Thomas Lyles, MD

22/02/2022

The public is flooded with advertisements promoting various dietary supplements that suggest everyone needs to improve their health. As a result, I often get asked, what supplements can improve digestive health? Before taking a dietary supplement, you should understand why you want to take it. To help others better understand how to evaluate this question correctly, I’ve created an article that answers that question and provides my top 5 digestive supplement recommendations. Keep reading to learn if taking a digestive supplement may be right for you...

The dietary supplement industry is growing faster than ever. More than 75% of American adults report taking one or more dietary supplements. The two most popular supplements that Americans consume include vitamins and minerals and specialty supplements such as digestive supplements. With so many sup...

11/09/2021

Did you know that research indicates that coffee drinkers have a healthier gut microbiome, which is good for digestion and overall health? In fact, drinking coffee can lower your risk of colon cancer and slow the progression of this disease. Since many of us start our day with a cup of coffee, I thought it would be helpful to explain the potential digestive health benefits of coffee along with the proper consumption ranges. I encourage you to read my latest article and learn how a cup of joe could improve your health!

If you drink coffee religiously every morning, you're not alone. Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide and is the prime source of caffeine for many people. Coffee also contains a mixture of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids, and antioxidants. Research shows that coffee can be...

21/07/2021

With many of us making an effort to take a vacation or a short getaway this summer, I wanted to offer a few ideas on how to eat gut-friendly snacks while traveling. When we get away from our regular diets, the changes can cause havoc on our digestive balance. Also, the article explains how the foods/ingredients benefit our health to help provide a better understanding of how impactful nutrition can be on our digestive health. I hope everyone has a safe and fun summer!

Summer road trip season is here! Whether you’re going to the beach or a cabin getaway, you want to feel your best. Unfortunately, eating too many fried or processed foods can negatively affect your gut and lead to bloating, constipation, and sluggishness. Long car rides go hand in hand with freque...

16/06/2021

Alarmingly, research shows a higher incidence of colon cancer in younger adults. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently announced new recommendations for colon cancer screening to address this increasing trend, which is to begin screening at age 45. Dr. Lyles provides detailed information on what is driving this new recommendation, how to lower your risk of colon cancer, and testing options. View his thoughts on this life-saving topic - https://bit.ly/2SuMcTG

15/06/2021

A new study by the American Society of Nutrition suggests that only 7% of adults are getting the recommended amount of dietary fiber from foods, which is raising the risk of chronic diseases. To learn more about the daily fiber recommendations along with the power of fiber for our health, I encourage you to read my article on this topic -

It’s no secret that fiber is crucial to good health. From commercials to magazine ads, you’ve probably encountered more than a few products designed to not just keep you regular, but also to improve your health in other ways. But don’t wait until you’re backed up or dealing with poor digesti...

19/05/2021

Food plays a critical role in our overall and specifically digestive health. Helping to educate others regarding how certain foods can impact their health is important to me, so I’ve created a quick read on my 5 digestive superfoods. This isn’t meant to be a definitive list, I just want to help others to start thinking more about how food choices can positively influence their health by explaining how each food impacts our digestive system. Enjoy! -

Your digestive system is one of the most underrated organ systems. It breaks down food, absorbs key nutrients, and expels waste and toxins from the body. If your digestive health is out of order, it can negatively affect all aspects of your health. Staying on top of your digestion can yield substant...

18/04/2021

Most of us have heard of probiotics, but are you familiar with prebiotics? If not, you can think of prebiotics as fertilizer for the good bacteria in our microbiome. I've created an article to help you learn more specifics on how prebiotics work and support our digestive health, along with specific foods that are great sources of prebiotics. I hope you find this information helpful and a good guide to understanding prebiotics and how much you should be eating -

Prebiotic foods are an essential part of a balanced, healthy diet. Prebiotics are a type of dietary fiber that occurs naturally in plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. But not all fibers are prebiotics. Prebiotic fibers resist digestion and pass undigested thr...

08/04/2021

The American Cancer Society just published a study that projects Texas will have the 2nd most new colon cancer cases in 2021. Colon cancer is preventable and very treatable when detected in its’ early stages. Getting screened for this cancer is the best way to prevent it. If you or someone you know is 45 years of age or older, please share this message with them. Most insurance providers 100% cover the cost of the colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer, and our office offers an Open Access scheduling option that allows you to schedule a screening colonoscopy without an office visit. Please get screened! - https://bit.ly/39WRZqx

04/03/2021

This year’s colon cancer awareness month is an excellent opportunity for everyone to reset their health focus by not exclusively concentrating on the pandemic. Colon cancer will not wait for vaccines or herd immunity. Please be proactive and learn about preventing this treatable cancer and joining us in sharing this life-saving message with friends and loved ones. To learn more about how to prevent colon cancer, please read my colon cancer awareness article -

It’s Colon Cancer Awareness month, each March my practice helps to promote this cancer’s awareness message in the Bedford and surrounding Fort Worth communities. You’re encouraged to join us in this effort either virtually or possibly in person at awareness events in the DFW area (fingers cros...

01/03/2021

March is Colon Cancer Awareness month. We promote this awareness message each year to help increase the number of people getting screened for colon cancer in the Bedford/Fort Worth area. If you’re 45 years of age, you should be discussing with your doctor when to get your colonoscopy. Those with a personal/family history of colon cancer/polyps or certain ethnicities will begin this cancer screening at an earlier age. For many, preventative health screenings like colon cancer screening have taken a back seat to the pandemic, but this cancer will not wait for things to normalize. This is a very treatable cancer when detected in the early stages. I encourage everyone to please share this message with any friends or loved ones 45+ years of age. Thank you!

02/02/2021

As many of us look for ways to improve our health in the new year, I wanted to share an easy one that will benefit everyone… drinking more water. I’ve created an article to help others better understand the importance of water and its role in digestion and overall health. I hope everyone has a great 2021 and that they consider adding drinking more water to their health regimen -

Water is essential for survival. All living things depend on it. Without water, you wouldn’t survive for more than a few days.Did you know that you are made up of 60% water? Your body contains the following amounts of water:73% water in the brain and heart83% water in

10/11/2020

Did you know that your bowel movements (p**p) characteristics can be an indicator of your gut health? I know that many will view this as a rather private topic. Still, everyone needs to understand when changes in one’s p**p may represent a medical issue rather than just a particular food reaction. I’ve created an article describing what to look for and when certain changes warrant a trip to the doctor. My goal is to help educate others on something that we all do -

You might do this in the morning, afternoon, or evening. It comes in many shapes, sizes, and colors. And it’s something that we all do. Yes, we’re talking about p**p. Talking about p**p appearance can feel uncomfortable because it's often a private subject, but it’s a natural part of life that...