Digestive Health Archives

Trouble Swallowing Pills

Feb 27, 2024 · UHN Staff · Digestive Health

Q: I have trouble swallowing pills. What can I do to solve this? A: There are several strategies that can be helpful, but consult with your doctor before making any significant changes to how you take your pills, such as crushing them. Instead of swallowing pills with just a sip … Read More

Impact of Aging on Gut Health

Feb 27, 2024 · Carrie Dennett · Digestive Health

The health of the gut microbiome, the complex community of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the large intestine, has been linked to everything from digestive health to bone health to brain health. Does it play a role in aging, too? Research has found that our population of gut … Read More

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): More Common Than You Think

Feb 27, 2024 · Denise Webb · Digestive Health

The liver is a part of the digestive system that helps break down food, store energy, and remove waste products, including toxins. When fat builds up in the liver, it can negatively affect the ability of the liver to function. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), may be a disease you’ve … Read More

There’s Something About Sauerkraut

Feb 27, 2024 · Denise Webb · Digestive Health

The Folklore. “Sauerkraut” is simply the German word for sour cabbage. Although sauerkraut is considered to be a national dish of Germany, and has been a staple of the German diet since the 1600s, it didn’t originate in Germany. It is believed to have originated in China and was then … Read More

A Review of Your Daily Medications May Offer Clues to Chronic Constipation

Jan 22, 2024 · Rochelle Nataloni · Digestive Health

A third of adults over age 60 have occasional constipation, but being a woman of any age increases your risk of chronic constipation. People often associate constipation with a diet that is insufficient in fiber, but not drinking enough liquids, and getting inadequate exercise can also be responsible for bouts … Read More

Hemorrhoid Problems

Jan 22, 2024 · UHN Staff · Digestive Health

Q: What can I do about ongoing hemorrhoid problems? I get them a few times a year. A: Hemorrhoids are basically blood vessels in the anus and lower rectum that can swell and enlarge. As we age, the tissues supporting the blood vessels in the rectum and anus can weaken, … Read More

Sugar Alcohols

Dec 19, 2023 · UHN Staff · Digestive Health

Q: What are sugar alcohols? A: Sugar alcohols occur naturally in some fruits and vegetables and are also a man-made ingredient commonly used as a substitute for sugar in foods. Despite their name, they do not contain ethanol, found in alcoholic beverages. Their chemical structure looks similar to the chemical … Read More

Spotlight on Supplements: Lion’s Mane Mushroom

Dec 19, 2023 · Bridget Cassady · Digestive Health

Did you notice that mushrooms, the often-polarizing pizza topping, are enjoying a moment in the limelight? In addition to their nutritional benefits, the unique functional properties of certain mushrooms, including lion’s mane mushroom, is driving consumer demand in products and supplements. EN investigates the evidence behind this trendy mushroom. Overview. … Read More

Research Round Up January 2024

Dec 19, 2023 · UHN Staff · Digestive Health

• Belly Fat Linked with Lower Brain Volume. Excess abdominal fat, both visceral and subcutaneous, may be associated with lower brain volume, specifically cognitive function, in middle-aged adults, according to researchers. In the study, more than 10,000 healthy adults, ages 20 to 80 years, underwent whole-body MRI scans to evaluate … Read More

Ask Dr. Etingin: Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Red Blood Cell Count

Nov 29, 2023 · Orli R. Etingin, M.D. · Digestive Health

I have all the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), including abdominal pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation, but have not yet gotten a definitive diagnosis. What steps can I take to ease these symptoms? Recognizing IBS isn’t always easy, because its symptoms are also common to other gastrointestinal disorders, … Read More

Digestive Health

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