Stomach and Digestive - Original Articles

Although dietary fiber is probably best known as a remedy to prevent or relieve constipation, it provides other important health benefits as well, including lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Should you throw out a container of yogurt if you notice that the date on the package is a few days beyond the date you're planning on eating it? Well, it all depends on these factors.

Digestive problems tend to disguise themselves as other conditions, and as a result, it can be difficult to get an accurate diagnosis. But your health depends on it.

Your body naturally produces digestive enzymes to help your body break down food. So if you have a shortage of those enzymes and you experience not-so-pleasant symptoms, it might be time to turn to these common supplements.

Although the condition itself doesn't cause symptoms, the acid reflux that causes Barrett's esophagus frequently leads to heartburn and is commonly found in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

If you find yourself ridden with stomach pain, you may be tempted to search for medications for relief. And although they may work, all you may need to feel better are the following tips.

Eating a well-balanced diet, drinking plenty of water each day, and refraining from doing things that can worsen digestive problems could be all you need to ease your digestive woes.

A common antibiotic that treats travelers' diarrhea appears to have a benefit for those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Here s what studies have found.

We all know that eating a diet rich in whole grains is good for your heart. Now a new study shows that the kind of fiber found in whole grains may also reduce your risk of dying at an early age from a variety of other causes.

From aiding in digestion to raising a red flag about potential diseases, your saliva plays a pretty big role in your health.

What difference does it make if you stand at a counter to eat, sit down at a table, or grab a bite on the run? Well, when it comes to your physical and mental health, it might make all the difference in the world.

You may have seen the word "probiotics" trumpeted on the packages of various products on supermarket shelves. Manufacturers want you to believe their foods are good for you, and in fact probiotics do have numerous health benefits. But sorting through what's fact and what are merely inflated claims can be confusing.

Not all bacteria are bad: They can positively contribute to the digestive process. But too much good bacteria can also be unhealthy. That's why, when your bacteria balance gets out of whack, you can develop dysbiosis. Discover the symptoms, causes, and treatments for this condition.

After finishing a delicious meal, you suddenly feel itchy and your stomach hurts. Could the problem be caused by a food allergy or a food intolerance? It can be difficult to tell at first, but there are signs that can help you get to the root of the problem.

Because one of the key components of this diet includes eating lots of fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables, following the Mediterranean diet may keep your digestive system running smoothly.

If you've been experiencing stomach pain, diarrhea, and fatigue, you may have an intestinal parasite. Intestinal parasites are fairly common and can be serious, especially in the elderly, people living in undeveloped countries, and those who have other health problems.

This condition is the result of damage to the intestinal lining, which allows larger-than-normal particles such as undigested food, microbes, wastes, and toxins to get into the lymphatic system or bloodstream, triggering an immune response that causes inflammation.

If you've had surgery to remove part of your stomach or had gastric bypass surgery to help you lose weight, you may be susceptible to this condition.

Cirrhosis is the final phase of chronic liver disease when the liver begins to function poorly due to scarring. Get familiar with how this disease affects your liver, know the symptoms, and learn what you can do to treat and prevent this incurable disease.

Also known as hereditary hemochromatosis, the body absorbs too much iron from foods you eat. The excess iron then gets stored in your organs, especially the liver, heart, and pancreas, which over time can damage them and lead to life-threatening illnesses.

Clostridium difficile (more commonly known as C. diff) is a serious bacterium that can wreak havoc on your digestive system, causing a range of ailments from severe diarrhea to life-threatening colon inflammation.

The very idea of using worms to treat intestinal diseases may be enough to turn your stomach. But studies, in which parasitic worms are used to battle disorders like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are showing promising results.

It turns out that these sweet little berries may play a key role in preventing colon cancer. And there are creative ways you can incorporate this super fruit into your daily menu.

Chances are you've experienced that unpleasant feeling of a sour, acid-like taste in your mouth. And what's worse is that it can happen at the most inconvenient times. Learn how this happens and what you can do to get rid of that sour taste in your mouth.

Recall the days of your childhood. Does it involve you drinking a half pint of milk each day at school? If so, it can have a tremendous impact on whether or not you're at risk for colon cancer.

Many people only discover they have cancer when something turns up on an x-ray, ultrasound, or other routine test. Unfortunately, the disease may then be in its later (and more difficult-to-treat) stages.

Because society depends so heavily on mass food production, we have less insight into our food and how it was handled before it ended up on our plate. Unfortunately, less attention to these rules is resulting in an increase in food poisoning cases.

Ever eaten something you knew would ignite heartburn or acid reflux, but afterwards were surprised to find that you didn't experience symptoms? If so, don't be relieved, the burn can plague you within hours or even days.

This small study might prove that a supplement can be the next breakthrough treatment to your worst heartburn symptoms.

Fiber supplements have become all the rage, helping weight-conscious people to feel fuller so they eat less. And fiber is also an efficient stool softener and eases irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)and constipation. But keep in mind: It s possible to misuse fiber supplements.