Bloating causes several inches around your waist and a gassy overfull feeling. Bloating can be a tricky problem to resolve because it isn't a condition, but rather a symptom that something else going on in your gastrointestinal system. The key is...
Digestion starts in your mouth -- as you chew, digestive enzymes start to break down food to make its nutrients available to your body. Different enzymes break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats, and specific enzymes are needed for specific...
Having a slim core is highly coveted by both men and women alike. For most, it takes hard work to get one and consistent work to keep one. Keep in mind that diet and exercise aren't the only factors to consider if you want to reduce your...
You can increase your body's ability to absorb nutrients from the foods you eat with a colon cleanse. If you do not maintain a clean colon and digestive tract, you may experience problems such as constipation, bloating, headaches, fatigue,...
Prenatal vitamins are multivitamin and mineral supplements used by women to ensure proper nutrition during pregnancy. Some women even begin taking them when they are trying to conceive. During pregnancy, women want to provide a healthy and...
You feel the need to do something about your health, to cleanse your body of the accumulation of unhealthy foods, toxins from pollution, smoking, drinking too much coffee, too much sodas or wine or sweet tea, a vegetarian detox diet for a weekend...
Your colon is naturally self-cleaning. The lining of the colon produces mucus so that foods don't adhere to the colon walls. The colon has a layer of smooth muscle cells that rhythmically contract to move food along so that it can be eliminated....
Protein is an essential nutrient required to build muscle and support other biological processes, but you only benefit from this nutrient if your body is able to digest and absorb it. When more protein is consumed than your body can handle, the...
Probiotics are healthy types of bacteria that live in our digestive system. Balancing the amounts of these desirable bacteria flora with the unhealthy bacteria in the gut is imperative to maintaining our health. Probiotics supplementation can help...
Celiac disease is known as "the great imitator" because its symptoms can vary among individuals. Some individuals may develop neuropathies such as tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. Celiac-related neuropathy can be caused when gluten--the...
Surgery is a common health procedure that is performed for numerous reasons. Medline Plus, a National Institutes of Health website, states that surgery may be performed to help reduce or prevent pain, improve certain body functions or discover the...
In a perfect world, you would meet all your nutritional needs from whole foods. As you know, life gets in the way, taste preferences limit food choices and easily prepared foods are the main factors in what nutrients you eat in abundance or lack...
Bloating causes uncomfortable pressure at your abdomen, makes your clothes fit tightly and gives you the appearance of having gained weight. Certain foods are more likely than others to cause distension of the belly. Watching what you eat and...
If you're a pet owner, sitter, groomer, trainer or vet, you've probably come into contact with more than your share of fleas. A single flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs in its short life, according to the website Healthy Pet Journal. Not only do these...
Detoxification diets have become an industry in their own right, with dozens of different detox cleansing diets advocating practices from consuming nothing but juice to eating only foods found in the Bible. Many of these detox diets are based on...
1. Eliminate Toxins Limit exposure to substances known to be toxic to brain functioning such as harsh chemicals, pesticides, preservatives and other additives; trans fats, processed and junk foods; plastic, Teflon and other toxins in food...
Because the objective of a colon cleanse, typically, is to help rid the body of accumulated toxins, it is important to choose safe, effective products that don't contain pesticides, by-products, or other potentially harmful substances. There are...
According to the Health Science Institute (HSI), 80 percent of the food we eat in the United States is processed, chemically laden food devoid of essential nutrients. That's right, the current Standard American Diet (SAD) is largely comprised of...
The act of digestion breaks down the food you eat and absorbs the nutrients, while leaving the waste products behind. Your digestive tract uses a series of structures and digestive chemicals, such as your teeth and digestive enzymes, to complete...
Digestive enzymes are chemicals that help the body digest food. If they are not working properly, your body has trouble breaking down your food to components that are easy to digest. Symptoms may include indigestion, bloating, gas and other...
When you sit down to eat a meal you probably do not give much consideration to the digestive process taking place inside of you. From the moment the food enters your mouth it is met by digestive enzymes needed to breakdown the food into nutrients...
Millions of people in the United States take vitamin and mineral supplements to ward off colds, flu, diseases and to improve their overall health. Some supplements, especially calcium, iron and Vitamin C in high doses, can lead to stomach upset,...
Digestive enzymes help break down particles of food, allowing your body to absorb that food's nutrients. Specific enzymes break down certain types of molecules -- such as the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose, the sugar found in dairy...
If you experience a sour taste in your mouth, a painful or burning feeling near the chest, hoarseness or belching, you may have heartburn or acid reflux. You're not alone. Many Americans have heartburn or acid reflux every month, and a sizable...
Lymphoproliferation describes the over-production or abnormal activity of lymphocytes. Lymph nodes are located in your neck, armpits and groin. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that make up your immune system, including antibody-producing B cells...
Eating a large meal, or even a meal with average portions, may aggravate the gastrointestinal symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. Eating several small meals throughout the day may prevent the nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea that...
Digestive enzymes help your body break down food into nutrients your body can use. There are many types of enzymes, but the three main categories are lipase, which breaks down fats; protease, which breaks down protein; and amylase, which breaks...
You may have heard that probiotics are good for your digestive system. Furthermore, you may know that you need digestive enzymes to process your food. While both probiotics -- of which acidophilus is one -- and digestive enzymes play important...
The intestinal tract is specifically designed to absorb food without any external assistance. In addition to the hydrochloric acid in your stomach, your intestines release enzymes to break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates for absorption into...
