You may already know your health depends on your immune system. But what you may not be aware of is that a healthy immune system begins in the gastrointestinal tract. In fact, the digestive system produces up to 75 percent of the immune system's cells. This understanding of the digestive terrain's function and its importance to your well-being is the first step to improving total health. Explore the following articles and tips that can lead to an empowered, more informed path to wellness. Digestive disorders reach epidemic proportions. If you suffer from a digestive disorder, you're not alone. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that millions of Americans have digestive complaints. Number of noninstitutionalized adults with diagnosed ulcers: 14.7 million (2000) Percent of noninstitutionalized adults with diagnosed ulcers: 7.3 (2000) Number of visits to office-based physicians for digestive system symptoms: 31.6 million (2001) Number of visits to hospital outpatient departments for digestive system symptoms: 3.0 million (2001) Number of visits to emergency departments for digestive system symptoms: 13.9 million Statistics from the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/digestiv.htm