Eat these five foods to keep your colon healthy

The colon (otherwise known as the large intestine) is not only a key component of the digestive system—it plays a vital role in overall health, as well. Its main function is the removal of salt, water and toxins from indigestible food, keeping them out of the bloodstream where they can be harmful. The colon also helps the body eliminate solid food waste.

Simple Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy

Taking care of your heart is perhaps the most important thing you can do in order to live a longer, healthier life. If you have already been diagnosed with hypertension or high cholesterol—two significant risk factors for heart disease and stroke—it’s even more important to pay attention to your heart’s well-being. By taking a few positive steps and sticking to them, you can keep your heart pumping strong. Here are a few tips as recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) to help keep your heart healthy.

Q&A with Dr. Sarah Boostrom, Colorectal Surgery Specialist

As the founder of Colon and Rectal Surgical Consultants of North Texas, Dr. Sarah Boostrom is committed to providing high-quality, minimally invasive colorectal care to her surgical patients. She earned her medical degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center, and she completed both her general surgery residency and her fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, MN before moving home to Dallas, TX.

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

The term “colorectal cancer” encompasses any cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. Though they are two separate cancers, colon and rectal cancer are very similar, and therefore they are often discussed together under the term “colorectal cancer.” Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in both men and women in the U.S. About one in 20 people will develop colorectal cancer in his or her lifetime.

Natural healing: What you need to know about herbal supplements

People have used herbs for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. There are herbal supplements to battle a variety of ailments, from fighting colds to improving memory to lowering cholesterol.

Herbal supplements, also called botanicals, are made from plants. Though they are natural, some herbal supplements can be strong and may have some risks, so be sure to talk to your physician about any herbal supplements before you begin taking them.