7 Superfoods That Help Digestion

The digestion process is an intricately choreographed ballet during which your body performs the many steps needed to break down the food you eat and unlock the vitamins, minerals, calories, fats, and proteins you need — and then efficiently clean sweep the rest. Most people don’t contemplate these inner workings unless they’re not going smoothly, but you can proactively take steps to avoid problems. One of the easiest digestive health tips is to fuel up with foods good for digestion.

Digestion is the process your body uses to break down food into nutrients. The body uses the nutrients from food for energy, growth, and cellular repair. But when your digestive process goes awry, whether from overeating or eating foods that disagree with you, you need to review the rules of good nutrition again.

The U.S. federal guidelines on diet suggest that all Americans age 2 and older eat a variety of healthy foods, balancing calories ingested with physical activity. Suggested foods include:

• Fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
• Fruits, vegetables, unsalted nuts and seeds, and whole grains
• Lean meats, poultry, seafood, beans and peas, soy products, and eggs

But what if foods such as dairy cause digestion issues? If you can’t tolerate the lactose in dairy, try lactose-free products. Lactose is simply the sugar in dairy products that causes GI pain in some people. According to the Mayo Clinic, this condition, called lactose malabsorption, is generally harmless, but you may experience the following symptoms:

• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomach upset

If you are lactose intolerant, consider nondairy alternatives such as soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, and coconut milk. If a change to nondairy products does not relieve your GI distress, talk to your doctor. There is help.

Fiber is the indigestible part of plant food that we need to stay regular. While fiber itself is not digested by our GI enzymes, we must eat fiber-rich foods because they absorb water in the intestines, ease bowel movements, and promote the healthy gut bacteria we need for proper digestion. Are you meeting the recommended fiber requirements?

The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends that women get 25 grams of daily fiber and men get 38 grams. This can be done by decreasing your intake of foods high in fat and sugar and increasing your consumption of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and nuts.

Along with that recommendation, eating a diet low in saturated fat and high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, soy products, nuts, and seeds provides excellent sources of foods to help digestion. This type of plant-based diet aids in lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and improving blood sugar control.

High-fiber foods include:

• Apple with skin
• Artichokes
• Baked beans
• Barley
• Black beans
• Bran flakes
• Broccoli
• Green beans
• Green peas
• Lentils
• Lima beans
• Pear with skin
• Raspberries
• Split peas
• Turnip greens
• Whole wheat spaghetti

And there are more delicious foods good for digestion. Put the following superfoods on your plate and discover how with a little ingenuity, staying “regular” can be delicious.

How to Improve Your Digestive Track Naturally – Cleveland Clinic

It’s normal to experience digestive issues from time to time. Heartburn, gas, constipation and diarrhea might happen occasionally, but when they start to happen frequently, it can really disrupt your life.

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Fortunately, changes to your diet and nutrition can make a big difference when it comes to managing digestive issues. Plus, many of the changes are natural swaps or new considerations – all coming down to the basis of eating real food.

Gastroenterologist Christine Lee, MD, shares six tips to improve your digestion naturally.

1. Eat five to seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Be adventurous and get creative when it comes to adding more fruits and veggies to your diet. Fill your plate with the colors of the rainbow, from red to dark green. Stock up on canned and frozen veggies for convenience, but also be sure to include lots of fresh produce into your meals. Plant foods are rich in fiber and contain many disease fighting chemicals. A high-fiber diet has been linked to improved digestive health.
2. Choose whole grains more often. Look for and choose packages that say “whole grains” more often than white or processed bread or other grains. It should be on the package, but also in the ingredient list (on the nutrition label). Make sure that the words “whole grains” appear among the first items listed. Then also check the amount of fiber the product contains. Try to choose items with at least 3 grams of dietary fiber per serving for the best benefit.
3. Limit the amount of beef, pork, lamb and processed meats you eat. Choose poultry or fish more frequently than red meat and limit all processed meats, like salami, bacon and hotdogs. Smaller portions of meat, consumed less often (a 12-ounce porterhouse is really three servings, not one), are also beneficial. Most people don’t need to consume more than 6 to 8 ounces of meat every day. Try replacing meat with dried beans for more fiber. One half cup of beans provides the same amount of protein as in 1 ounce of meat.
4. Try healthier cooking options. Opt for steaming, poaching, stewing, microwaving, braising and boiling over grilling and frying. And don’t forget – it’s important to make sure your meat gets cooked thoroughly before eating it to reduce other health risks, such as salmonella.
5. Consume foods with probiotics. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that help fight off the bad bacteria in your gut. They also produce healthy substances that provide nourishment for your gut. Good sources of probiotics include fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchee, raw apple cider vinegar, onion, garlic and sauerkraut.
6. Limit foods that have added sugars and animal fats. These foods can produce harmful chemicals in the gastrointestinal tract and cause damage over time. Read ingredient labels for sources of added sugars – they can be tricky! Choose lean meats and poultry without skin. Limit high-fat dairy products such as cheese and butter.

