The inability and difficulty of digesting food is discomforting and can leave you with abdominal cramping and an upset stomach. This is indigestion and you're bound to have it at some point of your life, or maybe you're a more common sufferer who already knows how this feels.
About Indigestion
When your stomach is irritated or inflamed, or when the acid in your stomach flows back up your oesophagus (the pipe that goes from your mouth to your stomach), this is when you can get indigestion.
Although it is a common idea that you can only get indigestion after meals, it's not true. Yes you're more likely to get it after a meal, but it can occur at any time of the day.
Symptoms
If you're sufferer from indigestion or are someone who has got indigestion, the following symptoms may apply:
> Feeling Sick
> Heart Burn
> Flatulence and burping
> Discomfort or pain in your upper part of your abdominal
> Loss of Appetite
> Unexplained and continual symptoms of indigestion for the first time and you're 55 or older
> Blood in your vomit, even if it's only specks of blood
> Severe pain, or if the pain gets worse or changes
> Unexplained weight loss.
If you notice that you have one of the last four symptoms on the list, then you need to go and see a doctor to get some professional medical help, who can assess your situation first-hand.
Lifestyle Triggers
Here are some lifestyle habits that can cause indigestion:
> Drinking too much alcohol
> Stress and anxiety
> Eating or drinking certain things, such as coffee and chocolate
> Smoking
> Medicines, such as aspirin and anti-inflammatory medicines, that are for arthritis.
> Eating too much or too quickly
> Being overweight or obese.
There are things that you can control and these things can help to prevent indigestion, of course if you're a sufferer and none of these things work for you, then you would be wise to go to a doctor.
1. Chew your food and watch your portions
Chewing your food properly has a very important role in digestion. Chewing your food breaks it down, also allowing the salivary glands, stomach and the small intestine to start releasing digestive enzymes.
Try not to eat to much as this will cause your stomach to produce more acid, which in turn increases the risk of heartburn and/or indigestion.
2. Exercise
Physical exercise is great for helping with digestion and helping you to live in better shape.
Studies have shown that there is a link between obesity, lack of exercise, stomach pain, diarrhoea, and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
3. Avoid stress
Avoiding stress is easier said than done, but the fact of the matter is that it can play a part in your digestion as well, and not positively.
When the "fight or flight" response is triggered inside our bodies as a result of stress, a reduction of the: blood flow to the abdomen, the production of digestive enzymes, and time slowed in the digestive process occurs.
You can then have constipation, bloating, and heart burn as a result.
4. Digestive Enzyme Supplements
Digestive enzymes derived from plant sources can help promote nutrient absorption and good digestion. In circumstances where people are lacking adequate amounts of digestive enzymes, enzyme supplements can reduce the symptoms of indigestion.
You should be able to find a good one at a local pharmacy.
5. Make sure you eat fibre
Fibre is a key element of your diet that can help prevent indigestion. Vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereals, and nuts contain plenty of fibre, and whole meal bread.
If you have a fatty diet, try to cut down, although we do all like to have some fast food every once in a while.6. Lifestyle choices
Further up this post, I gave a list of some lifestyle choices that can effect indigestion. If you do do any of the things on the list, then limiting those things or giving them up all together would be good for you.