Digestive Health Archive

More men are being diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to a 2025 study. Black men have a higher incidence of cancer and are twice as likely to die from the condition compared with white men.

A urine test, also known as a urinalysis, can reveal a great deal about a person's health. The kidneys produce urine to remove excess fluid and waste products from the body. But urine also contains various chemicals, minerals, toxins, bacteria, and red and white blood cells. Analyzing a urine sample with visual, chemical, and microscopic exams can reveal the presence and amounts of these substances, which can provide clues to specific conditions.

A 2025 study suggests that even a single session of resistance training or high-intensity interval training increases levels of certain proteins that can inhibit breast cancer cell growth, potentially contributing to a lower risk of recurrence.

Gynecologic cancers, which affect the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina, or vulva, are less common than breast cancer. Women can guard against these cancers by learning the risk factors for each type, which include obesity, exposure to human papillomavirus, and smoking. Women should also continue pelvic exams and cervical cancer screenings after a hysterectomy or menopause, as well as watch for unusual symptoms. Women with a strong family history of gynecologic or certain other cancers should consider genetic testing.

Colon cleanses are marketed to help detoxify the body, boost weight loss and immune function, and increase energy. But the colon removes toxins on its own. Colon cleanses also pose multiple health risks.

Eating a plant-based diet may help people lower their risk for chronic constipation, according to a 2025 study. This effect may be due, at least in part, to the high fiber content of plant-based diets.

A 2025 Harvard study found that people who most closely adhered to a Mediterranean or a plant-based diet had up to a 20% lower risk for chronic constipation, compared with people who followed other eating patterns.

Evidence suggests that chewing gum can help people feel more focused and less stressed. Chewing sugar-free versions can hinder cavities. But constant gum-chewing can tire jaw muscles, and xylitol-containing gum can trigger abdominal distress.

A 2025 research review found that adhering to the DASH diet-which emphasizes eating fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, nuts, and low-fat dairy products-is linked to a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer.

In a 2025 study of about 900 people treated for colon cancer (followed for an average of eight years), people who took part in a supervised exercise program for three years had about 30% better odds of surviving, compared with people who weren't in the program.