Normally, bile that is produced in the liver, is temporarily stored in the gallbladder. From here the bile is secreted into the duodenum (small intestine) during digestion. It is mainly secreted when there are fats in the gut, like after a fatty meal. Bile emulsifies fat globules, which means that it breaks it down into >> Read More ...
Diarrhea refers to increased frequency and a watery consistency of stools. While this may be defined as having more than three bowel movements in a 24 hour period in adults, it is not as clearly defined in toddlers. Infants and young children may pass stool more than three times in a day and this may still be within a >> Read More ...
Wheat is a staple part of diets across the globe, and more in certain regions. It is the main ingredient in the various breads of different nations and cultures but is also present in a host of other foods. Despite being a widely consumed food ingredient, some people are unable to tolerate wheat for various reasons. This >> Read More ...
What is Celiac Disease (Celiac Sprue)? Celiac (Greek koiliakos = abdominal) disease is an inherited malabsorption disorder affecting the small intestine, in which symptoms like diarrhea and bloating are triggered by a substance gluten, present in wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats. Celiac disease may be mild or >> Read More ...
What is lactose intolerance? Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose (milk sugar) because of a lactase deficiency. Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose to glucose and galactose, which are normally completely absorbed from the small intestine into the blood. In lactose deficiency, undigested lactose >> Read More ...
What is Crohn’s Disease? Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may affect any part of the gut, especially the colon and the last part of the small intestine. It usually occurs with nausea, low-grade fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Crohn’s disease may be mild and may >> Read More ...
What is IBS or Spastic Colon? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition where there is abdominal pain with changes in bowel habit, such as diarrhea, constipation or an alternation of both. The diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome is commonly made when these symptoms are present but only if other bowel diseases have >> Read More ...
Diarrhea is a common digestive symptom that affects every person at some point in life. It may occur several times in a year. Usually diarrhea is acute meaning that it lasts for a short period of time but tends to be severe. Acute diarrhea usually lasts for only a few days and often resolves on its own. However, there are >> Read More ...
Pain on the right side of the abdomen can be either in the upper part (RUQ ~ right upper quadrant) or lower part (RLQ ~ right lower quadrant). Abdominal pain is a non-specific symptom that can be attributed to a host of conditions. Therefore the presence of other signs and symptoms in association with the pain is important >> Read More ...
Traditional South and North Indian Food Some typical south and north Indian foods and their nutrient content – either beneficial or harmful – are described below. 1. Cooked White Rice White rice is a cereal grain with the husk, bran and germ removed. It is one of the staple (basic) foods of a north Indian diet. >> Read More ...
