Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF)

11/25/2025

We’re excited to welcome VAXCHORA® to the CDHF Certified family!

VAXCHORA is certified to help protect adults and children over the age of 2 from diarrhea caused by cholera in one drinkable dose.

If you didn’t know, cholera is transmitted through contaminated food or drinking water. Worldwide, there may be as many as 5 million cases of cholera per year.

About 1 in 10 people who get cholera will develop severe symptoms, including:

- 10 or more loose, watery stools per day
- vomiting
- leg cramps
- dehydration

Together, CDHF and VAXCHORA will be sharing educational content on cholera and travel health, so stay tuned.
Learn more about VAXCHORA: Vaxchora.ca
And CDHF Certified at: https://cdhf.ca/en/vaxchora-cdhf-certified-product/

11/21/2025

November is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Awareness Month, a time to shed light on the experiences of Canadians living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In our recent article, we speak with two patients and a leading gastroenterologist to uncover IBD gaps in care that too many face. From long wait times and delayed diagnoses to the emotional and financial strain of managing a chronic illness, their stories reveal a system under pressure, and the resilience of those determined to change it.

The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF) is highlighting these stories to raise awareness of the real barriers patients encounter and to advocate for more equitable, accessible, and continuous care for everyone living with IBD. Hear what they have to say: https://cdhf.ca/en/ibd-gaps-in-care/

Pfizer Canada

11/21/2025

For Ashley Patel, living with an invisible illness like IBD has revealed the real gaps in care that patients face every day.

From long diagnostic wait times and limited access to treatment, to the lack of culturally competent resources for marginalized communities, these barriers can make managing IBD even more challenging.

As a woman of colour living with Crohn’s disease, Ashley is using her voice to call for more equitable, inclusive, and accessible care that reflects the diversity of patient experiences.

This IBD Awareness Month, she reminds us how important it is to keep advocating; for yourself, for your community, and for a health care system that supports everyone living with IBD.

https://cdhf.ca/en/ibd-gaps-in-care/
Canada

11/20/2025

Looking for products that support digestive health? That’s where the CDHF Certified symbol comes in. CDHF Certified was created to help the public and health care professionals make informed choices. The CDHF Certified Symbol of Distinction is a reassurance that products bearing the symbol can be trusted to have met a standard of safety and efficacy.

For every product bearing the CDHF Certified Symbol of Distinction, CDHF reviews the body of evidence associated with the constituent of a specific product which claims to elicit a specific outcome. Scientific evidence gathered from independent sources is reviewed by CDHF.

Learn more about CDHF Certified and all our Certified products: https://cdhf.ca/en/about-cdhf/cdhf-certified/

Culturelle, Lactantia, PolyrideFe, Hemaforte 1, IBgard & FDgard, The Cultured Coconut, RestoraLAX, Hemovel, Gravol Canada, Activia, Florastor

11/19/2025

After months of antibiotics and setbacks, Jeff’s battle with recurrent C. difficile continued.

In this next part of his journey, he shares how persistence, medical teamwork, and hope got him through, and how new treatments began to offer a way forward.

💛 November is C. difficile Awareness Month, let’s talk openly about this serious, often misunderstood infection. Stay tuned for part 3 of Jeff's journey! Learn more about c.diff at: https://cdhf.ca/en/digestive-conditions/clostridiodes-difficile-c-difficile-infection/

Ferring Pharmaceuticals

11/19/2025

Antibiotics save lives, but they don’t just kill the harmful bacteria that cause infections, they also kill many of the good bacteria that help keep your gut healthy.

When that balance is disrupted, something called dysbiosis can potentially occur. With fewer “good” bacteria to keep things in check, harmful bacteria like Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) can multiply and release toxins that damage the gut, often leading to severe diarrhea.

So why are C. difficile infections so hard to treat?

C. difficile is a spore-forming bacterium. These spores act like tough protective shells, allowing the bacteria to survive stomach acid, disinfectants, and even some antibiotics. They can remain dormant for long periods and “wake up” when the gut environment becomes unbalanced.

That’s why antibiotic use, especially broad-spectrum antibiotics taken in high doses or over a long time, increases the risk of developing a C. difficile infection.

