritis, was long associated with aristocrats who enjoyed a diet rich in fatty foods and alcohol; nowadays it affects millions of peopleprimarily overweight men over forty, but postmenopausal women, too. It's caused by an excess of uric acid in the blood, which leads to crystallized deposits that cause joint pain and |
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