digestive health

Facebook Live: Gluten and Celiac Disease

May is Celiac Awareness Month and here at Austin Gastro, we want you to love your guts. Dr. John Tsai answers some of the most common questions he gets from patients about celiac disease and gluten in a recent Facebook Live event. Nearly 3 million Americans are affected by celiac disease and 18 million Americans

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How Does The Digestive System Work?

One of the most important systems in the body is the digestive system. Without it, there would be no converting of the food we eat into energy or the elimination of toxins from the body. A healthy digestive system is invaluable. If you’re curious as to how the digestive system works, here it is. The

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Gluten Sensitivity: Causes and Risk Factors

If you have a sensitivity to gluten, you are not alone. It is estimated that 18 million Americans are affected, which is 6 times the amount of those with confirmed celiac disease. Although the causes and risk factors for gluten sensitivity are still not entirely known, there are a number of theories that suggest why

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IBS versus IBD

IBS and IBD – how are these two conditions different? Many people incorrectly assume both these conditions are the same. IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and IBD stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. They are two distinct conditions with causes and symptoms that sometimes overlap. Determining which of the two conditions you have is important.

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What Can a Colonoscopy Detect?

Undergoing a colonoscopy may seem daunting. Here at Austin Gastroenterology, we do our best to ensure that the process is smooth-sailing for you. A colonoscopy can help us detect and understand any problems in the large intestine as well as the rectum. While it may seem like an ordinary medical procedure, colonoscopy has the potential

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Treatments for Hepatitis A

Your liver plays a vital role in your body, particularly in the digestion and processing of food. But sometimes, you can be exposed to a virus or bacterium that can cause inflammation of the liver – which is hepatitis. There are several different forms of hepatitis, and people can contract them in different ways. Hepatitis

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How Is Pancreatitis Treated?

Behind the stomach and next to the small intestine is where the pancreas is located. It delivers insulin and glucagon, which like insulin assists the body in controlling how it processes food and energy. The pancreas also aids digestion by releasing enzymes into the small intestine. Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed (“-itis” =

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The Importance of Digestive Health

The digestive system is made of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. It is responsible for breaking down foods and liquids into their basic chemical components like fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. The body then absorbs them as nutrients, which can be used as energy to build and repair cells and help you function. The

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What Are Gallstones?

If you are feeling a strange pain in your upper back, right shoulder, or upper-right side or center of your abdomen, then you may have gallstones. These are hard deposits of cholesterol or digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder. You have a greater propensity for developing gallstones if you are overweight or eat

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