The pancreas is a small organ with a big job. It sits behind your stomach and plays two essential roles in your body. One is helping control blood sugar. The other is helping you digest food. This article focuses on the digestive side. The pancreas produces digestive juices that break down the food you eat … Read more
Chewing gum can trap air in your digestive tract, and many sugar-free gums contain sweeteners that pull water into your gut. Both effects can leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable. The fastest way to get rid of bloating from chewing gum is to stop chewing, switch to plain water, and take a short walk to … Read more
The left side of your abdomen holds more than your stomach. It contains parts of your digestive tract, your spleen, your left kidney, and a section of your large intestine. For most people, occasional discomfort in this area is normal and harmless. But because several organs sit close together, pain here can come from many … Read more
A painful stomach is one of the most common reasons people miss work, cancel plans, or end up curled on the couch. The right approach depends entirely on what is causing the pain. For most mild cases, the answer involves resting the digestive tract, sipping clear fluids, and eating bland foods. But because stomach pain … Read more
A stomach that growls at the wrong moment is distracting and embarrassing. The medical term is borborygmi, and it is the sound of gas and fluid moving through your intestines. It is a normal part of digestion. You can stop it quickly by drinking water, eating a small snack, or changing your posture. For longer-term … Read more
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, but for many people, that morning cup comes with an unpleasant side effect: stomach pain, cramping, or an urgent need to run to the bathroom. The discomfort is real, and it has clear biological causes. Coffee upsets your stomach primarily because it contains caffeine … Read more
The small intestine is lined with millions of tiny, finger-like projections called villi. Their main job is to absorb nutrients from the food you eat. Each villus increases the surface area of your intestine, allowing your body to pull in more vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients before the rest moves on. What Do The Villi … Read more
Fat digestion does not begin in the mouth. It begins in the stomach, where mechanical churning and a small amount of lingual lipase from the mouth start the process, but the major chemical breakdown truly ramps up in the small intestine. The small intestine is where most fat digestion and absorption actually happen, driven by … Read more
Passing gas and feeling bloated are normal parts of digestion. Everyone does it. But when it becomes excessive or painful, it disrupts your day and makes you wonder if something is wrong. The direct answer is that excessive flatulence and bloating usually come from two sources: swallowed air and the gas produced when bacteria in … Read more
Gut permeability, often called “leaky gut,” describes how easily substances pass through the lining of your intestines into your bloodstream. Your intestinal lining is designed to absorb water and nutrients while blocking larger particles like undigested food, toxins, and bacteria. When this barrier becomes too loose, larger molecules can slip through, which triggers an immune … Read more