14 Best Foods for Digestion

There are many reasons why we might have tummy troubles from time to time. From minor gastrointestinal infections to food intolerances to more serious diseases, digestive conditions can affect millions of people around the world. Fortunately, as food must pass through our digestive tract there are many things we can consume to help our gut along the way. These best foods for digestion, which are commonly available at most grocery stores, are comforting and very delicious!

14 Best Foods for Digestion

Ginger

Image: Dominik Martin via Unsplash

Ginger contains compounds called gingerols, which block pro-inflammatory compounds and can lessen pain. Ginger is also a great remedy for gastrointestinal upset and nausea, plus it has anti-cancer properties and is a fabulous food to eat when you’re sick.

A simple, digestive-friendly way to enjoy ginger is grating it fresh into hot water with lemon and a bit of raw honey.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a highly anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer spice to consider adding to your pantry. One of is main constituents, called curcumin, can help protect the gastrointestinal lining, positively impact gut bacteria and shows promise as a treatment for many gastric disorders like inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.

Due to its strong flavour, start off consuming small amounts of turmeric (about 1/8 tsp) and work your way up. It’s a great spice to add to teas, dairy-free elixirs and dairy-free nut or seed milk.

Fermented Foods

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Fermented foods are one of the best foods for digestion as they are rich in probiotics, which introduce favourable bacteria into the gut and help to fortify the intestinal lining. There are many different probiotic strains which have been studied for their ability to benefit inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhea, and gastrointestinal infections caused by pathogens. As 70 percent of our immune system is found in gut tissue, fermented foods can also help to boost immunity.

The fermented foods we love include:

Fermented foods are straightforward to make at home once you learn the basics, and homemade versions allow you to control exactly what goes into your ferments – especially the type and amount of sugar. It also ensures you are actually cultivating probiotic cultures through true fermentation (as opposed to vinegar-based options, which are tangy but don’t contain probiotics).

Chia Seeds

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When soaked in water, chia seeds become mucilaginous or ‘goopy’ and this is extremely soothing to the digestive tract. Chia seeds are rich in fibre, which helps to reduce constipation and encourage beneficial bacteria in the gut, as well as omega-3 fatty acids that reduce intestinal inflammation. They also are a good source of magnesium, a fantastic nutrient that relaxes intestinal muscles, and protein for gut healing and repair.

Use chia seeds in a chia pudding, add them to dairy-free smoothies, toss them in oatmeal or porridge, or use them to amp up your nut and seed butter.

Broth (Bone Broth or Vegetable Broth)

Broths are one of the best foods for digestion because they are simple to digest, comforting, wonderful for boosting the immune system,  hydrating (which is handy if you have been suffering from diarrhea), and easy to enhance with more nutrition by adding vegetables, herbs, spices, sea vegetables, medicinal mushrooms and culinary adaptogens.

If you choose to consume bone broth, it contains amino acids (protein) for healing and repair, and also promotes the flow of gastric juices.

Get the full lowdown on how to create nutritious broths and stocks here.

Sweet Potatoes

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Who doesn’t love sweet potatoes? They are an absolutely delicious root vegetable that contain a wealth of Vitamin A, a nutrient that is key for maintaining and healing the intestinal barrier, as well as supporting a healthy immune system. Sweet potatoes have a specific kind of antioxidant called anthocyanins, which may play an important role in colon cancer prevention.

Sweet potatoes are simple to digest and emerging research on animals show that they can even trigger digestive enzymes.

