Digestive Health

You can't open a health magazine or talk with your doctor without hearing how vegetables are important to good health and you should eat more of them. Vegetables are a good source of many vitamins...

Acid reflux occurs when stomach contents and digestive juices rise into the esophagus. This causes a person to taste food or liquids he recently consumed. While several symptoms usually accompany...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, can cause a dry cough or more severe symptoms such as chest congestion and lung irritation that may become serious enough to trigger asthma, bronchitis or...

Crohn's disease is a condition characterized by severe inflammation of the digestive tract's lining. Crohn's disease varies in severity and may even go into remission periodically, according to...

Intestinal gas builds up in the digestive tract and is often caused by the digestive process or swallowing air. Patients with intestinal gas experience unpleasant effects which may include serious...

The Lap Band procedure is minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves the placement of a band around the top portion of the stomach to reduce appetite. The procedure is done...

Metamucil is a supplement that contains psyllium husks, a dietary fiber. Metamucil is recommended for relieving constipation. It also may be helpful for those individuals who suffer from irritable...

White-colored stool may develop from a problem with a patient's liver, gallbladder or other part of the digestive system. Those with whitish stool should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Phototherapy---light therapy---is the most common treatment for neonatal jaundice, a condition caused by elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood.

Systemic yeast is caused by an overgrowth of candida albicans (candidiasis), which is a yeast-like fungus that lives naturally in the digestive tract. Candida albicans is not harmful in normal...

Adolescents may disagree, but chronic belching is a problem. It's embarrassing for the person who does it, and it can be nauseous for anyone within earshot. Chronic belching sometimes suggests a...

Although often perceived as humorous, flatulence (also called "passing gas" or "farting") can have serious negative effects. Flatulence can come at inopportune times and cause highly undesirable...

According to Merck, abdominal pain is considered chronic if it lasts intermittently or continuously for three months or longer. Chronic abdominal pain may be a frustrating condition that takes...

White tongue is an unattractive, possibly painful coating of debris, bacteria and dead cells on your tongue. One of the more common causes of the condition is oral thrush, a yeast infection, also...

Sodium bicarbonate is the scientific name for banking soda and is found as the active ingredient in some over-the-counter medications. Doctors sometimes recommend these oral sodium bicarbonate...

Tylenol is an over-the-counter analgesic used to treat mild to moderate pain. Tylenol is considered to be gentle on the stomach and well-tolerated when used in the short-term. However, stomach...

Pomegranate juice is a highly nutritious, natural source of Vitamin C and iron that is also rich with antioxidants. In addition to general health benefits, pomegranate juice is known to provide...

Body yeast is caused by an overgrowth of candida albicans, a yeast-like fungus that exists on the skin, inside the mouth and in the digestive tract and colon. Sometimes, candida albicans can...

Constipation is a horrible thing to have, I will show you how to prevent it.

Nutritionists and doctors recommend high-fiber diets to help maintain good health. Cereal is an established way to increase the whole grain content of your diet. Sometimes eating cereal is...

There are conflicting opinions about the effectiveness and safety of a colon cleanse. Before experimenting with lifestyle changes, consider any existing health issues or stomach problems that a...

When someone with celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, eats foods that contain gluten, the immune system attacks the small intestine, blocking the absorption of nutrients. A vaccine was in the...

Neonatal jaundice, a common condition caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the blood, generally doesn't require hospitalization. Sometimes, treatment may not be necessary at all; when it is, it can...

Obstructive jaundice is caused by a blockage in the bile ducts, according to Health Cares. A normal liver produces about one liter of bile per day. If there is a blockage in the gallbladder or...

Leaky gut syndrome is believed to occur when toxins, partially-digestive food and harmful bacteria pass through the delicate walls of the small intestines, enter the blood stream and cause severe...

Obstructive jaundice is caused by a blockage in the bile ducts, according to Health Cares. A normal liver produces approximately 1 liter of bile per day. The bile passes through the gallbladder...

Candida albicans, the most prolific candida species, is a yeast-like fungus that lives naturally in a person's colon, digestive tract and skin. Sometimes, candida can overproduce in the body...

Infections develop when the body's immune system has trouble fighting off microbes that are making it sick. Typically, infections are cured through the use of antibiotics, which kill harmful...

Mineral oil is available over the counter in drug stores, pharmacies and other retail stores. When recommended by a physician, mineral oil is safe to take as an oral laxative treatment for...

A colonoscopy is a cancer screening tool recommended routinely for those over 50 years old and earlier if family history indicates. Preparing for the procedure involves emptying the colon. Harvard...

Almond flour is ground from the almond nut, or fruit. The fruit in early stages is called a drupe. In later stages it becomes a nut. Almond nuts are an integral part of many diets. Almond has a...

Your small bowel is the longest portion of your intestine. Certain symptoms, such as cramping or bloating, can be indicative of problems within the small bowel.

Stomach and intestinal gas occurs when air inside the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach and intestines) passes through the rectum. According to the National Institutes of Health, gas is often...

Constipation is a common problem but it is a source of some very serious diseases.When the bowels are not emptied fully,toxins travel in the blood to all parts of the body causing high blood...

Stomach gas can cause pain,discomfort and a lot of embarrassment.While it is a normal body function,excessive gas and bloating is not good.Sometimes,constant gas and bloating is a sign of...

Colon cleanses claiming to rid the body of built-up toxins and clean the digestive system---resulting in better health---have been on the market for years. Due to the discrepancy in size and...

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that makes it difficult for the small intestine to absorb certain nutrients. The disorder is triggered when a person eats gluten, which is found in wheat,...

Knowing how to relieve constipation can change your life if you struggle with having regular bowel movements. There are no cures for constipation, which the National Digestive Diseases...

Flatulence is a normal body function caused by the buildup of excess gas in the body. However, excessive flatulence is not normal and can be caused by several different factors.

Doctors, nutritionists and pediatricians often recommend patients of all ages try probiotics---live strains of "good" bacteria. As far as supplements and medications go, probiotics are relatively...

Phenobarbital was once used to treat infant jaundice, a sometimes-serious condition affecting many newborns. Since the mid-20th century, however, it has been replaced by phototherapy, which...

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is not a condition, but a symptom of an underlying disorder or disease. Bleeding can occur in the stomach, small intestine or large intestine, and it can also occur...

To improve the liver function, it's usually a good idea to regularly cleanse the organ (although the body is generally self-cleaning). In fact, the liver is one of the main filtering mechanisms in...

Ulcero-hemorrhagic rectocolitis is an extreme form of what doctors call inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. Generally ulcerative colitis attacks a large area of the inner lining of your large...

Tapeworms are parasites that invade the body through ingestion. Although they can live in a host for up to twenty years, serious symptoms will cause the need for treatment before then.