Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin that is available in animal products. The recommended daily value for an adult is 2.4 mcg. It helps the neurological system function correctly. Formation of red blood cells and DNA synthesis are also...
Lactose intolerance is a condition characterized by an inability to properly digest a form of sugar called lactose. The enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose, called lactase, comes from the cells that line your small intestine; you can...
Kids Health estimates that between 30 and 50 million people in the United States are lactose intolerant. This incidence translates to approximately 1 out of every 10 Americans experiencing some degree of intolerance to lactose, a sugar found in...
Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop in the stomach, small intestine or esophageal lining. The causes of peptic ulcers include infection, particularly Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori and/or medication. Peptic ulcers can be aggravated by...
The ileocecal valve separates the small intestine from the large intestine. Ileocecal valve syndrome is a rare disease in which the ileocecal valve is faulty and allows toxins from the colon to enter the small intestine, where the toxins are then...
Stomach aches are a common ailment that everyone has experienced at one time or another. Although stomach aches can be extremely bothersome, they do not usually indicate a serious underlying health condition. Intolerances to specific foods and...
Vitamin B-12 is a nutrient that your body uses for a variety of purposes, including red blood cell production, central nervous system maintenance and the breakdown and use of the foods in your diet. Some people cannot properly absorb B-12 or lack...
Your body requires adequate levels of vitamin B-12 to maintain proper brain function and red blood cell production. If you don't get enough of this water-soluble nutrient, you may be at risk of developing vitamin B-12 deficiency -- one of the most...
Weight loss surgery options have grown during recent years. When researching options, think about what is expected of you to make your surgery and long-term weight loss successful. Surgery works best in conjunction with diet and exercise. Become...
There are several types of weight loss surgery that are designed to help you lose weight by reducing your food intake. With gastric bypass surgery, your stomach is reduced and a portion of your small intestine is bypassed. Lap-Band surgery places...
Vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, is an essential vitamin that belongs to the B-complex vitamins. Vitamin B-12 is needed by the body to manufacture new healthy red blood cells and also to maintain a healthy central nervous system, according to...
A biliopancreatic diversion is a surgical procedure in which a portion of the stomach is removed. The new stomach pouch is connected to the lower portion of the small intestine. This weight loss surgery forces patients to consume less food due to...
Gallbladder removal, or cholecystectomy, is a common surgical procedure often performed for gallstones, according to the Mayo Clinic. The function of the gallbladder is to store bile, which the liver produces. The gallbladder releases the bile as...
After gastric bypass surgery, you may have difficulty absorbing certain vitamins and minerals. Supplements for bariatric patients usually include a multivitamin plus additional vitamins and minerals. The supplements prescribed for bariatric...
The small intestine receives food and nutrients directly from the food in your stomach. The food travels from the stomach to the first segment of the small intestine, the duodenum. Enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver and gallbladder...
Obesity is a problem that is plaguing our nation. Some people feel desperate to lose weight and will take any option they have available to them in order to reach their goals. Gastric bypass surgery was created specifically for that reason....
Doctor's may recommend bariatric surgery to patients based on their BMI (Body Mass Index). The BMI can be calculated by dividing the patient's weight by the square of the patient's height (in meters). People with a BMI of over 25 are considered to...
Gastric bypass surgery, a major surgery performed on morbidly obese people who have a body mass index greater than 40 or who are more than 100 pounds overweight, presents a successful, yet serious weight loss alternative. According to the Mayo...
More than half a million people undergo gallbladder removal, or cholecystectomy, each year in the U.S., according to Surgery.com. Dietary restrictions before gallbladder removal are common, since fat intake and other dietary substances can...
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery aims to induce weight loss in severely overweight or obese patients. Gastric bypass is major surgery and involves stapling the stomach so that only a small portion can receive food. Then, the small intestine is cut...
Some types of bariatric surgeries -- gastric bypass, biliopancreatic diversion and duodenal switch -- cause weight loss by blocking the absorption of some vitamins and minerals. If these nutrients are not replaced in your diet, the deficiencies...
Nutrition is key to good health and becomes even more important during pregnancy. The foods that you eat nourish not only you, but also your growing baby. Gastric-bypass surgery is a procedure that involves reducing the size of the stomach and...
The goal of all types of gastric bypass surgery is to prevent overeating and to treat morbid obesity. There are a few different methods that can be used during gastric bypass surgery, including Roux-en-Y and a method using an adjustable gastric...
Gastric cancer occurs when malignant cancer cells begin to grow and spread inside the lining of the stomach. Over time these cells may begin to spread outside of the stomach to the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes. Although there is no known...
Lactose intolerance is a chronic condition characterized by an inability to properly digest the milk sugar, lactose. Lactose intolerance does not cause permanent damage to the gastrointestinal tract, although it can be uncomfortable. According to...
The Roux-en-Y procedure, the most common form of gastric bypass surgery, can help obese people lose weight and maintain that weight loss. It is intended for those who have been unsuccessful in losing weight by other methods. The Roux-en-Y...
The proper production of red blood cells relies on the presence of adequate amounts of various nutrients, including vitamin B-12 and iron, in your body. A lack of vitamin B-12 or iron means you do not have enough of the nutrients to create healthy...
According to "Fitness Magazine", more than 90 percent of all women between 20 and 40 years of age don't get the vitamins and minerals they need from diet alone. While a balanced diet can provide your body with the recommended levels of nutrients,...
You may be scared of having gallbladder surgery while welcoming it at the same time. Gallbladder disease and gallstones can be very painful. Normally, your liver produces bile, which is then stored by the gallbladder before it reaches the small...