We love sweet potatoes in almost every dish, from soups, stews and other one-pot meals to gluten-free baked goods. They are also wonderful roasted or mashed all on their own!

Winter Squash

Winter squashes have cucurbitacins, which inhibit the production of enzymes that lead to inflammation. They are loaded with immune-enhancing vitamins A and C, plus they are a good source of fibre for digestive health. Learn more about the different squash varieties and why they’re so awesome in this Guide to Winter Squash.

You’ll also find loads of delicious recipe inspiration from these 20 Best Winter Squash Recipes.

Salmon

Image: Micheile Henderson via Unsplash

Wild salmon contains protein for gut healing and repair, omega-3 fats to reduce inflammation, and Vitamin D which is essential for good immune function and autoimmune disease prevention. Emerging research also shows that omega-3s can have a prebiotic effect on the gut, making positive changes to its bacterial composition.

The source of your fish is important – this is a great sustainable seafood guide to help you when shopping at the fish counter.

Applesauce

Apples are rich in array of nutrients, most notably polyphenols, which can help protect the gut and has anti-cancer properties. They also contain digestive-enhancing soluble and insoluble fibre and research shows that these fibres – especially pectin – help produce beneficial bacteria in the colon. Cooking and blending apples into applesauce makes these fibres much easier to digest.

If you have a strong blender or food processor, you can keep the peel on when making applesauce and you can enhance the flavour with spices like ginger and cinnamon.

Pineapple

A compound found in pineapple called bromelain helps us to better digest proteins, which reduces indigestion and acid reflux. It dampens inflammation and pain as well and can address the effects of diarrhea caused by certain pathogens like E. coli.  You can enjoy pineapple on its own, or blend it into an anti-inflammatory smoothie or smoothie bowl. Ensure you include some of the pineapple stem too, as that is where much of the bromelain is concentrated.

Mint

Image: congerdesign via Pixabay

Mint helps to relax our intestinal muscles, reducing spasms and pain, and it relieves bloating and gas. It can help address a variety of gastrointestinal conditions, but is often used in irritable bowel syndrome to diminish symptoms and abdominal pain.

You can use different varieties of mint (peppermint, spearmint, etc.), either fresh or dried. We love pairing mint with cacao powder in hot chocolate recipes, or you can simply steep the leaves in hot water.

Mushrooms

We adore mushrooms for their anti-cancer properties, energy-enhancing B vitamins, Vitamin D, and fibre for gut health. They also contain immune-boosting and modulating polysaccharides called beta-glucans, anti-inflammatory compounds and zinc, which helps improve the function of the intestinal barrier (zinc deficiencies may also lead to gastrointestinal diseases). As a sweet bonus, mushrooms are a food that you can grow indoors!

If you’re confused about the different varieties of mushrooms, grab our guide to mushrooms and how to use them.

Coconut Oil

This healthy cooking oil, mainly containing medium-chain fats, is easy for us to digest and use. Coconut oil is anti-inflammatory and contains lauric acid, an anti-microbial and anti-bacterial fatty acid that can help prevent harmful bacteria from growing in the digestive tract.

Coconut oil can be used as a cooking/baking oil, or you can add it to dairy-free elixir recipes. Have you ever tried buying a whole coconut? You can discover how to use all of the good bits of the coconut here.

Fennel

Fennel enhances digestion by reducing bloating and gas, and can help reduce abdominal pain and symptoms of IBS. You can try consuming fresh fennel (you may want to cook it first) or steeping the seeds into herbal tea recipes.

Foods to Avoid for Good Digestion

When looking at the best foods for digestion, it’s equally important to eliminate the foods that aggravate the digestive tract and impede digestive healing.

Gluten

Gluten, a protein in wheat, barley and rye, is linked to gut inflammation and can damage the intestinal wall, causing food particles to break through into the bloodstream where they don’t belong, leading to an immune response. Discover more about the negative effects of gluten in this  podcast episode.

Dairy

Dairy products, especially cow dairy, can be difficult to digest. Many of us don’t produce the lactase enzyme required to digest the lactose in milk and this may lead to poor digestion and bloating, gas or cramps. Some people react to the proteins in milk like whey and casein – and casein is actually similar in structure to gluten.

