Often, we consider the digestive system to be a simple body mechanism and do not take necessary measures to improve digestion. Therefore, poor digestion has become a common health issue faced by most individuals. Frequent digestive problems can take a toll on your daily life making you feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. Sometimes taking medical help can be a quick solution to cure indigestion, advice comes from experts at Healthcanal
But, to cure digestive disorders completely, you must remove it from its roots. To do so, you must first understand what are the major causes of digestive problems. Also, understand the ways to fix them.
What causes digestive problems?
Most of the digestive disorders like diarrhea, gas, bloating, heartburn, etc are caused due to the undigested food in your body. The inability of your body to properly break down the food that your intake is the cause behind most digestive symptoms. When your body organs get tired of creating sufficient enzymes and secretions to break down your food, the body finds its way to inform you that something is not correct. But, if the digestive symptoms are left untreated over years, it can lead to more complicated digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcers, parasites, Crohn’s disease, etc.
Below discussed are the six root causes of digestive problems:
Improper or poor chewing of foods
Most of us tend to complete our food quickly. Hence, we often avoid chewing our foods properly and just swallow half-chewed foods. This as a result transfers ungrounded foods to your intestine that require more enzymes to break it.
Low hydrochloric acid (HCL)
Hydrochloric acid helps to digest protein. This acid is made by using vitamin B, chloride, zinc, and magnesium. When your body lacks any of these nutrients, it cannot create sufficient hydrochloric acid that in turn fails to digest the protein. Which later starts to putrefy.
Low enzymes
Your pancreas plays an active role to create enzymes that help break down protein, fats, and carbs. But the pancreas can get tired of creating enzymes and stop breaking down foods if you load them with high sugar diets. Thus, leading to the fermentation of carbohydrates causing gas formation.
Low bile
Bile is produced by your liver which is then pumped into your gallbladder. This further helps break down fat globs into small particles. But sometimes, if these particles are too big to pass into your lymphatic system, they can go rancid.
Overgrowth of bacteria
The foods that remain undigested even after reaching your colon are then digested by bacteria. These are the bad bacteria that break down the food. So, when there are too many undigested foods, it can cause an overgrowth of bad bacteria.
Partial digestion
As discussed in the above points, the enzymes and bile reach the intestine to complete almost 90 percent of the entire digestive process. But some foods that are not digested completely or better say are partially digested, will further start fermenting causing symptoms. Besides, the partially digested food is also fed by parasites.
After knowing the root causes of digestive problems, you should learn the ways to fix them. Although prevention is always better than cure, sometimes even after following all the necessary measures, you may face digestion issues due to various underlying causes. Hence a few tips are discussed below to help you get an easy cure for digestive complications.
Know your digestive triggers
Every individual has unique physical abilities and limitations. Different foods can trigger digestive upsets but it varies from person to person. Hence you must try to first identify which food, beverage, or eating pattern is upsetting your digestive tract. A few people face digestive problems when they consume foods like carbonated drinks, coffee, dairy products, etc. this food triggers diarrhea or gas in the human body.
Do certain medications trigger your digestive complications or it’s certain situations and events that take havoc on your digestion? Try to make a keen observation of the relation between your food habits and body reaction.
Eat real foods
The western diet is found to be rich in saturated fat, food additives, and refined carbs. All these are directly linked to an increased digestive disorder. For example, the food additives like salt, glucose, and other chemicals are a major reason for causing gut inflammation. Besides, trans fats that are found in many processed foods, are associated with developing inflammatory bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis.
Studies and researches have also suggested that artificial sweeteners found in low-calorie drinks and ice creams may increase the harmful gut bacteria in your gut tract. Therefore, you must eat foods that are rich in nutrients. Eating diet-based whole foods protects you against digestive diseases and is also best for optimal digestion.
Stay hydrated
One of the most common causes of digestive problems and constipation is low fluid intake. Experts recommend drinking at least 1.5-2 liters of water or non-caffeinated fluids a day to prevent indigestion and constipation. But the amount may vary depending on the place you are living. For example, if you are living in a warm climate, you should intake more liquid a day than normal. Also, your physical activity determines the right amount of fluid intake. Like if you are exercising strenuously for hours a day, you will have to intake more fluid.
Another way to meet the fluid needs of your body besides consuming non-caffeinated fluids is by eating fruits and veggies that have high water content. Like, tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, strawberries, peaches, grapefruit, melons, etc.
The bottom line
A simple and healthy lifestyle that involves eating healthy, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, exercising, stress reduction, ditching bad habits like smoking or alcohol consumption and understanding your body can help improve your digestion and overall health. The above points discuss the most common causes of digestive problems and the most effective ways to fight them.
