Antibiotics wrecked my gut and a dietitian showed me exactly how to fight back
Most people have taken a course of antibiotics at some point, and many have experienced firsthand what happens when their digestive system decides to protest. During a recent round of antibiotics for a thumb infection, multiple urgent bathroom visits per day became the new normal, sometimes within the same hour. It raised an obvious question: […]
How ulcerative colitis affects your mental health
Living with ulcerative colitis is about far more than managing what happens in the bathroom. For many people diagnosed with this chronic inflammatory bowel disease, the psychological weight of the condition can be just as heavy as the physical symptoms and the two are far more connected than most people realize. Ulcerative colitis causes sores […]
7 ways to fix your aging digestive system
Gastroenterologists explain why the gut slows down with age and the simple, effective habits that can help keep things moving. If it feels like your stomach has become far less cooperative with every passing year, you are not imagining things. Digestive issues tend to become more common and more complex as we age, and between […]
How to tell if you have food poisoning or stomach flu
Both conditions share many of the same miserable symptoms, but there are meaningful distinctions between them and knowing which one you are dealing with can help guide your recovery and alert you to when medical attention is needed. More than 48 million Americans experience foodborne illness each year, while norovirus alone is responsible for up […]
This smoothie gives your gut 10g of fiber daily
Busy mornings have a way of derailing even the best nutritional intentions. Between early school runs, back-to-back meetings and the general chaos of daily life, finding time for a balanced meal can feel nearly impossible. That is exactly where smoothies earn their place at the table or rather, in your hand on the way out […]
Is swallowing citrus seeds actually dangerous
It happens in a split second. You squeeze fresh lemon into a drink or over a meal, take a sip or bite and realize a seed slipped through. While it might cause a brief moment of concern, medical experts say there is usually no reason to worry. The human body is well equipped to handle […]
Spicy food doesn’t cause ulcers and never really did
Peptic ulcers are sores that develop when digestive acids wear through the protective lining of the stomach or the upper portion of the small intestine. They are a well-documented medical condition with known causes, established treatments and clear prevention strategies. They are also among the most persistently misunderstood conditions in everyday health conversations, largely because […]
4 proven ways to finally beat constipation for good
If constipation feels like a minor, pass-the-time problem, think again. A backed-up digestive system can sap your energy, cloud your focus, affect your skin’s appearance, and even chip away at your body’s immune function. The gut is not a standalone organ it communicates with virtually every system in the human body, and when it stalls, […]
Is swallowing gum actually bad for you
Most people grew up hearing some version of the same warning, swallow a piece of gum and it will sit in your stomach for seven years. It’s the kind of claim that sounds just plausible enough to make anyone pause mid chew. But according to medical experts, the long standing tale simply does not hold […]
1 simple diet change that may guard against bowel disease
Fiber has long been recognized as a cornerstone of good digestive health, yet the vast majority of people in the United States are not consuming nearly enough of it. The World Health Organization recommends a minimum of 25 grams of naturally occurring dietary fiber per day, but studies suggest that only about 5% of the […]