• Crohn’s disease is an illness that affects the large and small intestines most commonly
• Crohn’s disease and colitis can occur together
• There is no cure for Crohn’s disease, but treatment can help relieve the symptoms
• Treatment for Crohn’s disease can include drugs to control inflammation and suppress your immune system
• Most people who suffer from Crohn’s disease will require at least one surgery
• Take One Multiple and Multi Minerals can help your body get all the nutrients it needs.

What is Crohn’s disease? This disease causes chronic inflammation of your intestines, and all areas of your digestive tract from your mouth to your anus can be affected. Crohn’s disease most commonly affects the small and large intestines, and it was discovered in 1932 by Dr. Crohn. The disease can be called many other names, including ileitis, granulomatous enteritis, terminal ileitis, regional enteritis, and colitis. Crohn’s disease and colitis together are called inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD for short. There is no cure for Crohn’s or colitis, and you can go from remission to relapse continuosly. If you suffer from one or both of these diseases you are not alone. Between half a million and two million Americans suffer from Crohn’s disease at any given time, and it is becoming more common. This disease occurs more frequently during late childhood and early adulthood, but can start at any age. People who have relatives that suffer from Crohn’s disease and colitis have a higher risk of developing these diseases.

The cause of Crohn’s disease is still not known by medical science. There has been speculation by scientists that bacteria, like mycobacterium strains, may be responsible but this has never been proven. The disease is not contagious and can not be transmitted. Your diet may affect the severity of your symptoms, but it is not generally considered the cause. One reason that Crohn’s disease and colitis may occur is because of an activation in the immune system of your intestines, and this causes swelling and inflamation to occur. The inflammation causes symptoms to occur. This is an abnormality in the immune system, and it activates in the immune system when no threats are present. There has been a gene discovered that may be related to Crohn’s disease, and it has been named the NOD2 gene.

Crohn’s disease can lead to serious complications, including an obstruction of the bowel requiring surgery to fix. In the beginning the disease creates erosions which are small and shallow in some areas of the bowel’s inner surface. The erosions slowly become much bigger and go deeper. This can cause your bowel to become scarred and to stiffen up. As the disease becomes worse, the bowel will become narrow and may be easily obstructed. Ulcers can go through the bowel wall, and this can allow harmful bacteria to get into your abdominal cavity and cause infection of organs close by. Symptoms can include rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, skin problems, weight loss, anemia, arthritis, and even fever.

Treatments for Crohn’s disease can include a number of different steps. Different types of drugs can be given to help manage the symptoms. Nutritional supplements, diet changes, and surgery are also treatment options, depending upon the severity of the disease. Anti-inflammatory drugs can help relieve any inflammation in the bowels. Steroids and cortisone can be given to help your intestines heal better and faster. Immunosuppresant drugs can also help with Crohn’s disease, because they will suppress your immune system and make it less active. If there is a secondary bacteria infection antibiotics may be prescribed. Remicade is a new drug that can stop the inflammation response produced by your body. Nutritional supplements can help you get the nutrients needed by your body. At least two thirds of people who suffer from this disease will need surgery at some time, and this occurs if medications and dietary changes are not effective in controlling the symptoms. Part of the bowel may be removed to solve the problem, but unfortunately the disease commonly comes back in another area of the bowel.

If you suffer from Crohn’s Disease you may not be getting all of the vitamins and minerals that your body needs. If you’re lacking these, you should consider taking natural supplements. Check out products like Take One Multiple and Multi Minerals to help your body get everything it needs.

• Digestive problems can cause uncomfortable symptoms such as excessive gas, abdominal pain and constipation.These symptoms can be normal, but in severe cases, digestive problems can also be the signal of some heart conditions as they can indicate some difficulty in breaking down proteins, fats, alcohol and carbohydrates.
• Fresh fruit and vegetable, particularly in their raw state, contain high levels of important nutrients including digestive enzymes which will help you break down fats, proteins, soluble fiber and carbohydrates.
• Ginger, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex are great supplements to add into your diet to promote overall digestive health.

