Digestive Health Archive

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.

While many health symptoms resolve quickly on their own, others linger and make people wonder if they need to see a doctor. Symptoms that warrant a doctor's visit include drawn-out cold symptoms such as fatigue, cough, and low-grade fever; a fever lasting more than four days; unexpected symptoms when starting a new medication or after surgery; certain digestive problems; and new or worsening mental health issues.

The digestion process slows as one ages, causing digested food to take its time moving along the gastrointestinal tract from the stomach through the intestines. The longer food stays in the digestive tract, the more opportunity there is for gas to be produced and build up, resulting in bloating. Recurrent bloating also can be caused by people's reactions to certain foods, especially those that contain sugars called FODMAPs. Adjusting one's diet to avoid trigger foods and taking over-the-counter remedies can help prevent and manage problem bloating.

In gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach acid washes backward into the esophagus. This can cause symptoms such as heartburn, an acidic or metallic taste in the mouth, hoarse voice, chest pain, dry cough, post-nasal drip, or trouble swallowing. Symptoms can overlap with those of several other conditions. These include hiatal hernia, functional dyspepsia, eosinophilic esophagitis, esophageal spasms, or heart attack. Distinguishing GERD from other conditions may involve various tests, including an endoscopy to view the esophagus lining.

A small randomized controlled trial published in February 2025 suggests that eliminating oligosaccharides from the diet might be enough to ease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, as opposed to eliminating all the categories of food known as FODMAPs.