Refined Sugars

White, refined sugars boost our body’s production of inflammatory chemicals and contributes to dysbiosis in the gut, which is an imbalance of bacteria (and the sugar typically causes the harmful bacteria to proliferate). Craving something sweet? Try one of these natural sweeteners instead.

Alcohol

Alcoholic beverages disrupt the bacteria in the gut, leading to the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. If you’re looking for a good cocktail, these healthy mocktails are sure to do the trick.

Coffee

Coffee can cause the stomach to release its contents prematurely, which may lead to impaired digestion down the line. Coffee can also interfere with our hormones, leaving us stressed out. Stress, whether physical or emotional, impairs digestion.

helpful Habits to Enhance Digestion

Chewing

Digestion has a specific flow and order, and skipping steps can impede what happens later on. Mechanical digestion happens in the mouth, so we need to chew well to ensure everything is broken down and can trigger the hormones that signal the next part of the digestive cascade. Chew more times than you think you need to!

Eating at a Table

Focusing your attention on the food while sitting at a table can help enhance your digestion. When you can, sit down at a table and eat rather than consuming food in front of the TV, in your car, or while standing up.

Relax and Take Your Time

We often rush through eating, as sometimes we feel we don’t have the time to enjoy a meal or that taking time to eat is somehow unproductive or wasteful. Nothing could be further from the truth! You don’t have to take a three-hour lunch, but try to relax while eating –  when we are in a relaxed state our nervous system helps us digest more effectively. When our bodies are stressed, digestion isn’t a priority.

Eat With Other People

The social aspect of eating with others not only aids digestion, but also enhances bonding and helps us maintain a healthy weight. Family meals have benefits for children and teens, too, improving self-esteem and reducing violent behaviours, eating disorders, substance abuse, depression and suicide.

Digestive Enzymes or Bitters

These supplements can provide a little extra help if you are struggling with digestion. We love this blend of digestive bitters!

Eating for good digestion is a multi-faceted process and it takes time to learn what foods do or don’t work for your body. Experiment with these best foods for digestion as a starting point and add or subtract foods as you need.

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Top 20 Foods That Helps in Improving Digestion

A weak and suffering digestive prowess is a problem too common among millennials. It all goes to our diets as we are having less and less fibre and more and more junk and highly processed foods. Acidity, bloating, constipation and nausea are everyday problems. Though there are many supplements available in the market shelves that will relieve you of these discomforts, the ideal way to correct them is through diet. Add the following foods to your everyday diet in order to get your digestive system back in order.

Yogurt

Yogurt has bacteria that is essentially good for your gut. It has billions of such bacteria which can replenish the flora of your gastrointestinal tract. It is really healthy for your overall health also and must be included in your everyday diet.

However, not all kinds of yogurt have these bacteria. You need to check their labels for ‘live and active cultures’ to reap the digestive benefit out of it.

Whole grains
These include brown rice, oats and whole grain or whole wheat bread. They are very rich in fiber and hence, are very effective in curing digestive problems, such as bloating, nausea and gas. However, if you have a celiac disease or gluten intolerance, you must not take these.

Banana

If you have a digestive problem, your thumb rule must be a banana a day to keep the problem at bay. Bananas are very effective in treating gastric problems as they are helpful in restoring bowel function and can help treat diarrhoea. They are rich in electrolytes and potassium which help in restoring good digestive health.

Ginger

This is a spice which has many benefits for digestive health. It can help cure motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, gas and loss of appetite. However, you must have it in moderate quantities. The ideal consumption would be 2 to 3 grams every day. If you have more than that, it may cause heartburn.

Beetroot

Beetroots are a very good source of fiber, potassium and magnesium. These are very helpful in restoring a healthy digestive function. They are excellent to cure problems like constipation. Have them raw in salad or sandwiches to yield best results.

Apple

Like yogurt, apples are also rich in bacteria that is helpful for maintaining a good gut health. Apples are very good sources of vitamins A and C and nutrients and minerals such as folate, potassium and phosphorus. These all help in restoring a good digestive health and ensuring a proper functioning of your intestines.

Sweet potato
A winter food in India, sweet potatoes are not only delectable but are super healthy. They are best had with their skins if you want to benefit your digestive system. With the peel on, their fiber content gets better. They are a good source of carbohydrates and manganese and can even help treat peptic and duodenal ulcers.