Digestive problems can cause uncomfortable symptoms such as excessive gas, abdominal pain and constipation. They can be the result of eating too much, drinking too much, or enjoying new foods that can cause a digestive reaction. These symptoms can be normal, but in severe cases, digestive problems can also be the signal of some heart conditions as they can indicate some difficulty in breaking down proteins, fats, alcohol and carbohydrates.

When digestive difficulties happen, more blood is diverted to the organs located within the gut in order to aid digestion. The consequence can be that there is less blood and oxygen going to the heart, which can make it vulnerable to arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or ischemia (lack of blood flow).

Chronic indigestion can be the result of an insufficient amount of digestive enzymes which are needed for the process of digesting food and in the absorption of nutrients. When you have insufficient digestive enzymes, the result can be excessive stress from free-radicals and a less effective immune function. This in turn can leave your body vulnerable to infection and disease.

Smart Food Choices For Healthy Digestion

Fresh fruit and vegetable, particularly in their raw state, contain high levels of important nutrients including digestive enzymes which will help you break down fats, proteins, soluble fiber and carbohydrates. Foods that are particularly rich in these nutrients include carrots, broccoli, beetroot, celery and parsley. Others include young shoots from grains such as wheat, barley and alfalfa. The combination of nutrients and enzymes will boost your immune system and will promote bowel and gastro intestinal function. Such nutrients and complex carbohydrates will also give you a sustained energy source and may also help you to control your weight.

Juices

Juices made from fresh fruit and vegetables can be an excellent way to ingest the enzymes that assist with digestion. Juices tend to be easy to digest and can be assimilated within minutes. Fruit and vegetable juices can be excellent sources of complex carbohydrate and energy with nutrients that will help to regenerate cells, glands, tissues, and organs. Juices also help to cleanse the bowel, and are therefore a popular element in detoxifying programs or diets.

Probiotics

The foundation of a healthy digestive function is a sufficient amount of beneficial bacteria that exist on the wall of the intestine. They are largely responsible for creating an environment that is favorable for normal digestion and the absorption of nutrients. They are also critical to healthy immune function and for a proper electrolyte balance.

In order to ensure you have a healthy gastrointestinal tract, make sure you take in the good bacteria that are so important in your gut. These are known as probiotics. They are contained within some yoghurt enriched with probiotics such as streptococcus thermophilus and lactobacillus acidophilus. Fermented or cultured foods such as tamari, tofu, miso and sauerkraut can also be rich in probiotics. Probiotic supplements are also available in pharmacies and health food stores.

Ginger

Ginger is also commonly used to cure indigestion because it can absorb and neutralize toxins within the stomach. Ginger can be used as a fresh ingredient, or as a dried spice. It can also be drank in an infusion or tea, or is available as a dietary supplement.

If you’re having trouble with digestion problems and nausea, there are some natural supplements that can help you see the results you’re looking for. Check out products like If you’re having trouble with digestion problems and nausea, there are some natural supplements that can help you see the results you’re looking for. Check out products like Ginger, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex are great supplements to add into your diet to promote overall digestive health.

• Ginger root extract has been shown effective against motion sickness
• Ginger roots can also minimize nausea and vomiting caused by pregnancy, surgery or chemotherapy
• Recent research has supported the idea of ginger being a powerful antioxidant
• Ginger, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex are great supplements to add into your diet to promote overall digestive health.

If you like sushi, you’ve probably cleaned your palette with it. If you’ve made a pumpkin pie, you’ve used it as a seasoning. If you’ve traveled to other parts of the world, you may have drunk beer or eaten candy made from it. All of those things are possible with ginger root. And while those are some great uses, they are nothing compared to the health benefits provided by ginger root extract.

Some Ginger Background

The spice known as ginger is literally a root from a plant called Zingiber officinale. The plant grew naturally in the East in countries like India and in parts of Southeast Asia. Some of the Caribbean islands also grow ginger plants, as do some of the countries in West Africa. Currently, India and China are the two leading producers of ginger root – making up a combined 50% of all ginger production in the world. Throughout its long history, its medicinal properties have been one of many reasons for its continued popularity.

