Digestion Problems
Digestion problems happen to all of us, no matter how old we are or how we function in everyday life.
Heartburn, various types of stomach problems, and hard times with specific foods in our fast-paced lives are widespread nowadays. Somehow, we do not pay that much attention to some of the digestion problems until they become more severe or start affecting the quality of our lives on a higher level. What is the solution? Taking more care about what we put in our bodies, how we cook and prepare the foods we eat, checking daily fluid intake, and relaxing can help a lot.
What are the most common causes of digestion problems?
1) Our choice of food
Diet typical for Western countries mainly consists of high carb, saturated fats, and lots of additives. According to a study on Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), this kind of diet brings higher risks of developing digestive problems. So, what can we do to avoid this? First, you can include more fresh ingredients and foods in your everyday diets, such as fresh vegetables and fruits. Second, avoid pre-packed meals no matter how convenient they may be. Finally, take time to prepare your meals whenever you get the time. Cooking can be fun when you don't look at it as a chore!
Organic food can be more expensive, but your health is way more important than a few more bucks spent when you look at the bigger picture. So next time you go grocery shopping, try to pay attention to declarations on the packages; you might be surprised at the amount of hidden sugar and additives that can be found in the foods you buy every day.
Extra tip: if you eat bread and bagels often, try switching to non-white flour, made from rye or spelled. That type of bread is richer in fibers which help with constipation. Also, if you like baking, try adding a tablespoon or two flax seeds into your dough mix. It does wonders for your intestine.
2) Low fluid intake
If you don't drink enough non-sweetened and caffeine-free fluids daily, the chances you will feel constipated are high. Water intake is essential for overall health, not just for the digestion system. If you don't like drinking water and prefer something different, you can always add some fresh fruits to your water to make it more interesting to drink. Lemon is excellent for that purpose, and it will help you stay hydrated and adds an extra refreshment! Avoid fizzy sugary drinks and artificially sweetened drinks and foods whenever you can, as they are likely to cause bloating and diarrhea.
3) Stress
Even if you eat healthily and drink enough fluids, your digestion system will suffer if you are constantly stressed out! Stress hormones flow through your body when you are stressed, signaling that you are in fight-or-flight mode. These times, your body feels like you don't have time to rest and digest properly, and problems start to appear. Some people have stomach cramps when they are nervous, some experience diarrhea or frequent heartburns. Stress causes your body to move the blood and energy away from your digestive system. Remember, what's heavy on your mind, most likely will be heavy on your stomach too!
What can you do? You can try yoga and relaxing meditations when you feel stressed out. Have a nice hot cup of camomile tea, take a deep breath, and press pause. Your body will be grateful.
4) Low level of physical activity
Regular physical activity is a fast solution for digestion problems. By moving your body, you are helping your stomach and organs to digest foods faster and easier. In addition, it is proven that activity increases gut transit time and helps with constipation.
Bonus advises:
Supplements are your allies! Probiotics can help with many digestion problems as they help you ingest thousands of healthy bacteria that help you by 'attacking' indigestible fibers, which can cause bloating or constipation otherwise. Having a probiotics capsule taken daily can be helpful when you have problems with your stomach, but they can also be taken as a preventive measure. Get your daily dose of zinc and forget about digestion problems! Zink is a mineral that has a proven effect in treating diarrhea, colitis, and leaky gut.
Take your time and listen to your body. Soon you will start to realize which situations, foods, or drinks don't suit your tummy.
*Content and products on Holistic Living are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