Avocado

Avocados are among the best sources of fiber in fruits. It is super rich in fiber along with healthy monosaturated fats. Besides, it can help convert beta-carotene into vitamin A. This helps in maintaining a mucosal lining in the gastrointestinal tract, which helps in digestive processes.

Cod liver oil
Another good source of the vitamins A and C, cod liver oil is helpful in maintaining a good digestive health. It can keep the gastrointestinal tract healthy and free from infections.

Blueberry

Love blueberries? Here’s a bonus for you besides its yummy taste: It is super healthy for your digestive processes. They are very good sources of fiber and vitamin C. However, not having them raw and instead going for its juiced form can rip it of its fiber content. Besides these benefits, it is also loaded with cancer-fighting properties.

Kiwi

The tiny kiwi is loaded with minerals and nutrients which are very good for your gut health. It contains vitamins C and E, linolenic acid, magnesium, potassium, actinidin, fatty acids and pepsin which are good for you digestive health. Pepsin is particularly very healthy for maintaining the proper health of your gastrointestinal processes.

Cantaloupe

This summer fruit is packed with vitamins A, C and myoinositol, besides many digestive enzymes which can aid your digestive processes. Besides helping you with less severe digestive health issues like bloating, it can also help you fight intestinal cancer.

Papaya

Rich in papain, this tropical fruit facilitates the breakdown of proteins in your stomach. This leads to easier digestion and a better absorption of nutrients from your food. Papaya also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help in soothing the stomach. It is very easy to digest and it dissolves fats instantly. It also relieves problems like food allergies and heartburn. It facilitates a proper functioning of bowels and hence, betters digestion.

Tomato

Loaded with magnesium and potassium, tomatoes are very healthy for not only your stomach but overall health. They contain many minerals and nutrients like lycopene which aid in the digestive process.

Carrot

We are usually told to have carrots if the power of our spectacles is a very big number. Though they are good for eyes, they are also good for digestion. They are a very good source of fiber and antioxidants and can help you maintain good digestive health.

Cucumber

Cucumbers are rich in fiber besides nutrients and minerals like calcium, folate, fat, C vitamins and erepsin, a protein which is very effective in ensuring proper digestion. They are good for providing relief from stomach problems such as gas, acidity, heartburn and even peptic ulcers.

Lemon water
Lemon is a good source of vitamin C and water helps facilitate digestion. When you combine the two, they make into a very good concoction to relieve digestive problems. Mix lemon juice with lukewarm water and have it every morning.

Peach

Peaches are favourite of many as they have a very tasty flavour. If you love them, here’s your bonus. They are very healthy too and also aid in digestive processes. They are rich in fiber, calcium, vitamin C and iron. These nutrients ensure proper digestion.

Beet greens
We often throw the greens on the top of the beetroot away but they are really healthy and rich in fiber, beta-carotene, calcium and iron. These nutrients are very helpful in maintaining a good flow of your digestive processes as they smoothen the movement of the bowels and maintain a healthy digestive tract lining. But they are also rich in an acid which can affect your tooth enamel negatively, so, do not over consume them.

Hot water
The best and easiest way to relieve digestive problems is by sipping hot water. Take one to two glasses of hot water first thing in the morning or sip it throughout the day. This will soothe many kinds of digestive discomforts.

Eating for a Healthy Digestive System

Eating is not only one of the great pleasures in life, it’s also essential to your health and well-being. The foods you eat nourish your body, providing energy and enhancing the function of all your vital organs.

That’s why it’s important to maintain a healthy digestive system by consuming the right foods and adopting sensible eating habits.

For better digestive health, follow these simple tips:

Eat a high-fiber diet. One of the best ways to improve your digestive health is by maintaining a diet that is high in fiber and rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains. This keeps the normal process of digestion running smoothly, helping to prevent constipation and maintain a healthy weight. In addition, a high-fiber diet helps prevent or treat conditions such as diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and hemorrhoids.

Be sure you’re getting both soluble and insoluble fiber. These help your digestive system in different ways. Insoluble fiber – material in vegetable foodstuffs – can’t be digested by your body, but serves the purpose of adding bulk to your stools and thus enabling food and waste products to pass through your gut. Soluble fiber, on the other hand, draws in water and helps prevent stools that are too liquid.  You can get insoluble fiber from wheat bran, vegetables, and whole grains, while foods such as oat bran, nuts, seeds, and legumes provide soluble fiber.

