1. Eating Disorders
Anorexia nervosa - starvation, person believes they are fat
Bulimia – binging and purging to stay at a certain weight. Weight fluctuations
Cause: Psychological, nervous system disorder

2. Men’s bodies are also shown as abnormally thin, but often also show unrealistic muscle definition
Symptoms: very low body fat, weight fluctuations, dental erosion, malnutrition,
lack of menstruation
Treatment: counselling, supplementation, hospitalization

3. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (Heartburn/ Acid Reflux)
Gastric Juice backs up causing a burning sensation in the esophagus.
Cause: Eating before bedtime, coffee, spicy foods, greasy foods, over eating and sometimes other individual specific foods can bring on heartburn
Symptoms: Described as a burning chest pain, under the breast bone -
Treatment: Antacids, sitting up after eating, lemon water, and elimination diet, medications to reduce acid production

6. Peptic and abdominal ulcer:
Lesions on the inside of the alimentary canal, stomach, intestine
Cause: H. pylori bacteria infection breaks down inside mucous layer.
Worsened by excess acids.
Symptoms: Burning pain in abdomen. Vomiting, cramping and blood in stool.
Treatment: Antibiotics, antacids, surgery in extreme cases.

7. Celiac Disease
Cause: The absence of an enzyme that digests gluten, causes gluten to build up in small intestine and this damages villi and restricts absorption.
Symptoms: Gas, bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, migraines, weight loss, failure to thrive.
Treatment: Strict dietary change to zero gluten consumption, if severe may need supplementation

8. Gallstones:
Cause: Liquid in the Gall Bladder (usually bile when its high in cholesterol) hardens to form solid chunks (sometimes as large as a golf ball)
Symptoms: Severe pain in the upper abdominal area for 30 minutes to a few hours.
Treament: Lower fat in diet, surgery to remove the damaged gallbladder

9. Lactose Intolerance
Cause: Inability to breakdown lactose, due to a deficiency in lactase. Lactase production decreases after age 3-5, but this decrease varies. In some people too little is produced.
Symptoms: Results in cramping, bloating, gas, indigestion and diarrhea
Treatment: Less lactose in diet, Lactase enzyme pills or drops

10. Cancer:
There are numerous places along the digestive tract where a cancerous growth can occur
Symptoms: lumps , change in bowel habits, bloody stool, mucus in stool. (change in bowel habits, bloody stool, mucus in stool)
Cause: may include smoking, diet, contact with other carcinogens, genetics, unknown
Treatment: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation Therapy

11. Cirrhosis (of Liver)
Severe liver damage that causes scar tissue, and the liver also becomes fatty
Symptoms: Jaundice (yellowing of skin), fatigue, itchy skin, bleeding/bruising easily, swollen legs,
Causes: alcoholism, hepatitis C, or hepatitis B, fat accumulating in the liver
Treatment: Quit drinking, medication, weight loss

12. Swollen veins at the bottom of the rectum or anus
Hemorrhoids
Swollen veins at the bottom of the rectum or anus
Symptoms: If on rectum, usually not painful, but may cause bleeding. If on anus, can be very painful. Visually see or feel the hemorrhoid when trying to pass stool.
Causes: Straining while sitting. This includes constipation, chronic diarrhea, sitting too long while during movements (ie reading while pooping), excessive sitting, postponing bowel movements, and pregnancy
Treatment: Ointment, time, diet high in fiber, drink water

13. Appendicitis:
Cause: An infection of the appendix, usually due to a blockage or material getting stuck
Symptoms : fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, pain in the lower right abdomen
Treatment: Prompt medical attention, antibiotics, surgery to remove appendix

14. Intestinal Worms: - Roundworms (Nematodes): Hookworms: Whipworms:
Ascarids:
Pinworms:

15. Flatworms:
Flukes:
Tapeworms:

16. Pinworms
Causes: Infectious disease transferred by hands and mouth, clothing, toys
Symptoms: itchy rectal area, worse at night, little white worms present in the anal area
Treatment: anti-parasitic oral formulas

17. Inflammation of the Bowels – Crohn’s, Colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Cause: Unknown, genetics, auto immune disorder
Symptoms: abdominal cramping and pain, bleeding, fever
Treatments: specialized diet, steroids, surgery to remove ulcered section

18. Obesity
Excess body fat accumulates to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. Usually determined by BMI
Cause: Poor diet, lack of exercise, lifestyle, hormonal changes, thyroid issues
Treatment: change lifestyle. Better eating habits. More exercise. In extreme cases, surgery.

19. Malnutrition
Malnutrition is when certain dietary nutrients are lacking or in excess.
Cause: Lack of proper nutrition. This can be related to poverty, food prices, dietary practices, and other factors
Symptoms: Malnutrition is often thought of as a “third world disorder”, but can be seen in Canadian lifestyles. Some people can be too busy to remember to eat properly. This can create symptoms such as over-tiredness, excessive hair loss, and many others (depending on what is missing from the diet)
Treatment: Change diet (other factors may have to be addressed before this can be done)