Dr. Daenell shares what women can do to clean their digestive tracts.

Fewer vegetarians get colon cancer. Up to 50% fewer, according to some. A vegetarian diet is also very heart friendly and all that fiber can make a person's digestive system quite happy!

The benefits to a vegetarian diet are plenty but many people worry they will lack in certain nutrients, including iron and certain vitamins like B12, as well as zinc and potassium. They also worry about not really feeling full or missing out on the satisfaction that chewing a good hearty steak or burger can supply.

I had a conversation the other day with my neighbor who happens to be a Nurse for a large hospital which also happens to be a welfare hospital who takes in anyone and everyone even without insurance. She works only with new babies and their mothers' and she has a lot of stories to tell.

Hello everyone,

Here's a short version of a long story. Years of fatigue, digestive issues, constipation, insomnia, mood issues, hormonal issues and an overabundance of doctors and tests, I found a book that seems to describe just about everything I have been experiencing. For the first time I didn't feel so alone and I had an explanation for what seemed too overwhelming to look at.

As I went to bed one night last week, I thought I had had a good day. It was my 3 year olds first day of preschool, I took lots of photos, had a good cry, heard all her news that evening, took a great power-walk, had a glass of wine and hit the hay.

At 4am I woke up feeling strange, as if I had a tummy bug. Five hours later I was still up, but in really bad shape and beginning to feel like this was no flu.

(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.

Costs and concerns about the environmental consequences of bottled water reportedly have many Americans turning back to tap.

And while engineers argue that water quality is among the best in the world, recent scares about trace amounts of drugs got the attention of the government, who are now pushing for more regulation.

Most disconcerting is the alleged amount of endocrine-disrupting compounds – like those found in mood stabilizers, birth control pills and other drugs, which have been linked to birth defects in wild life.

(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) -- Gas can cause abdominal discomfort, belching, flatulence, and other symptoms.

Here's a list of gas-causing foods and activities, courtesy of the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse:

* Eating too many carbohydrate-rich foods, high in starches, sugar and fiber. These include beans, dairy products, soft drinks and fruit drinks.
* Drinking very quickly.
* Activities that cause your stomach to fill with air, including chewing gum, smoking, and wearing dentures that are too loose.

What immediately comes to mind when you envision yourself at 70? Are you a couch potato or preparing for a 10K?

While we have a multitude of fitness programs geared toward our children and ourselves, engaging our grandmother's generation has been an entirely different matter. Sure, there are fitness programs of some sort in retirement homes, but what about in "real" gyms?