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What You Need to Know About Probiotics and Prebiotics
Read More: What You Need to Know About Probiotics and PrebioticsIf you’ve ever strolled through the pharmacy section of your local grocery store, chances are you’ve seen bottles of supplements and other products advertising “probiotics” and “prebiotics.” So what exactly are they? And what can they do for you? Before diving into the specifics, we must first appreciate the role microorganisms play in our bodies.…
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Fast Facts: What You Need to Know About Celiac Disease
Read More: Fast Facts: What You Need to Know About Celiac DiseaseMedically reviewed by Ayanna Lewis, M.D. November is Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month. Celiac disease affects an estimated 3 million people in the U.S. — and most of them are women. So what do you need to know, and do, if you think you may be one of them? We reached out to gastroenterologist Ayanna Lewis,…
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With Ulcerative Colitis, Honesty Is Everything
Read More: With Ulcerative Colitis, Honesty Is EverythingShonda Berry was 14 when she first saw blood where it shouldn’t be. It was the summer before she started high school, and she was at her grandmother’s house with her mother. The three were getting ready to go shopping, but Berry needed a bathroom break first. That’s when she noticed blood in her poop.…
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How Inflammatory Bowel Disease Affects Relationships, Sexual Health and Fertility
Read More: How Inflammatory Bowel Disease Affects Relationships, Sexual Health and FertilityMedically reviewed by Dr. Heather Bartos. Relationships are hard. Forming a close connection with another person while navigating choices around dating, sex and family planning can be tough for anyone. But add inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) into the mix, and things get extra complicated. Characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, IBD is an…
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Stomach Pain. Diarrhea. Nausea. Could It Be Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis?
Read More: Stomach Pain. Diarrhea. Nausea. Could It Be Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis?From the Desk of Beth Battaglino, RN, CEO, HealthyWomen It’s a story I’ve heard far too often. Women suffering from symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for years before receiving the correct diagnosis. That was the case for Renika Wood, who told HealthyWomen, “By the time I was 27, I was so used to being…
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Fast Facts: What You Need to Know About Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Read More: Fast Facts: What You Need to Know About Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseMedically reviewed by Dr. Ayanna Lewis. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects more than 3 million Americans with approximately 70,000 people receiving an IBD diagnosis each year. Here are the basic facts. What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition that affects the digestive system. The two most common forms are…
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Fast Facts: What You Need to Know About Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Read More: Fast Facts: What You Need to Know About Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)April is IBS Awareness Month Medically reviewed by Dr. Lauren Tormey. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects up to 15% of people in the United States and is twice as common among women than men. Commonly confused with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), this prevalent condition can cause discomfort for people of any age. We reached out…
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Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Don’t Have to Rule Your Life
Read More: Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Don’t Have to Rule Your LifeIt was 1988 and I was just finishing my second year of college when the symptoms started. I knew this was more than just a stomachache, not only for the type of pain I was experiencing, but also for the slight bleeding that had started to appear each time I used the restroom. I’ll never…
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Why It’s Important to Speak Up About Chronic Idiopathic Constipation
Read More: Why It’s Important to Speak Up About Chronic Idiopathic ConstipationFor many of the approximately 46 million Americans living with chronic constipation, specifically with a condition called Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC), finding relief can be a struggle. If you have CIC and feel embarrassed, misunderstood, or feel like you have to put your life on pause because of ongoing symptoms, you’re not alone — and…