Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The inflammation occurs in any portion of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Current research points to heredity and a malfunctioning immune system...
The colon and large intestines rely on internal bacteria to ward off disease. Bacteria that support colon health are called probiotics. Most probiotics are derived from dairy products and fermented foods such as yogurt. However, the advice of a...
Vitamin K is one of several fat-soluble vitamins you need from your daily diet. This vitamin is unique in that good bacteria in your large intestine produce it naturally. While you can produce some vitamin K, you should not rely on this function...
The large intestine, or colon, has two basic functions: It absorbs water and electrolytes, and stores and eliminates stool. Children can suffer from several conditions that affect the large intestine. The symptoms for these conditions can vary,...
Your large intestine is an important part of your digestive tract that helps absorb water from the food you consume. Your large intestine is composed of several distinct parts, including your ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colons...
Everyone experiences digestive problems, such as and upset stomach, diarrhea or constipation at some time in their life. The digestive system consists of a series of organs where food and fluids are broken down and absorbed, and waste is...
The large intestine is the portion of your gastrointestinal tract that includes your appendix, cecum, colon, rectum and anus. The large intestine is approximately 5 feet long, and it primarily functions to reabsorb water and maintain fluid balance...
The most common cause of food going through your large intestine too fast is a chronic condition called irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. IBS is a common digestive condition that primarily affects your large intestine, also called the colon. IBS...
Vegetables can cause gas and bloating, but there are vegetables known to cause more gas than others. The average, healthy person passes gas about 14 times a day, according to National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Yet, a person who...
When did your pain start? Does anything make it better or worse? Is it a severe abdominal pain that suddenly started? Did it start suddenly, but it "comes and goes?" Or is your pain hard to describe, but you believe it started gradually and you...
During ileostomy surgery, an opening is created in the abdominal wall so waste can exit the body through an attached bag, according to the American Cancer Society. The surgery consists of bringing the ileum, the lowest part of the small intestine,...
Probiotics are live bacteria that are consumed in food, but are not harmful. On the contrary, eating a sufficient amount of the probiotics has proved to be very beneficial to health, because consuming them increases the number of beneficial...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer causes the third highest number of cancer cases in America. In 2006 alone, 68,857 women and 70,270 men were diagnosed with this cancer. The CDC recommends that all...
The large intestines have the responsibility of changing the liquid contents of the small intestines into the feces. It does this by absorbing water from the forming feces, and by absorbing various minerals and salts. A low-fiber diet can lead to...
Gas typically occurs in the digestive tract from swallowing air and the normal breakdown of food. The digestive tract encompasses the stomach, esophagus, small intestines and large intestines. Most people generally pass gas 12 times or more per...
The gastrointestinal, or GI, tract includes the stomach and the small and large intestines. Common GI problems include irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, constipation and ulcerative colitis. Alternative medicines may be helpful for GI problems;...
Bowel cleansing is just another name for colon cleansing, which is the process of cleansing the large intestines of toxins, parasites and other pollutants. It's done with either the ingestion of supplements or the administration of fluids. Both...
Many people have small pouches, called diverticuli, along their large intestines. Sometimes these pouches bulge out in areas where the muscle may be weak, which is called diverticulosis. About 10 percent of people over the age of 40 have...
Constipation occurs when food remains in the large intestines for too long. For most people, this translates into having three or fewer bowel movements per week. This can create a bloated feeling, lack of energy and irritability. Although stress...
Fiber-rich foods are good for your digestive system, maintaining regular bowel movements and providing nourishment. Although the benefits of fiber sound wonderful, soluble fibers such as in beans, peas and fruits can produce excess gas in your...
Lactose intolerance describes a digestive condition in which the body fails to produce the enzyme lactase that breaks down lactose so the body can absorb it. Lactose intolerance can occur due to a congenital defect, injury to the small intestines...
You get hungry, you eat, the food is digested and then a complex process of transformation begins that turns a burger and fries -- or some veggies and lean protein -- into activity. After your food is digested, it travels through about 27 feet of...
The gastrointestinal tract includes your mouth, stomach, small intestines and large intestines. Approximately 92 to 97 percent of the nutrients consumed, which includes carbohydrates, protein, fat, fluid, vitamins and minerals, are absorbed...
When most people think of the digestive system, they think of the stomach. Though the stomach is an important part of the digestive tract, it's not the biggest or most important. There are many parts to the digestive tract, starting in the mouth...
There are several types of bowel diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one bowel disease, colorectal cancer, is the second highest cause of all cancer deaths. In 2006, over 53,000 Americans died from colorectal...
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a common condition of the large intestines. It affects approximately 20 percent of Americans and is characterized by symptoms such as gas, bloating, stomach cramps, stomach pain and mucus in the stool....
According to Maxwell Meng, M.D., Associate Professor at the University of California in "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment," it is quite common for physicians to see urinary tract infections. Thus, medical students have found an easy way...
Numerous diseases are associated with the ascending colon. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, the digestive system consists of a series of tubes that run from the mouth to the anus,...
A colostomy is created to allow bowel content elimination following injury, disease or defect in the large intestines. During a colostomy, a portion of the large intestine is removed, and a remaining piece is relocated so that it passes through...
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