Digestive Health Archive

Following a plant-based eating pattern, such as a vegetarian, vegan, or Mediterranean diet, helps manage cholesterol and lower the risk for heart disease. Studies have suggested that some elements of these diets also help protect against cancer, although the best approach is unclear. Experts suggest embracing an overall healthy diet that includes various fruits and vegetables, along with legumes and whole grains, along with cutting down on red meat, processed foods, and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Burping is often seen (and heard) as something rude and crude, but it serves an essential purpose by preventing the stomach from overinflating with air from eating.

The first-ever guidelines to diagnose chest pain document the range of possible heart attack symptoms. They include a sense of pressure, tightness, squeezing, or heaviness in the chest but also in the shoulders, arms, neck, back, upper abdomen, or jaw. The report also provides a road map to help doctors assess chest pain with selective use of the latest available tests. Chest discomfort can also result from other conditions that affect the heart (such as pericarditis) and nearby organs. These include acid reflux, muscle or joint issues, and lung problems.

Constipation can describe many types of problems with moving your bowels. It becomes chronic when it lasts for weeks or months. Many people are interested in natural remedies for constipation, and one of the most common is adding fiber to your diet. A new study compared three natural sources of fiber, with encouraging results.

Many cancers might be avoided if people did at least five hours of moderate-intensity exercise per week like brisk walking, biking riding, and water aerobics.

People who are unable to or don't want to drink cow's milk have alternatives, such as milks made from grains, nuts, and soy.

Compared to men, women may be over-treated for a certain type of thyroid cancer that is usually not dangerous.