Minimize your intake of foods high in fat. Fatty foods tend to slow down the digestive process, which can lead to constipation. Nevertheless, you do need some fat in your diet, so try to pair these fatty items with high-fiber foods to make them easier to digest.

Select lean meats. You need protein as part of a healthful diet, but you also need to avoid fatty cuts of meat that tend to make digestion difficult. Choose lean cuts of meat, such as skinless poultry or pork loin. It’s not only better for your digestive tract, but also more heart-healthy.

Add probiotics to your diet. These are microorganisms that are the same type of healthy bacteria naturally present in your digestive tract. Probiotics help keep your entire body healthy by counteracting the effects of a poor diet, antibiotics, and stress. Consumed on a daily basis, they may also improve nutrient absorption, break down lactose, guard against IBS, and generally strengthen your immune system. Good sources of probiotics include low-fat yogurt or kefir, on a daily basis.

Follow a regular eating schedule.  Dieticians and other experts agree that eating breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks  around the same time each day allows for proper digestion of your food. When you don’t eat at consistent times, it causes your stomach to overwork, which often results in bloating and indigestion. Eat every 3 to 4 hours to allow your stomach to properly digest its contents.

Drink plenty of water. Keeping yourself hydrated is essential to your digestive health. That’s because fiber draws water into your colon to create bulkier yet softer stools, which allows them to pass through more easily.

Intercoastal Medical Group is a multispecialty practice specializing in primary care, and much more. With more than 85 doctors in eight locations across Sarasota and Manatee County, Florida, we make it easy to find a qualified doctor at a location that’s convenient for you.

For more information about our services or to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, please call Intercoastal Medical Group in Sarasota and Manatee County, Florida. You can also request an appointment online now.

How to Digest Your Food Faster After a Big Meal

In North America, the leaves are falling from the trees and the temperature is dropping faster than my grades.

Not many people can resist the warm drinks, pastries, and other treats that appear when the seasons change, let alone the huge holiday meals on the horizon. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and myriad other winter festivities are coming up, and you know what that means: mounds and mounds of food.

What should you do once you’ve cleared your plate (probably more than once) and your stomach starts hurting like it’s trying to escape your body? Is there any way to avoid the seemingly inevitable holiday food coma? I decided to scour the depths of the internet to see if I could find a cure to digest food faster.

Before the Meal

You might think that starving yourself before a holiday meal will make the food more enjoyable, but when it comes time to chow down, you’ll find yourself so hungry that you eat too much food too quickly, resulting in a stomachache. Instead, have a fiber-rich brunch like a smoothie bowl or oatmeal to keep your digestive system working.

A couple of hours before you begin feasting, go for a jog or hike to boost your metabolism and get your appetite going. Invite your family along and make it a bonding activity. Your post-turkey self will thank you.

During the Meal

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: the food is laid out, the drinks are flowing, and your cutlery is ready to strike. Just because you followed my tips before the meal, however, doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.

When you make your plate, don’t feel too obligated to eat the veggies. Yes, for the first time ever, someone’s telling you to avoid vegetables. If your main concern is digestion, vegetables may actually impede your body’s ability to, ahem, expel what you’ve put into it. If you’re already determined to eat as much turkey and mashed potatoes as possible, don’t feel guilted into throwing some Brussels sprouts onto the plate too.

The most vital thing you can do during your meal is sip lots of water in between bites. Water keeps everything running smoothly in your digestive system and can also help you to feel fuller sooner, so you avoid overeating.

After the Meal

You want to keep eating, but your fifth plate of food is empty and despite your best efforts, your stomach is making noises you’ve never heard before. If you’re at this point, don’t blame me—I tried to warn you. Here are some last-ditch tips to stop that terrible stomachache. 

After you eat, keep drinking small amounts of water to hydrate your digestive system. If you want to go one step further, drink herbal tea (ideally something with ginger in it) to help digestion while also allowing you to stay hydrated.

When you inevitably crash on the couch, complaining loudly about your stomach, you won’t want to get back up. Unfortunately, more exercise is in your future. It might be TMI, but exercise helps stop constipation, so you should go for another walk about an hour after eating. Moving your body around will help your intestines move too. Cute, right?

