Difficult digestion: causes, remedies, and prevention

You know the ad that starts with a little question to capture consumers' attention: "Digestion problems?" And then the promotion of medicines, usually over-the-counter, that are supposed to help... digestionA significant waste of money and health, as there is always the risk of addiction and there are some specific contraindications. Instead, you can digest well, Very good, in a natural way and without resorting to any products to be purchased in the pharmacyKnowing that good digestion begins at the table, for example by never eating in a hurry, and after lunch or dinner, with a short walk. Well before, therefore, the stomach starts working to carry out its final job of allowing us to digest. But let's take a closer look at the 10 simple rules daily for a good, healthy and proper digestion.
Difficult digestion is a widespread problem: nine out of ten Italians suffer from gastrointestinal disorders. In some cases, food lingers in the stomach for too long, while in others, it takes longer to digest.

Cause

The causes of indigestion can be varied. Among the most common are:

• Il gastroesophageal reflux, especially when symptoms appear on an empty stomach
• Frequent belching
• Gastritis, or inflammation of the mucosa lining the stomach
• Celiac Disease, permanent intolerance to gluten
• Lactose intolerance
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Anxiety and stress
• Excessive and incorrect nutrition
• Postprandial drowsiness
• Feeling of heaviness and fullness
• Meals eaten in a hurry
• Smoking and frequent alcohol consumption

Symptoms

The first symptom of difficult digestion is felt with pain localized in the lower part of the chest, in the abdomen, or in the upper part of the stomach, accompanied by a bloating of the bellyOther symptoms include:

• Aerophagia
• Halitosis
• Acid reflux
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Threw up

Remedies for good digestion

At least one in five Italians has difficulty digesting and in Western countries, a segment of the population between 20 and 40 percent complains of problems. And if you are lucky enough to be on the other side, you too when you eat too much and heavy you find yourself facing the same obstacles.

How to aid digestion

As the years go by and we get older, things also tend to get worse., for this reason it is necessary to take action with some simple precautions that will allow you not to regret what you have just eaten.

• First thing to do not too abundant mealsIt's better to eat several times a day than to overdo it a few times a day. It's also very important not to overdo it with liquids, especially carbonated ones.
• Eat slowlyEnjoy your meals and don't rush. Rushing causes you to swallow air and impairs digestion. Of course, chew thoroughly before swallowing.
• Eat as much as possible simply cooked meals. Limit fried foods and stewed foods as much as possible, as they tend to be less digestible.
• Use little seasoning. Greasy and fatty foods slow down the emptying of the stomach contributing to the feeling of bloating.
• Pay attention to processed meats such as sausages and smoked meats but also at spices,, sauces and gravies, favoring a balanced diet, also excellent for the liver.

What helps with digestion?

La slow digestion it's a disorder, it's called dyspepsia, which causes a heavy stomach, bloats the mind, and triggers an annoying feeling of drowsiness. Here, some preventative measures are crucial, starting with proper spacing between meals. Then there are some suggestions related to lifestyle and nutrition. Let's explore them.

• Do it regularly physical activity and watch your weight. A healthy, non-overweight metabolism makes it easier not only to digest food but also to perform all vital functions.
• La walk After meals, it's considered crucial for good digestion. This good practice is the best. If you really can't manage it, don't sit down immediately, and even worse, don't lie down.
• Moderate your intake of caffeineTea, coffee and other similar drinks are among the main enemies of digestion.
• As with caffeine, it is equally important to limit your intake of alcohol, especially on an empty stomach.
• Finally quit smokingNicotine, in addition to being very harmful to the body and the lungs in particular, irritates our digestive system.

Prevention

If yours digestion is usually slow, add a few things to the advice we've given you:

• Check with your doctor to see if your poor digestion is related to some other pathology. For example,food allergy or gastritis.
• Don't overdo it with vegetables until the situation has normalized: unfortunately, they don't help digestion.
• Remember that light foods are essential for speeding up digestion.
• Avoid eating late, especially late at night before bed.
• Massage gently, directly on the stomach, from right to left.

Foods and drinks that help you digest faster

There are foods and drinks that definitely help slow down digestion.

• Artichokes and fennel. And even some aromatic herbs, like mint. These foods are ideal served with rice, and with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
• Pasta with tomato sauce. Simple, authentic, and excellent for digesting quickly.
• Whole wheat bread. This is the easiest type of bread to digest.
• Raw, uncooked vegetables.
• Foods rich in fiber. From legumes toavocado, From cauliflowers to broccoli, with dark green leafy vegetables.
• Herbal teas. The most effective are those made with ginger, fennel seeds, chicory, and gentian, anise, cumin, coriander, cardamom and licorice.

How to digest quickly

For speed up digestion, before wasting money on drugs and similar, get into the habit of using some natural remedy after your lunch. We start with the oldest: a glass of water and bicarbonate with half a squeezed lemon. This should already work. Then there are the digestive herbal teas: mint, fennel seeds, and artichoke leaves. To make digestive herbal teas more palatable, always serve them with a slice of lemon. Another solution for good digestion is grapefruit juice at the end of the meal. And finally the decoction based on orange and apple, very easy to make. Bring 250 ml of water to a simmer, add a chopped orange peel and a generous tablespoon of chopped apple. Strain and drink.

How long does it take to digest?

Under normal conditions, Stomach emptying begins twenty minutes after a meal and ends in about two hoursObviously, the number of hours can increase, and even dramatically, depending on what we eat. With fried foods and very fatty foods, digestion can take up to four or five hours. In any case, digestion times vary greatly from person to person.

Bitter or herbal tea at the end of a meal to aid digestion?

A very common habit is to end a meal or dinner with a bitter liqueur to aid digestion. This isn't accurate, and in any case, the effect of a bitter liqueur on digestion isn't comparable to that of a tisaneFor a simple reason: while it's true that some plants have a positive effect on digestion, it's also true that they contain alcohol, which has the opposite effect: it inhibits and delays stomach emptying. Not surprisingly, alcohol promotes gastroesophageal reflux and gastritis. Much better are herbal teas made from dandelion, fennel, anise, chervil, ginger and gentian.

When to seek medical attention

Medical intervention is not absolutely necessary to resolve the problem of difficult digestion. It is only required when the symptoms occur frequently and signal warning signs of actual pathologies. In some cases, the doctor decides to investigate further through a gastroscopy, which allows visualization of the upper digestive tract, or blood tests to identify suspected celiac disease.

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