Digestive System

The digestive system is in charge of absorbing and transporting nutrients your body needs in order to thrive -- and it gets rid of all the waste the body doesn't need. Discover how saliva breaks down the food you eat and more.

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Saliva is not exactly the most appetizing of subjects, but it plays an important role in everything from how food tastes to how it is digested.

By Jennifer Walker-Journey

Maybe you've seen those fantastical stories saying the world's longest piece of poop is 26 feet? Is that even possible? Where does crap like this come from?

By Alia Hoyt

Does using a bathroom other than your own freak you out? The Faux Fan drowns out the sounds your body makes when you have to, well, go, so you can poop without worrying people will hear.

By Meg Sparwath

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Maybe you've never even thought about it when you've smelled — or emitted — a particularly odoriferous fart. But can that fart spread disease?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

A new study found that giving your feet a boost in the bathroom lessened constipation (and straining) significantly.

By Alia Hoyt

Travelers commonly experience unusual bowel symptoms while traveling. Why is this, and what can we do about it?

By Jesslyn Shields

What would happen if you didn't (or couldn't) move your bowels for several weeks? Let's just say you'd be in a crappy situation.

By Alia Hoyt

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The human system for excretion is actually pretty great, especially when you start looking at what other animals have.

By Robert Lamb

Does it just taste bad or are there other reasons?

By John Perritano

Plenty of theories exist for why drinking an entire gallon of milk in one sitting is a challenge often undertaken, infrequently accomplished. Who's right?

By Samantha Sestanovich

From killer sausages to canceling crows' feet, botulinum toxin has come a long way. Botoxwurst, anyone?

By Laurie L. Dove

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Scientists discover that using a feed additive can decrease cow burps by 30 percent, vastly reducing greenhouse gas.

By Dave Roos

Smelling fecal matter is gross enough, so the possibility that tiny bits of poop are actually getting into your nose is outright disgusting. But should you be worried?

By Laurie L. Dove

Tiny little babies are so sweet and cuddly. That is until you have to change their poopy diaper. What in the world is it that makes their poop so foul?

By Laurie L. Dove

We all pass gas, but not all of us like to talk about it — or study it to figure out how quickly it travels out of the body.

By Laurie L. Dove

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We're taught that it's impolite to pass gas in front of others, but could holding it in cause you health problems?

By Laurie L. Dove

Everybody poops, and everybody passes gas. And guess what? Neither smell good. We'll explain why.

By Jennifer Sellers

You're at cruising altitude, on your way (finally) to your vacation destination, when you realize that your bloated feeling is about transform into an assault on your seat mates. Why does this always seem to happen?

By Maria Trimarchi

Of course we all know how to poop. But you might be missing out on a faster, healthier, more efficient way to do it.

By Laurie L. Dove

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Burping can be gross, but imagine the chaos if all of that gas built up and your stomach exploded. Could it happen?

By Laurie L. Dove

It's not a common occurrence by any means, but for people with certain conditions, straining to poop can have deadly consequences.

By Laurie L. Dove

Everybody vomits on occasion, but often the urge comes at the most inopportune times. Wouldn't it be helpful if there was a way to suppress it?

By Laurie L. Dove

Accusing vegetarians of having smellier farts is pretty offensive. Do you need to know if you have any vegetarian guests for more than just menu planning?

By Laurie L. Dove

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According to the famed children's book "Everybody Poops," well, everybody poops. But does everyone poop every day? And what happens if you don't?

By Laurie L. Dove

Want to keep your body running like a well-oiled machine? Step aside, expensive shakes and supplements -- water's the thing your bod craves most.

By Laurie L. Dove