Ginger Root Extract & Digestion Problems

One of the most common uses for ginger as a medical supplement in the United States is to fight motion sickness. Eighty sailors who had a tendency to fill sick while at sea were involved in one study to determine whether or not ginger could really help with this problem. Some of the people took a placebo while others took powdered ginger root. Those participants who took the ginger root saw greatly reduced symptoms, including less nausea and vomiting. Another study actually found ginger root extract to be more effective against motion sickness than the leading over-the-counter medication for the condition. Plus, taking ginger is safe, even according to the FDA.

However, ginger root doesn’t just help with motion sickness. It can help with other digestion problems. For example, morning sickness can make expecting mothers feel horrible on a daily basis and can even put their health in jeopardy in severe cases. However ginger has been shown to reduce the incidents of nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy, too.

Plus, additional studies have shown that ginger can help prevent nausea after chemotherapy and surgery.

A Powerful Antioxidant

Free radicals in our body can do a lot of damage which is why we need a strong antioxidant to fight back and to prevent that damage from occurring. Ginger root extract is definitely a powerful antioxidant.

A recent study conducted on a relatively small number of volunteers – 20 healthy people and 20 people who had been diagnosed with coronary heart disease – demonstrated these qualities. The two groups were divided randomly into two different groups. Some were given ginger while the other group took a placebo. After four weeks, the level of oxidation on lipoproteins in the blood was tested and compared to results acquired prior to the study. The comparison found a significant decline in oxidation in the patients who had used ginger while no change was found in the patients who took the placebo.

If you’re having trouble with digestion problems and nausea, there are some natural supplements that can help you see the results you’re looking for. Check out products like Ginger, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex are great supplements to add into your diet to promote overall digestive health.

• Lactose intolerance concerns the sugar called lactose, which is abundant in milk and other traditional dairy products. This medical condition can have serious side effects, such as not getting enough calcium in your diet.
• Your doctor may also have you take small amounts of dairy, usually in the form of yogurt that includes live bacterial cultures, to help your body learn to produce more lactase, which will minimize or eliminate completely your lactose intolerance and symptoms.
• Calcium Magnesium, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex are great supplements to add into your diet to promote overall digestive health.

What is lactose intolerance, and what does this condition mean for you if you are affected? Lactose intolerance concerns the sugar called lactose, which is abundant in milk and other traditional dairy products. This medical condition can have serious side effects, such as not getting enough calcium in your diet. Since calcium is usually found most often in dairy products that are high in lactose, a lactose intolerant diet may not supply all the needed calcium and this can lead to problems in the future, such as brittle bones or osteoporosis. Diagnosing lactose intolerance in children is very important, because this is a prime growth time when many nutrients including calcium and vitamin D are needed for normal growth and maturation.

Causes of Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance can be caused by a number of different factors. The basic cause of this disease is an inability to break down the sugar lactose in milk and dairy products, but what causes the deficiency can include the normal aging process in some individuals, usually called a primary lactose intolerance, an injury or illness that affects that ability of your body to break down the lactose, normally called a secondary lactose intolerance, or a congenital illness or condition that is present at birth, normally called congenital lactose intolerance. The enzyme lactose is responsible for breaking down lactose in your body, and if you are lactose intolerant your body is not making enough of this enzyme for some reason.

Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance can be very uncomfortable, and there may be symptoms which range from mild to severe. These symptoms include flatulence and gas, diarrhea, bloating, nausea, abdominal pain, and even a distended abdomen. A lot of times lactose intolerance can mimic the symptoms of a stomach or intestinal flu or virus, but they occur every time dairy products are consumed. Depending on the degree of lactose intolerance and the amount of dairy in your diet, you may experience mild discomfort or you can have severe symptoms which are excruciatingly painful. Because the symptoms of this disease can be caused by any number of other diseases or medical conditions as well, a doctor must do some tests to determine if you are lactose intolerant or not.

