Mineral oil is a petroleum-based liquid used as an ingredient in some medications and diaper rash creams. According to a 2001 article published in the journal "Paedriatrics & Child Health," mineral oil is also considered an effective treatment for constipation.

Pepsin is an enzyme -- specifically, it's a proteolytic enzyme, meaning it helps digest proteins. Cells in the stomach secrete pepsin to help you digest the protein that you consume in food.

The human digestive tract relies upon many different chemicals -- and in some cases, organisms -- to function normally. Probiotics are organisms, many of them native to the human intestine, that help your digestive tract function.

Ghee is an Indian butter that is used for cooking. Ghee contains little to no lactose, according to DrGourmet.com. If you’re lactose intolerant, you should not experience any symptoms after eating ghee. Ghee is not commonly used in large quantities and does not naturally contain a significant amount of lactose.

You may hear the word "bacteria," and shudder, thinking of the bacteria that can cause sickness and the spread of illness. But not all bacteria is bad. In fact, some bacteria is necessary for us to live, eat, work and feel healthy.

Rectal bleeding in men is caused by diseases of the rectum or other parts of the digestive tract. Rectal bleeding should be evaluated by a doctor to determine the cause. Some conditions that cause rectal bleeding are life threatening. Early diagnosis may simplify treatment and increase the chance of cure.

Charles Darwin, the 19th century biologist who was behind the theory of evolution, was diagnosed with several afflictions during his lifetime, including lactose intolerance.

Finding blood and mucus in a baby's stool is understandably alarming. Obvious blood usually indicates bleeding from the lower part of the baby's digestive tract. However, what may look like blood is sometimes a harmless color change related to the baby's recent diet.

How acid or how alkaline your digestive system is can affect how well your food is digested. This is measured using the pH scale, with lower numbers indicating an acid environment and higher numbers indicating an alkaline environment.

Your digestive tract has the responsibility of breaking the food you eat down into smaller pieces, both mechanically and chemically, so that your intestine can absorb the nutritional molecules from the food. Doing this requires the use of digestive juices and enzymes secreted by various organs of the digestive tract.

If eating beef makes you feel sick to your stomach, avoid eating beef until you've consulted your doctor. A common cause of digestive illness from beef consumption is food poisoning, which can cause various gastrointestinal symptoms to develop within hours of consuming contaminated beef.

Along with cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and green peppers, cucumbers are frequent culprits for gas and indigestion.