If you plan on gorging yourself this holiday season, you’ll probably end up with an upset stomach no matter what. The only solution would be not to eat a big meal, and we all know that isn’t happening.

The above tips will certainly help, but in the end, we all have to accept our post-binge fate. Good luck, my friends.

14 Tips for Better Digestion As You Age

An aging body means an aging digestive system, which may mean it may not work as powerfully or quickly as it used to. While aging affects everyone differently, growing older increases the risk of bowel irregularities, peptic ulcers, heartburn, hemorrhoids, dysphagia, and other digestive system disorders.

Fortunately, these tips can help support healthy digestive system for better digestion as you age.

Slow Digestion Remedies and Tips

1. Sustain A Healthy Body Weight

Sustaining a healthy body is important across the lifespan for overall health, including combatting against a potential digestive problem. Carrying excess weight increases the risk of indigestion and heartburn related to extra pressure on the abdomen.

2. Recognize Triggers

Some foods may be more tolerable than others, with common irritants and intolerances including spicy foods and dairy products. Being able to recognize triggers can help you avoid or limit their consumption and mitigate from associated digestion problem symptoms.

3. Review Medications

Growing older poses risk of various health conditions, which may require managing them with medications. Some medicines can cause adverse side effects related to digestion, including gas, bloating, constipation, heart burn, and alterations in the healthy bacteria in the gut.

4. Chew Foods Thoroughly

Digestion starts in the mouth, which stresses the importance of thoroughly chewing the foods you consume. Chewing helps break down large pieces of food into more manageable, digestible pieces. Also when chewing, the salivary glands release digestive enzymes that better support the digestive process once food enters the stomach.

Focusing on chewing foods during mealtimes encourages you to stay in tune with hunger and satiety cues, which reduces the chance of overeating and weight gain.

5. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Maintaining good oral hygiene is important to preserve the ability to chew foods thoroughly. Floss and brush regularly, along with visiting the dentist on an annual basis or as recommended.

6. Eat Small, More Frequent Meals

Consuming large meals can slow down the digestion process, whereas eating smaller meals more frequently can improve it. Also avoid larger meals leading up to bedtime. Staying elevated after meals lowers the risk of indigestion and discomfort.

7. Increase Fiber

A high-fiber diet not only supports a healthy weight and heart health, but helps aid in digestion by forming bulk in the stomach and stools. The increased mass keeps waste moving through the gastrointestinal tract.

Fiber is sourced from plants-based foods, including whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Men 50 years and older are recommended to consume 30 grams of fiber daily, while women are encouraged to consume 21 grams.

8. Ensure Adequate Hydration

To optimize the function of fiber, a healthy digestive system needs to be adequately hydrated. Along with preventing constipation, water forms saliva and digests foods to dissolve and utilize nutrients.

However, older adults are often at greater at risk for becoming dehydration due to medications, a decreased thirst mechanism, and avoidance of fluids to lower the frequency of bathroom trips.

Lower the risk of and prevent dehydration by aiming for at least 64 ounces of water daily unless instructed by your doctor. Make an effort to drink water before and with meals and when taking a medication or supplement. Foods in high water content can also contribute to fluid needs, including cucumber, watermelon, soups, gelatins, puddings, popsicles, and smoothies.

9. Drink Alcohol in Moderation

Heavy consumption of alcohol can cause damage to the stomach lining, which may lead to malabsorption issues. Alcohol can also exacerbate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and cause diarrhea and constipation.

Overall, men and women should consume no more than two drinks and one drink per day, respectively. Also verify with your doctor for safe drinking practices, as certain health conditions and medications can have contraindications on alcohol use.

10. Moderate Fat Intake

Moderating fat not only helps manage a healthy weight, but can be beneficial for improving digestion. Fat takes the longest to digest compared to the other two macronutrients, carbohydrate and protein.

Moderating fat at each meal can help safeguard indigestion that may come after a high-fat meal. Also when consuming fat, reduce intake of trans and saturated fats and opt for healthier choices proven to support heart health, including olive oil, avocados, fatty fish, and nuts and seeds.

