What causes poor digestion and how to relieve it?

What is poor digestion?

It is known as theincorrect functionality of the intestine, where the food that was consumed cannot be properly digested, thus causing a slow and irritable digestionin people, causing symptoms such as heartburn, gas, nausea and constipation.

Note: An electronic article published by the publisherManual Moderno, mentions poor digestion as adeficiency in digestive processes, to transform ingested food into nutrients that can be absorbed by the intestine effectively. (1)

What causes poor digestion?

As mentioned before, indigestion can be caused by several reasonsthat affect the digestive process in people. Generally these causes are related to eating habits or others, some being the following:

1. Spicy foods, high in fat, caffeine, alcohol and carbonated drinks

One of the main causes of this condition is the frequent or excessive consumption of spicy foods, high in fat and caffeine, since they can cause irritation and burning in the mucous membranes of the digestive system that generate diarrhea and inflammation.

Note: In the same way, carbonated and alcoholic beverages are usually harmful to digestion, since the gas they contain is aggressive, thus generating stomach reflux, vomiting and even nausea when ingested in excess.

2. Eating fast and in excess

Eating quickly and excessively is one of the most common causes of poor digestion , because food does not reach the stomach well degraded due to not chewing enough, making digestion heavier and slower.

Important: A report by the Galician Association against Neuromuscular Diseases explains that it is important to chew, salivate and swallow food well, to avoid disorders or minor diseases in the digestive system. (two)

3. Drugs

The use of frequent drugs can cause poor digestion, since this produces side effects that are generated after being ingestedtag. In the same way, these act aggressively against the intestinal mucosa, coming to attack and affect it.

4. Stress and anxiety

Another common cause of this condition is stress and anxiety, because These moods produce cortisol in the body , which is quickly detected by the stomach, thus increasing heartburn, reflux, and abdominal pain.

Note: A study carried out at the University of Malaga on stress explains that this state of mind produces significant impacts on the functioning of the digestive system, causing gas and heavy digestion when a person is under stress or fear. (3)

5. Cigarette

Components such as tobacco and nicotine are substances that abound in cigarettes; but they alsoseriously affect various organs of the body, one of these being the stomach, sphinx and esophageal sphinx, which are part of the digestive system.

This is due to the fact that nicotine is a substance that weakens the sphinx, causing the food that is in the stomach to be returned to this organ due to its weakening, thus generating burning and heavy digestions in smokers.

6. Digestive diseases

Finally, digestive diseases are also part of the causes of this gastric problem in people, since they cause symptoms such as inflammation, diarrhea or heavy digestion,and pain when excreting; making it necessary to seek treatment with a doctor.

To highlight: A guide published by the General Council of Medical Colleges of Spain , on digestive diseases, mentions that the most common symptoms in most of these pathologies are poor digestion, which emphasizes seeking treatments. (4)

What are the symptoms of poor digestion?

Bad digestions can cause symptoms after eating, which turn out to be very unpleasant and uncomfortable, leading us to inhibit ourselves from doing activities or embarrassing ourselves in public. That is why, to avoid bad situations, the following must be taken into account:

1. Heartburn and feeling of satiety

The main symptoms that may occur are heartburn and a feeling of satiety. Thiscan be felt with mild to intense burning in the abdomen, and a fullness that will put us in a bad mood.

2. Belching, flatulence, nausea and vomiting

It is also possible to suffer from belching, flatulence, nausea and vomiting when you are experiencing indigestion, since the gases found in the stomach and intestines are the cause of these symptoms.

3. Constipation or diarrhea

Constipation is a common symptom during poor digestion , because food cannot be processed well, causing the stool to be hard, dry and slow to expel, even causing abdominal pain.

On the other hand, when it comes to diarrhea, it is the opposite, since This symptom is caused by a virus that was in a contaminated food, causing the stool to be liquid and pasty, whose evacuations are 3 times or more during 1 day.

4. Fatigue

People can feel fatigue and weakness during indigestion, since processed and fatty foods do not contain enough nutritional value that is needed, being these responsible for giving us the necessary energy during the day.

How to relieve bad digestion?

Once the causes and symptoms of poor digestion are known, it is necessary to know, in the same way, the ways to alleviate them, since quick methods will be needed that can help us improve the intestinal flora, some of which are the following:

1. Medicines prescribed by a specialist

Today there are tablet medicines that fulfill a digestive function in the body, helping to alleviate the symptomsthat may occur during indigestion; but for this it is necessary to consult with a specialist doctor.

Important: This is with the function of avoiding more harmful symptoms, since it is possible that a person is allergic to the components of these drugs, or is taking treatment with other drugs, making it possible for other diseases to develop.

2. Avoid consumption of alcohol, caffeine, spicy and high-fat foods

As is well known, foods that are very spicy and greasy are harmful to digestion, as are alcoholic beverages, which is why it is recommended to avoid these foods as much as possible to maintain proper digestive health.

3. Eat calmly and in moderate amounts

One of the ways to help have good digestion is by eating calmly and in moderate amounts of food, in order to chew well and properly digest food in the stomach, thus helping to avoid digestive problems at any time.

4. Control stress and anxiety

As mentioned before, stress and anxiety are states of mind that directly affect the stomach , causing heartburn and heavy digestion, so it is necessary to avoid situations where we are tense or very nervous.

Note: It is also beneficial to practice physical activities on a frequent basis, since these help us to free ourselves from the stress that we can carry, in addition to that, carrying out exercises will contribute to better health and moods.

5. Consume natural infusions and easily absorbed foods

Another method to quickly alleviate poor digestion is with natural infusions or easily absorbed foodsthat facilitate the digestion process. These can be foods that contain vegetables, fiber, legumes or fruits with digestive properties.

In the same way, natural infusions such as Oregano , Guava leaves or Ginger , turn out to be very effective against poor digestion, since they have digestive and analgesic properties that will quickly alleviate the symptoms that may occur.

6. Go to the doctor if necessary

Finally, it is recommended to see a specialist doctor if necessary, since it may be a stomach disease that requires treatment. It is advisable to go immediately for a consultation when the pain is intense and consistent.

Key Findings

• Its main causes are due to bad eating habits, since spicy or very greasy foods can alter digestive processes, as well as excessive consumption of soft drinks and alcohol.
• Another cause of poor digestion is eating fast, not chewing food well, and situations that cause stress or anxiety.
• The most common symptoms of poor digestion are heartburn, belching, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, constipation, fatigue and diarrhea.
• The best ways to control this pathology is to avoid fatty andSpicy foods, reduce stress or anxiety, and consume food in moderation and calmly.