Believe it or not – the color, shape and consistency of your stool says a lot about your health. When your stool changes in one of these ways, there are a number of reasons why. When stool turns green, it can be a little alarming at first. A common reaction is to assume the reason […]
Being ill is one thing, but being ill and experiencing diarrhea is another. Diarrhea is a particularly unpleasant symptom of illness. It interrupts a person’s daily routine since it cannot be ignored. In certain situations, it can escalate into a serious medical situation. Almost everyone experiences diarrhea during their lifetime, but what if it [...]
Can you believe it’s that time of year again? The end of November kicks off a holiday season full of opportunities for parties that celebrate friends, family and yes, food. Even with all of the festive cheer and good will, the holidays are notorious for food-related illnesses that can appear in otherwise healthy individuals – […]
Many people remember their parents asking if there was something they were worried about when they had a stomach ache as a child – maybe there was an upcoming test in school or you had a fight with a friend? This line of thought may not hold true for every gastroenterological issue, but many people do […]
Chances are, at some point in your life you’ve had gastroenteritis, commonly known as the “stomach bug.” The stomach bug is typically a virus that spreads easily through the population. You’ll recognize the symptoms of the stomach bug as an upset stomach (diarrhea, vomiting), headache, abdominal cramping and fever. The stomach bug is unpleasant, [...]
IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a chronic condition that affects a person’s digestive system. There are no known causes of IBS, but there are some theories that doctors have prescribed to in order to help with an IBS diagnosis and treatment for the condition. Some possible theories are that the condition either stems from […]
Approximately 12% of people in the United States are lactose intolerant. Those who are lactose intolerant have a deficiency of lactase which is the enzyme produced by the lining of your small intestine. This means that they cannot fully digest lactose, i.e. the milk and sugar in dairy products. You can have a lactase deficiency, […]
Gluten was one of the top trending food-related words of 2013, and is still standing strong so far this year. But what exactly is gluten? For a word with so much fanfare attached it to, most people are surprised when they discover what gluten actually is. Gluten is a protein. It is found in foods […]
It certainly can. The stomach is at the center of the immune system and the intestinal lining protects a person from harmful bacteria that could affect the rest of the body. Serotonin, which is mostly produced in the stomach with the brain coming in second, connects both parts of the body. This is why, for […]