Constipation is fairly common but it’s never comfortable. Its symptoms include fewer than three stools a week, hard and dry stools, and straining or pain when trying to pass them. It’s a common side effect of medications and unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as dehydration and a diet low in dietary fiber. Fortunately, it can be...
Think of the gut microbiome as a garden. It is made up of trillions of microscopic organisms affecting each other and the body as a whole. The gut can house healthy microorganisms like bacteria as well as harmful viruses and parasites. Imagine them as a garden full of blossoming produce, or a garden with polluted...
The hype around gut health has not gone away, and with good reason: So much of our health and wellbeing is connected to the health of our gut and digestive system. Unfortunately, very few things in our diets and daily habits are supportive of gut health. Thankfully, this is something we can have some control...
The relationship between gut bacteria and colon cancer has become a significant area of research, as scientists seek to understand how changes in the gut microbiome might influence the development of precancerous colon polyps and their progression to cancer. A recent study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe highlights the role of certain...
They call the gut the second brain, as the health of our gut, aka our entire digestive system, is strongly connected with our brain and our overall health. Despite this, many of us are operating at sub-optimal GI health. This is largely due to our processed, chemically-laden diets and high-stress lives. The path to a...
When TikToker Radwah Oda shared on social media that she had been diagnosed with colon cancer, her main intention was to prevent others from ignoring the same warning signs that she had ignored. Her message, which showed how simple it is to ignore symptoms that could indicate something life-threatening, hit a chord with thousands of...
The ‘gut’ is a popular topic in most health and wellness circles, with many people talking about doing ‘cleanses’ and other special diets to try and ‘heal their gut’. Are cleanses and fasts really necessary for your colon health, though? What are the healthiest ways to naturally ‘cleanse’ your colon and improve your health? This...
Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), is gaining a lot of hype in the health and wellness sphere. From social media trends adamant on pushing its diverse benefits. The trending hashtag #butyrate is now commonplace on platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, with users touting it for everything from digestion to mental wellbeing. Influencers and...
Toxic megacolon might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s actually a very real and potentially life-threatening complication. Essentially, your colon (the large intestine) balloons up and can’t do its job properly, leaving you at risk for serious problems like rupture or severe infection. This condition often stems from inflammatory bowel diseases...
Raise your hand if your digestive system has been personally victimized by dairy products. If your hand is up, you’re not alone. In fact, you are in the majority of people not just around your country, but around the world. The thing is with lactose intolerance is that it affects everyone differently. For some people...
It’s amazing how a shortage of just one nutrient can have such a huge impact on your health. The standard American diet has changed drastically over the last few decades, causing a rise in health problems that were rarely seen before. Chronic nutrient deficiencies are commonplace now, leaving many people in a state of poor health....
Adopting a healthier lifestyle plays a pivotal role in cancer prevention, and a significant part of this involves making smarter food choices. Here are six science-backed dietary hacks to help reduce your cancer risk. 1. Boost Fiber Intake for Cancer Prevention Fiber is more than a digestive aid—it’s a powerful weapon against cancer. “Fiber is...
