The liver, the second-largest organ of your body – and the largest internal organ, because the largest organ is the skin – helps in digestion and in removing impurities from the body. It filters out all of the unwanted and unneeded compounds from the food and drinks that you consume. Our liver also produces bile, which helps your body metabolize fat. The bile is stored in the gallbladder until it is needed for digestion in the small intestines. The branch of medicine specializing in the dia ... [Read More]
Digestive Care
Diverticulitis Treatments
When it comes to gastroenterological issues, most people know about irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. However, not many people know about diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is the infection or inflammation of pouches that can develop in your intestines. The pouches are called diverticula – if you have them, the condition is called diverticulosis. Diverticula can develop anywhere along the GI tract but are most common in the lower parts. They are vulnerable to ble ... [Read More]
How Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treated?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a generalized term that refers to the inflammatory disorders that affect the digestive tract. IBD affects more than 3 million Americans. This digestive disease has two primary types: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis causes ulcers in the inner lining of the colon (large intestine) and the rectum, whereas Crohn’s disease is when the lining anywhere in the digestive tract is inflamed. Both conditions are accompanied by similar sym ... [Read More]
Treatments for Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which results in the irritation and chronic inflammation of your digestive tract. Unlike other gut-related illnesses, ulcerative colitis affects only the large colon and, in some cases, the rectum. This disease affects the innermost lining of both the colon and the rectum, often causing the formation of ulcers (also known as sores) which tend to bleed and excrete mucus or pus. It may also prompt frequent trips to the bathroom. There ... [Read More]
Causes of Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is a common condition that can affect people at varying degrees. It occurs when acid in the stomach flows back up through the esophagus (the tube that transfers food from your throat to your stomach). At the bottom of the esophagus, a ring of muscles known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) opens to allow food into the stomach. Normally, the LES closes tightly after food has entered the stomach; but with acid reflux, the ring does not close tightly enough. The LES may also ... [Read More]
Gallbladder Diseases
Your gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped, sac-like organ in your abdomen under your liver. Its main purpose is to store bile from the liver and deliver it to the small intestine, helping to properly digest fats that have been consumed. Bile contains acids which are critical for the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins. When you eat high-fat or high-cholesterol foods, your gallbladder contracts and sends bile into your duodenum (the first part of your small intestine) via the common ... [Read More]
10 Most Common Liver Conditions
The liver is your largest internal organ and it has important responsibilities like removing toxins from your body, processing food nutrients, fighting infections and illness and helping to regulate your body’s metabolism. The liver is a very complex organ - second only to the brain - and is extremely resilient and highly regenerative. However, there are some circumstances when your liver can be permanently damaged and is unable fulfill its functions adequately. This can lead to serious and l ... [Read More]
Bacteria Live Inside You … And That’s a Good Thing!
People hear the word bacteria and immediately it conjures up an association with illness or dirty conditions. And that may be true, to a point, but some bacteria are extremely beneficial and some we just could not live without. What germaphobes and those fascinated with all the antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal products in the marketplace don’t realize is that much of the bacteria in and on our bodies is necessary for our health. The term “probiotics” has been bandied about the p ... [Read More]
From Contamination to Treatment: Understanding E. Coli Infections (Food Poisoning)
All too often, it seems, the news reports contain stories about a salad or hamburger manufacturer having to recall its lettuce or beef (or other foods) due to an E. coli contamination. So, what exactly is E. coli? Short for Escherichia coli, these bacteria are found in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Most types of E. coli are harmless. However, certain varieties can make you violently ill and may even be fatal. The most common of these bad strains are Shiga toxin-producing E. ... [Read More]
Are Juice Cleanses Necessary?
You’ve heard about the juicing craze. Juice bars are popping up everywhere, from the mall to the gym. And the latest trend are juice cleanses. Juice cleanses involve only drinking juice for a designated period of time, typically ranging from 3 to 10 days. There are different opinions on whether juice cleanses are necessary, helpful, or harmful. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of a juice cleanse, as well as some potential risks, so you can determine if a juice cleanse is the right choice ... [Read More]
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