The best way to protect your gut health is to use antibiotics only when prescribed, exactly as directed, and never for viral infections like colds or the flu.

Learn more here: https://cdhf.ca/en/digestive-conditions/clostridiodes-difficile-c-difficile-infection/

Ferring Pharmaceuticals

11/18/2025

Many babies spit up, but frequent or painful reflux could be a sign of infant GERD; a condition that can affect feeding, comfort, and growth.

Look out for symptoms like:
• Frequent spit-up (6+ times per day)
• Back arching or crying during feeds
• Coughing, gagging, or poor feeding
• Discomfort lying flat

Most babies outgrow reflux by age one, but talk to your doctor if you notice persistent symptoms, vomiting with blood, or poor weight gain.

Simple changes like feeding smaller amounts, burping often, and keeping your baby upright after meals can help, but trust your instincts and seek medical advice if something doesn’t feel right.

Learn more about the signs, management tips, and when to seek help in our latest article: https://cdhf.ca/en/gerd-in-infants-how-symptoms-differ-from-adults/

Viatris

11/18/2025

Ever think about how often you go to the bathroom?

For most people, it’s about once or twice a day; totally normal.

For someone living with IBD, it can be 5, 10, 15, even 20+ times a day.

That means exhaustion, pain, disrupted sleep, social isolation, and the constant fear of not being close to a bathroom.

This November, during IBD Awareness Month, let’s talk about the realities you don’t always see, and why compassion matters.

11/17/2025

Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacteria.

Each year, there are an estimated 3 to 5 million cases, resulting in up to 120,000 deaths worldwide.

Learn what causes cholera, how it’s transmitted, how to recognize symptoms, and how to help prevent and treat this serious bacterial illness in our recent article: https://ow.ly/2Fvl50Xt0ZP

11/14/2025

Meet Jeff, a professional drummer whose life changed after a burst appendix led to recurrent C. difficile infections.

From misdiagnosis to months of struggle, Jeff’s story reminds us that C. difficile can happen to anyone, and early recognition matters.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of his journey. Learn more about c.diff at: https://cdhf.ca/en/digestive-conditions/clostridiodes-difficile-c-difficile-infection/


Ferring Pharmaceuticals

11/13/2025

Could a protective barrier help with acid reflux?

Acid reflux happens when stomach acid moves back up into the esophagus, causing that familiar burning feeling after meals. Over time, frequent episodes can affect daily comfort, making it harder to eat, sleep, or stay active.

Common causes can include:
• Carrying excess body weight around the abdomen
• Smoking
• Eating large meals or lying down soon after eating
• Wearing tight clothing that adds pressure to the stomach
• Consuming trigger foods such as high-fat or spicy meals, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, or carbonated drinks

For many people, simple lifestyle changes can help reduce symptoms such as eating smaller meals, avoiding food before bedtime, quitting smoking, and identifying personal triggers.

In some cases, medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2 blockers, or antacids may be recommended by a healthcare provider to help reduce or neutralize acid.

Researchers are now studying a newer treatment approach that works by forming a temporary protective barrier in the esophagus, helping shield it from stomach acid and irritation. Learn more about this emerging treatment option and ways to manage acid reflux: https://cdhf.ca/en/could-a-protective-barrier-help-with-acid-reflux-exploring-a-newer-approach/

EsopH

Another therapy has emerged for acid reflux that works by forming a temporary, protective film in the esophagus. Read for more details.

11/13/2025

Ever wake up in the middle of the night with burning in your chest or throat? You’re not alone. GERD often worsens at night, disrupting sleep for as many as one in four people who live with it.

When you lie flat, gravity no longer helps keep stomach acid where it belongs. Digestion slows, saliva production drops, and acid can linger longer in the esophagus, leading to discomfort, coughing, or that sour taste in your mouth.

If this sounds familiar, know that there are ways to take control:
• Avoid eating two to three hours before bed
• Elevate the head of your bed
• Sleep on your left side
• Keep a food diary to track triggers

You don’t have to lose sleep over GERD.
Learn why symptoms flare at night, and how to find relief, in our latest article: https://cdhf.ca/en/gerd-symptoms-at-night-why-acid-reflux-gets-worse-when-you-sleep/

Viatris