Treatments for Lactose Intolerance

There are several treatments that can help if you suffer from lactose intolerance. You can try a lactose intolerant diet, which minimizes the amount and number of dairy foods that you eat, to keep symptoms in check and prevent problems. This step may require the use of lactose intolerance products, such as LACTAID® milk, which has some of the lactose already broken down or removed, to allow for easier digestion. These products are intended to allow individuals with lactose intolerance a substitute with all the nutrition of regular milk but without the symptoms or problems normal dairy products can cause. There are also supplements that you can take to help your body break down lactose more efficiently, and also nutritional supplements to help avoid poor nutrition due to the limit on dairy foods. Your doctor may also have you take small amounts of dairy, usually in the form of yogurt that includes live bacterial cultures, to help your body learn to produce more lactase, which will minimize or eliminate completely your lactose intolerance and symptoms.

Being lactose intolerant can really make life difficult but it doesn’t have to be. Natural supplements can help you get all the nutrition you need while helping with digestive issues. Products like Calcium Magnesium, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex are great supplements to add into your diet to promote overall digestive health.

• Yoga positions are designed to improve health. Each position is meant to place pressure on certain parts of the body or to increase circulation.
• If you want to improve your digestion, you can try a number of the standing positions in yoga.
• Ginger, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex are great supplements to add into your diet to promote overall digestive health.

Healthy digestion is important to your overall well-being. However, most of us don’t know how to improve our digestion. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that one of the best methods is through yoga breathing exercises. Below you’ll learn more about how this surprising solution can help improve the state of your digestive processes.

What is Yoga?

First, you may want to know what is meant by yoga. Most of us have some idea of what the practice means, but that idea is usually based on what we’ve seen on television. The practice of yoga was actually developed in India more than 5,000 years ago as a method for integrating the human consciousness with the so-called universal consciousness. In fact, the word yoga comes from a word meaning unity.

Yoga positions are designed to improve health. Each position is meant to place pressure on certain parts of the body or to increase circulation. Additionally, breathing is important because the early Yoga practitioners all believed that breath was the most important part of living. Controlled breathing is an essential part of yoga for this reason.

Postures for Digestion

Part of doing yoga is learning the myriad of different positions that affect the body. The idea is to put your body into the position and hold it for a set amount of time. The theory is that each position can have a different impact on the body. For example, some postures restrict the flow of blood into certain areas of the body. Thus when the position is released, a rush of blood and oxygen enter that part of the body. This can be very effective in the digestive process.

If you want to improve your digestion, you can try a number of the standing positions in yoga. These positions include some of the earliest and most basic positions, such as Trikonasana and Half Moon Pose, which means even beginners can find ways of using yoga to have healthier digestion.

Breathing & Digestion

Another important part of yoga is yoga breathing techniques. To get the full benefits from yoga, you need to learn how to breathe through your nose instead of through your mouth. The reason, at least according to yoga practitioners, is that the nasal passages are directly connected to our nervous system.

When it comes to digestion, nasal breathing is especially important. That’s because the endocrine system plays a vital role in the digestive process and nasal breathing has a direct impact on that particular system. However, some practitioners go one step further and recommend that people breathe through only their right nostril within the first hour after finishing a meal. The explanation for this activity is that the digestive fluids flow from the left to the right in the body so by bringing in fresh oxygen through only the right nostril it should stimulate the flow of these juices which will stimulate digestion, as well as good health. Additionally, using breathing relaxation techniques will help you relax while eating and that is also good for digestion.

You can also improve digestion by achieving overall digestive health. If you’re looking to boost your digestive health, there are natural supplements to help. Check out products like Ginger, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex.

Although our respiratory and circulatory systems seem to be discussed easily, most people don’t want to talk about their digestive processes very easily. However, healthy digestion is one of the most important processes to your overall well-being. Understanding how digestion works, what problems can interfere with your well-being thanks to digestion issues, and learning how to keep the process running smoothly are important if you want to maintain a good quality of life.

What Is Digestive Process?

To understand healthy digestion, you need to realize that the process involves nearly all of your body starting with your mouth. When you eat a piece of food, your saliva already begins breaking it down so that it will move through your body more easily. Enzymes in the saliva also help break down the food. After the food travels through the esophagus, it reaches the stomach where more enzymes and acids will continue working on breaking down the food. Food then leaves the stomach through a narrow passage known as the pylorus so it can start small intestine digestion. This stage of the process is one of the most crucial because nutrient digestion is done here. The nutrients from our food are absorbed back into our bodies through the small intestine which is part of our extracellular digestion.

