(HealthDay News) -- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic illness of the digestive tract. There are two main types: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says.

The agency offers these suggestions to help keep IBD under control:

* Take certain nutritional supplements. Discuss options with your doctor.
* Reduce the amount of dairy products in your diet.
* Eat a low-fat diet recommended by your doctor.
* Stay away from foods high in undigestible fiber, as well as highly seasoned foods.

(HealthDay News) -- More than half of Americans take a dietary supplement of some kind, the Cleveland Clinic says.

But all supplements aren't safe and effective. The clinic offers this primer:

* There's no better substitute for a healthy, balanced diet, which can provide most healthy people with all of the nutrients they need.
* Supplements are a good option for people who can't get enough of certain needed nutrients through diet. Pregnant women, athletes and vegetarians are prime examples.

TUESDAY, Aug. 26 (HealthDay News) -- People with diverticular disease, a common digestive disorder, are typically told to avoid eating popcorn, nuts, seeds and corn so they don't get painful attacks.

But, a new study calls into question that conventional wisdom. The study of more than 47,000 men found that eating those foods did not seem to increase the risk of diverticulosis or diverticular complications.

THURSDAY, Aug. 21 (HealthDay News) -- A new way of processing red tomatoes that may boost their disease-fighting power has been developed by Ohio State University researchers.

FRIDAY, Aug. 22 (HealthDay News) -- A molecule that tames bacteria that cause gastroenteritis, tularemia and severe diarrhea has been identified by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

The finding, they say, could help in the development of new drugs to combat increasing microbial resistance to antibiotics.

The molecule LED209 blocks a bacterial receptor, called QseC sensor kinase, from biochemical signals from the host that trigger bacteria to release toxins and cause illness.

FRIDAY, Aug. 22 (HealthDay News) -- You can have your steak and eat it, too, without producing harmful cancer-causing compounds, new research shows.

As a matter of fact, marinating meat in antioxidant-rich spice blends can reduce the risk of these heterocyclic amines (HCAs) forming by more than 80 percent.

(HealthDay News) -- Mercury is found in many types of fish and shellfish. Because significant amounts of mercury can harm unborn babies and young children, women who are or may become pregnant, those who are nursing, and young children should avoid some kinds of seafood.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers these guidelines:

* Avoid eating fish that contain high levels of mercury, including swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish.

MONDAY, Aug. 11 (HealthDay News) -- One in five men in their 40s has had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test in the past year, and young black men are more likely than young white men to have undergone the test, a new analysis shows.

The findings, published in the Sept. 15 issue of Cancer, should help experts as they reassess prostate cancer screening recommendations.

Health Tip: Prevent Constipation

(HealthDay News) -- It's not true that to be considered regular, you have to produce a bowel movement at least once daily, the American Academy of Family Physicians says.

The "normal" range varies widely -- between three times a day and three times a week, the academy says.

Here are its recommendations to help prevent constipation:

When you need to have a bowel movement, try not to ignore it.
Make time to have a regular bowel movement, such as after a meal.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Physical activity can reduce the risk of colon cancer, but few American adults are aware of this, a new study shows.

A sedentary lifestyle accounts for as many as 14 percent of all colon cancer cases in the United States. People who get lots of exercise have a 30 percent to 40 percent lower risk of developing colon cancer, according to study co-author Elliott Coups, of the Division of Population Science at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Cheltenham, Pa., and colleagues.