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]
Digestive Care
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]
Do You Really Need to Detox Your Liver?
A healthy liver plays a vital role in digestion, filtering food and drinks you ingest, purifying the blood, and performing literally hundreds of functions every day. The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body, and we cannot live without it. Many self-proclaimed health experts recommend a liver detox to rid the body of toxins and cleanse the liver. But is this truly necessary? How Your Body Detoxes Naturally Your liver detoxifies the body constantly. By filtering out toxins ... [Read More]
What is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is a form of irritable bowel disease that causes inflammation and irritation of the digestive system. The digestive system includes every organ between the mouth and anus that processes food: the esophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum, and anus. For the more than half a million Americans who suffer from Crohn’s Disease, any day can present a bout with diarrhea, stomach cramps, and loss of appetite, weight loss and more. More definitively, Crohn’s disease can attack any part of th ... [Read More]
What to Do if You Notice Rectal Bleeding
If you notice blood in your stool, it may have originated from anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, most often in the colon, rectum, or anus. The color of the blood may indicate the possible origin of the bleeding. Lesions close to the anus leak bright blood. The upper parts of the large intestine cause dark red or maroon blood. Bleeding from the stomach produces black and tarry stools called melena. If blood loss is severe, it may occur with the additional symptoms of weakness, dizziness, low ... [Read More]
Most Common Signs and Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Disorders
Gastrointestinal disorders are among some of the most commonly diagnosed medical conditions, yet some people hesitate to discuss them with a doctor, especially those ones that affect bathroom habits. However, GI conditions aren’t limited to the bowel. They comprise a variety of issues, from heartburn to hepatitis C. These disorders can range in severity from acute, mildly annoying, to chronic, debilitating and potentially life-threatening. In other words, they’re well worth talking with your doc ... [Read More]
The Ultimate Guide to Perfect Digestion
It’s hard to believe, but 70 million American suffer from a digestive disorder such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, diverticulosis, or one of many others. There are so many factors that affect our digestion, and even though it sounds funny, digestion, in turn, affects the whole body and our lives. The foods we eat, experiences we have, and environmental factors we expose ourselves to all have an effect on the digestive system. Read on for your ultimate guide to elusive, but ... [Read More]
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