Problems with the Digestive Process

Because of the length of the digestive process, many problems can occur. Reflux – the movement of stomach acid into the esophagus – can cause severe heartburn occasionally, but small people have to deal with these symptoms on a daily basis. Another common problem is the peptic ulcer which is caused by bacteria. The bacteria create sores in the stomach and small intestine which make digestion painful and which can lead to internal bleeding. Lactose intolerance, gallstones, and diverticulitis are other digestive complaints that can significantly reduce your well-being by causing pain, limiting what you can eat, and making you have to constantly be thinking about your digestion.

Maintaining Healthy Digestion

If you want to keep your digestion healthy, there are a few steps you can take. First, make sure you are eating plenty of fiber. Fiber helps keep the food moving through your body. That’s important because you don’t want a build-up in your intestines or stomach. Fiber also softens the leftover parts of your food which makes it easier to excrete. Make sure to combine fiber with plenty of water which is also essential for healthy digestion.

You should also avoid eating large meals. When too much food is consumed at one time, it has to stay in the stomach waiting its turn in the small intestine. That’s what causes the bloated and heavy feeling you get when you’ve eaten way too much food. Smaller, more frequently meals are better for digestion and for your metabolism.

Steer clear of high fat foods. Fat can actually make many of the digestive problems described above worse, plus it slows down the entire process. Sticking to a low-fat diet and avoiding high-fat oils in particular is going to be better for your digestive health and well-being.

If you’re having trouble with digestion problems, there are some natural supplements that can help you see the results you’re looking for. Check out products like If you’re having trouble with digestion problems and nausea, there are some natural supplements that can help you see the results you’re looking for. Check out products like Ginger, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex are great supplements to add into your diet to promote overall digestive health.

• Knowing how your body should function when no digestion problems exist can be a good first step in controlling reoccurring digestion problems.
• There are many natural supplements to help you combat digestion problems.
• Ginger, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex are great supplements to add into your diet to promote overall digestive health.

At some point in everyone’s life, digestion problems will arise. These problems can be as simple as heartburn or as chronic as Crohn’s disease. Understanding the digestive system and exploring some natural remedies for digestion problems are important for everyone.

Understanding Digestion

Knowing how your body should function when no digestion problems exist can be a good first step in controlling reoccurring digestion problems. Most of us know that the process begins in our mouths as we chew our food and as saliva helps break it down, making it easier for us to swallow. The food then travels down the esophagus and into the stomach. While in the stomach, the food is treated with acids and enzymes that are released from glands. Three quarts of these acids are released daily into the stomach.

When the food reaches the properly digested state, it enters the small intestine. In this part of the digestive process, the nutrients from the food can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Other parts of the system include the liver, which creates bile. Bile helps the body absorb fat. Enzymes created in the pancreas help breakdown the food further. Any food that is not digested enters the large intestine where bacteria break it down further and from where anything that is left over is excreted from the body.

Treating Digestion Problems

When the process described above works well, you feel fine; however, digestion problems can cause serious discomfort and other consequences. Many of these problems can be treated, reduced, or prevented using alternative and natural treatments.

If you have reoccurring bouts of nausea, ginger is a great natural remedy. Numerous studies have shown that ginger can be a great way to settle an upset stomach. Some people produce too much stomach acid. Ginger can also help improve this condition. Bitter foods are also a good option. You can also introduce herbs, such as angelica, skullcap, and yarrow into your diet to improve overall digestive function.

When you have bloating or gas build-up in your intestines, you can treat this problem with herbs including fennel, mint, rosemary, and lavender. Most of these can easily be added to your regular recipes and can enhance flavor while also reducing digestion problems. Stomach cramps can be helped by drinking a cup of tea made with chamomile or lemon balm.

There are a number of additional herbal choices for eliminating digestion problems. Slippery elm powder, for instance, can be added and taken as a warm drink. This will reduce inflammation in the lining of the intestines and can minimize problems such as diarrhea. Psyllium is another good option and can be combined with slippery elm for excellent results. Psyllium also works well at improving the health of the digestive system and can reduce problems with constipation.

