Probiotics are beneficial bacteria in the intestines that help produce vitamins and digestive enzymes, stimulate the immune system, reduce serum cholesterol, improve calcium absorption, eliminate harmful substances from the body and help restore...
Most people think of bacteria as harmful, distasteful organisms to avoid, but certain bacteria are beneficial to your body. According to Harvard Medical School, about 100 trillion micro-organisms exist in a healthy intestinal system, where they...
A congested intestine can create severe health problems. Coconut oil is a natural alternative to cleansing the intestinal system and is useful in ridding the body of harmful toxins that can build up in the digestive system over time. In addition,...
Sleep is an important component of a healthy lifestyle because it allows the body to restore lost energy and helps with stress management. According to the Better Sleep Council, 32 percent of Americans have a restless sleep at least one night each...
Most women will suffer from a vaginal yeast infection sometime during their lifetime. Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the organism Candida albicans, and symptoms include vaginal discharge, itching, burning and painful intercourse....
Authentic Hoodia gordonii grows only in parts of South Africa and Namibia, according to the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Hoodia gordonii is a succulent plant with blossoms that smell strikingly similar to rotten...
Ingesting clay may seem an unusual way to cleanse the body, but proponents of the method say it can help to attract heavy metals and chemicals in the body as it moves through the intestinal system so that they can more readily leave your body....
Constipation is a problem that impacts nearly everyone at some point in their life. Making an attempt to fix the problem by changing what you eat is a sensible way to approach the problem. Many individuals who suffer from constipation are...
In this day and age of greater interest in natural remedies and alternative medicine, many people take supplements to treat health problems, gain energy or strengthen immunity. Two popular supplements are olive leaf extract and probiotics. Both...
Diverticulitis is a condition in which there are small bulging pockets that form in the intestinal system that become inflamed. This can cause severe stomach pain, fever, nausea and changes in bowel habits. Treatment can include pain medicine,...
When the muscles in your intestinal system contract faster or slower than normal, you may be experiencing irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. This can lead to abdominal cramping and pain, constipation or diarrhea or both, gas, bloating, pain relief...
Your gallbladder plays a role in digestion and transport of nutrients. The job of the gallbladder is to produce and secrete bile to help your body digest food. One component of bile is electrolytes, and without proper formation of bile, you cannot...
Regularly doing cardiovascular activities, such as walking and jogging, offers numerous health benefits, including an increase in heart health and a decrease in risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity. However, it’s...
The vitamins that help bacteria grow are actually substances called probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria while prebiotics are substances that encourage bacterial growth. According to the "Pakistan Journal of Nutrition,"...
Trouble in the colon can result from a variety of underlying medical conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, food poisoning, colon cancer or polyps. People can also suffer from bowel irritability, without any underling medical condition,...
While probiotics offer a variety of potentially positive health benefits, they also can produce side effects which may cause you to think more carefully about increasing your intake of these live microorganisms. Knowing the potential dangers of...
The human body carries a combination of useful bacteria as well as candida, or yeast. The most common areas where candida is likely to be found are in the mouth, skin, intestinal tract and the vagina. Lactobacillus and other beneficial bacteria...
Exercising on a mini trampoline, known as rebounding, is an effective way to lose weight, improve your balance, and strengthen your muscles and bones with minimal impact to your joints. Featured in numerous popular television shows and health...
A variety of parasites attack human beings, including those that infect your gastro-intestinal system. Tapeworms and hookworms are examples of these types of parasites. Parasites enter your system through your mouth by eating contaminated,...
Human internal parasites affect the body's stomach and intestinal system. Though rare in the U.S., internal worm infections remain the most common global infection affecting the poorest communities, according to the World Health Organization....
The Sensa shaker diet is a weight loss program where a person shakes a powder over food before eating. The makers of Sensa advertise the ability for a person to eat whatever she likes as long a mixture is shaken over the food first. The starter...
Rectal cancer affects the end of the large intestine, or colon, that carries waste out of your body through your rectum. It may begin as adenomatous polyps that are benign, or not cancerous. These polyps can develop into colon or rectal cancer,...
Your stomach has a complex system of acid production and movement that helps break down foods and move them through the intestinal system, expelling what is left as waste product in your stool. This system is affected by the foods, vitamins and...
Candida albicans is a species of yeast that normally inhabit the intestines. The yeast lives in harmony with the bacteria that helps keep the growth of the yeast under control. When the intestinal system becomes stressed, which can occur as a...
For many pregnant women, as their estimated dates of delivery draw near or even pass by, the idea of helping labor begin is hard to resist. Many foods have reputations as natural labor inducers and many mothers-to-be have consumed them in the...
Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal problems. MayoClinic.com defines constipation as having fewer than three bowel movements per week. Constipation can be painful and severely uncomfortable; in some cases, it can even be...
An ileostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an opening in the abdominal wall used to replace the colon and rectum. Ileostomy surgery is generally performed when the colon or rectum is damaged from disease such as cancer or inflammatory bowel...
Carbohydrates are macronutrients that are needed in abundance to promote healthy metabolic and cellular function. Carbohydrates are chemical compounds composed of sugar and water, and can be found in a variety of foods. Not all carbohydrates are...
Over time, your body accumulates harmful toxins, according to The Beginner's Guide to Natural Living. These toxins enter your body through the food and beverages you consume as well as from the environment around you. Eliminating toxins assists in...
Crohn's disease, or regional enteritis, is an autoimmune disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Learn more about Crohn's disease including treatments and symptoms in this medical video.
There are three types of hernias: inguinal, umbilical, and hiatal. Learn how to avoid getting a hernia from a certified personal trainer in this health video.
