Suddenly, we're drinking eggnog, eating cookies and stuffing ourselves fuller than the Thanksgiving turkey. Called the Gastrointestinal Upset Tracker, or G.U.T., it also lists the top 10 cities for stomach woes based on per capita spending in each city. If you live in Los Angeles, New York or Houston, you probably have more stomach problems than your friends living in Denver or Miami do. The bottom line is a lot of these functional gastrointestinal complaints are a result of diet and stress. People in big cities often eat on the run and swallow excess air with their food, which can cause gas, he explains.
Cities also offer a larger variety of foods that can cause heartburn and stomach upset.
Field also pointed out the list did not adjust its figures for geographical cost differences. One reason New York and Los Angeles top the list may simply be because these products cost more in large cities. McNeil claims the product can help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the intestines. The American consciousness doesn't sense that there are good bacteria, but not all bacteria should be avoided. What To Do Field agrees probiotics may be good for the intestinal tract, but cautions that no amount of Probiotica is going to help you if you overeat.