An herb called meadowsweet combined with marshmallow root and chamomile will help you get rid of heartburn just as effectively as any antacid pills, and tasty peppermint is a good choice if you need to reduce gas.

If you’re having trouble with digestion problems and nausea, there are some natural supplements that can help you see the results you’re looking for. Check out products like If you’re having trouble with digestion problems and nausea, there are some natural supplements that can help you see the results you’re looking for. Check out products like Ginger, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex are great supplements to add into your diet to promote overall digestive health.

• There are measures that you can initiate to help your digestive system work more efficiently resulting in better health.
• Poor digestion can result in constipation, gas, water retention, and abdominal pain.
• Ginger, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex are great supplements to add into your diet to promote overall digestive health.

Poor digestion has been a problem for all of us at one time or another. Depending on the specific foods you eat, the lifestyle you live, and your physical and medical condition can determine and have a direct effect on the efficiency of your digestive abilities. There are measures that you can initiate to help your digestive system work more efficiently resulting in better health. Give yourself plenty of time to eat your meal. With people in such a hurry all the time, we often find ourselves rushed and eating according to a timeclock. Do not swallow large pieces of food as this is harder on your system to digest. While you are eating, make sure you chew each bite thoroughly. This helps to start breaking the food down before it even goes to your stomach, so that digestion is much more efficient. Anytime food is not chewed properly, there is a risk of choking and the digestive process has to work harder in completely breaking the food down. This results in the poor absorption of all the vital minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients in the food. This is why it is so important to slow down, take smaller bites, chew completely, and then swallow. This will help your digestive system do the job it was intended to.

Poor digestion can result in constipation, gas, water retention, and abdominal pain. Malnutrition, as well as other serious health problems, can occur if your digestive system is not working properly. You can help eliminate poor digestion and put yourself back on the road to a healthy and more efficient digestive system by taking some deliberate steps. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Water is crucial in that it helps the body to absorb the nutrients from the food and then to efficiently and comfortably eliminate any waste build up. When there is an inadequate water intake, your elimination process is compromised. Constipation is a very likely the most common response to insufficient water consumption and can also affect the balance of bacteria in your system. This may allow harmful bacteria to build up and irritate your bowels. We all have beneficial bacteria in our digestive system that serves a purpose, but when the balance of bacteria changes we can end up with constipation and other symptoms that follow.

Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fiber is important if you suffer from poor digestion. Fiber helps keep your digestive system working and promotes the proper elimination of wastes. Constipation again can result if you do not have enough fiber in your diet, but that is not the only problem a lack of fiber can cause. Many doctors believe that cancer of the colon and intestines may possibly be one of the results of not eating enough fiber.

Relieving stress before you eat can also have an effect on your digestive system. Stress causes changes in your body, and has a direct relation in causing the cravings for high fat and high sugar foods. Stress also has an effect on how your body digests food in that the digestive process slows down when your body is stressed out. This causes food to stay in your system longer, clogging it up, fermenting, and the results are normally negative. These results can include acid reflux, heartburn, nausea, and weight gain. Try to relax before eating so that your digestion process is relaxed and stimulated properly to work more efficiently.

Probiotics can play a big role in proper and healthier food digestion. Probiotics (for life) are healthy bacteria that work to improve the overall digestive system. The digestive system contains more than four hundred types of yeast and bacteria that are beneficial and necessary for digestion. Probiotics can definitely help keep your intestines clean and healthy. Many yogurts in the grocery stores now contain some of these bacterias, but it is important to determine if these foods have live cultures. Some yogurt makers use organisms that are not active or live, or add the cultures before the product has been pasteurized, which are then destroyed in the process of pasteurizing because of the extreme heat. For those who do not particularly like yogurt it is not the only product or way that you can get these probiotics. Most health food stores and now some grocery stores carry these supplements as well.

If you’re having trouble with digestion problems, there are some natural supplements that can help you see the results you’re looking for. Check out products like Ginger, Acidophilus Assorted Chewable and Daily Enzyme Complex are great supplements to add into your diet to promote overall digestive health.