Digestive Health Archive

A recent review found not only that coffee won't harm cardiovascular health or raise the risk of cancer, but it may actually have some health benefits. These include a lower risk of diabetes, and certain cancers, such as liver, and endometrial cancer. Many of these benefits may come from plant chemicals found in coffee.

Certain fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds have been labeled "superfoods" because, compared with other foods, they have higher amounts of certain vitamins and minerals and powerful antioxidants. They often are associated with combating high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and even some cancers. But instead of focusing on eating more of individual foods, experts suggest building "superplates" that include a variety of superfoods.

A study published by JAMA Network Open found that people taking vitamin D supplements were less likely to have a cancer that spread from the original tumor site to another part of their body or one that proved fatal. However, this risk reduction was only seen in people who were at a normal weight, not those who were overweight or obese. The study did not find that people who took vitamin D were less likely to develop cancer over all compared with those who did not.

Probiotics are good bacteria that keep the gut healthy and help fight infections and inflammation. Some research suggests that certain probiotics help relieve symptoms of gut-related conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Fermented foods are the best sources of probiotics, such as yogurt, pickles, sauerkraut, and sourdough bread.

Some fermented foods contain probiotics, beneficial microorganisms that can live in your intestines. These microorganisms help you stay healthy, potentially improving your immune function and reducing damaging inflammation. Eating prebiotics—high-fiber foods that are a source of nutrition for these healthful microorganisms—is essential to help these beneficial microorganisms grow and thrive.

The most common non-melanoma skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. They aren’t usually life-threatening, but they can be quite dangerous. They can bleed, hurt, and eat away at skin. If left untreated, they can erode through important structures like the nose, eyes, bones, or muscles. If they become very large, they can spread, and in rare cases cause death. Treatment ranges from scraping out skin cancers with surgical tools to Mohs surgery, a procedure that spares as much healthy skin as possible.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects up to 45 million Americans, two-thirds of whom are women. IBS is categorized into three types depending on which symptoms dominate: diarrhea, constipation, or a mix of both. Possible contributors include changes in gut bacteria, faulty nerve signals between brain and intestine, pelvic floor problems, and genetics. Newer treatment approaches target pathways involved in symptoms. Doctors are also repurposing older drugs for IBS, including certain antidepressants and the antibiotic rifaximin (Xifaxan).

Scientists wonder if gut microbes might influence behavior in animals, including humans. Some studies suggest a link. For example, a 2022 study suggested that gut microbes can influence an animal's motivation to exercise. Scientists speculate that the same might be true in humans. Other studies have found that a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii is tied to risky behavior in lab mice and risk-taking behaviors in humans. Scientists now even consider it conceivable that gut microbes might influence things like human intelligence, attitudes, empathy, and more, although the idea has yet to be proved.