Americans are drinking less than they have in decades. But a new study on mice shows even one bottomless brunch may shrink the small intestine’s nutrient-absorbing surface and spark inflammation that ...

This story is part of a series exploring human anatomy and physiology complexities. Each story in this collection showcases discoveries reshaping our understanding of the body's inner workings, ...

A new oral nanotherapy works directly on the small intestine, reducing its ability to absorb fat from the food we eat, according to a new study. While the therapy is at the early stages, if it proves ...

The human small intestine is an essential organ that helps us absorb nutrients and vitamins from food. It is an average of 6 meters long and is covered with millions of villi that are separated by ...

When it comes to intestines, it sure seems like two are better than one. I asked my friend Franck Carbonero why that is. He’s a microbiologist at Washington State University. He studies the bacteria ...

When you have iron-deficiency anemia, low iron leads to a lack of red blood cells to carry oxygen to various parts of your body. Sometimes a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder causes this type of anemia.

Chemical digestion occurs when the body uses enzymes to break down certain molecules, such as carbohydrates. This process allows the bloodstream to absorb smaller molecules to transport around the ...