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Digestive Health Archive

Heart Health

Constipation: A connection to cardiovascular disease?

Published December 1, 2021

People with chronic constipation may be more prone to heart disease, but the connection remains unclear. Straining and bearing down to have a bowel movement can temporarily boost blood pressure, putting the cardiovascular system at risk. And a possible link between constipation and blood clots may be worth further study. In rare cases, clots form in the veins that serve the gastrointestinal organs, including the large intestine (colon). Known as splanchnic venous thrombosis, the problem seems to be far more common in people with constipation than in those without.

Nutrition

What are postbiotics?

Published November 1, 2021

Postbiotics are created by digestion. Like probiotics and prebiotics, they may contribute to gut health and overall health.

Diseases & Conditions

Gastroparesis: A slow-emptying stomach can cause nausea and vomiting

Published October 27, 2021

Gastroparesis is a condition that causes delay in the emptying of food from the stomach. This can cause uncomfortable symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and can affect nutrition and quality of life. Treatment may involve medication or a procedure, but a correct diagnosis is necessary first.

Nutrition

Keep ultra-processed foods off the menu

Published October 1, 2021

A study published online July 14, 2021, by the BMJ suggests that eating ultra-processed foods is associated with substantially increased risks of developing inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Diseases & Conditions

Inflammatory bowel disease on the rise in older adults

Published October 1, 2021

The number of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis cases among older adults has increased every year over the past decade. While all racial and ethnic groups were affected, the most significant annual percentage increase was among non-Hispanic Black individuals.

Staying Healthy

Healthy gut, healthier aging

Published October 1, 2021

Keeping the gut microbiome diverse is good for health and may even be tied to healthier aging. To maintain such diversity, it helps to eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fiber, which gut microbes eat. Also, exercise may be helpful to the gut microbiome, since exercise may change the rate at which material moves through the intestines. Other ways to promote a healthy gut microbiome including getting a dog, which exposes us to more microbes; quitting smoking, which relieves stress on gut microbes; and maybe eating more probiotic-rich foods, which may boost beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Diseases & Conditions

Looking out for diverticulitis

Published August 16, 2021

More than half of US adults over 60 have diverticulosis, a condition where part of the wall of the colon bulges outward and forms tiny pouches. Diverticulosis does not cause symptoms, but if a pouch becomes inflamed or infected it becomes diverticulitis, which can be mild or more serious.

Staying Healthy

Battle of the bulges

Published August 1, 2021

A majority of people over 60 have diverticulosis, a condition in which tiny bulges (called diverticula) appear in weak areas of your colon’s inner wall. The bulges themselves don’t cause symptoms, but they can lead to bleeding or diverticulitis, which occurs when a diverticulum becomes inflamed or infected. People can reduce their risk by eating more fiber and staying physically active.

Nutrition

Want probiotics but dislike yogurt? Try these foods

Published July 14, 2021

One reason people eat yogurt is because it contains probiotics — beneficial bacteria and yeasts that improve digestion, provide protection from dangerous organisms, and boost the immune system. But not everyone likes the taste or texture of yogurt, so here are some other foods that offer the same benefits.

Nutrition

Want probiotics but dislike yogurt? Try these foods

Published July 14, 2021

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