11. Incorporate Pre- and Probiotics

A healthy digestive system forms with the help of healthy gut bacteria, particularly in the form of probiotics. Probiotics are live bacteria cultures that supports gut health by controlling the growth of harmful bacteria. Common probiotics to look for on ingredient labels include Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces and sourced yogurt, sauerkraut, sourdough bread, soft cheeses, and generally fermented foods. Probiotics also come in supplemental form.

Probiotics should be complemented with prebiotics, which are essentially the energy source for probiotics. Prebiotics are carbohydrates than cannot be digested and supplied from asparagus, bananas, oatmeal, legumes, and other fiber sources.

12. Get Active

Physical activity supports healthy aging, including of the gut. Being active decreases the risk of constipation, particularly as aerobic exercise promotes the contraction of intestinal muscles and facilitates bowel movements.

Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. As an added bonus, incorporating strength training to increase muscle mass supports a healthy body weight and greater independence.

13. Consider Herbal Remedies

Herbal and home remedies for digestion improvement involve looking into your spice cabinet and tea stash. For instance, the spices ginger, cardamom, and allspice have all been touted to treat symptoms related to indigestion.

Sipping on chamomile tea may also improve gas, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Anti-inflammatory characteristics have further demonstrated the effectiveness of chamomile and gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders, including diverticular disease and inflammatory disease.

14. Manage Stress

Stress may disrupt and slow down the digestive process or aggravate preexisting digestive problems, including irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, and heartburn. To reduce causing or aggravating symptoms, practice stress-reduction techniques such as exercising, yoga and meditating, dancing, or calling a friend.

90,000 How to make food digest faster. How to digest food faster.

How to make food digest faster. How to digest food faster.

1. Exercise regularly. Increased physical activity helps food pass through the digestive system faster. This helps speed up the digestion process and promotes better absorption of food.
– Before starting exercise, it is best to wait an hour or so for the body’s natural circulation to concentrate around the digestive system and not on the heart and other types of muscles.

2. Take a break. Sleep gives the digestive organs time to rest, increasing the ability to digest food quickly and efficiently. After making some changes to your sleep process, you will reap some benefits for your digestive system in the long term.
– Do not go to bed immediately after eating, but wait two to three hours to allow your body to digest all the food.

3. Drink liquid. Drinking fluids, especially water or tea with or after meals, can help stimulate digestion.The liquid will help speed up the breakdown of food and give your body the moisture it needs.

4. Eat foods high in fiber. Fiber-rich foods help the digestion process in many ways. Eating these foods will help speed up the digestion process, reduce the likelihood of constipation, and keep your gut healthy.
– High fiber foods include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds.

5.eat yogurt. Yogurt is a natural source of probiotics and other live cultures that are essential for digestion. Yogurt helps to improve the digestive capacity of the body, as it:
– Stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria thanks to the live cultures it contains.
– Decreases the length of time it takes for the body to recover from infections and also reduces the immune response in people with irritable bowel syndrome.

6.Eat ginger.Ginger has been used for over a thousand years as a digestive aid, and its popularity continues today. Ginger is believed to stimulate the release of enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract that increase the rate of digestion.

7. Eat small and frequent meals throughout the day. Don’t overload your digestive system, but instead eat small meals throughout the day to speed up the digestion process. Try to eat 4-5 small meals a day.Try to eat every three hours to relieve excessive hunger.

8. Choose fresh, not processed foods. Highly processed foods are more difficult for the body to digest. Instead, opt for fresh foods that are free of preservatives and other chemicals. Eat fruits, vegetables, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, beans, nuts, seeds, and other foods that help facilitate digestion.

9.chew food thoroughly. The chewing process starts the digestive system, but it is often underestimated. Chewing properly increases the surface area of ​​the milled food pieces by several times and allows enzymes to break down more food in your body. The breakdown of more surface area of ​​food with saliva is a great start for effective digestion. Source: Wikihow. com Helpful @ Pixelmrr.

What to do when you don’t know what to do?

In situations where we get stuck for a long time in some episode of the past, or in one role, or follow beliefs that do not help us in any way to live the life we ​​want for ourselves, the consequences of our actions or inaction accumulate like a snowball and at some point they can knock us down or push us into a dead end.

We find ourselves as if in some kind of swamp, where life does not even smell. And most often we react like this:

• We shut ourselves up from the outside world and wait for everything to pass by itself. Often, in this case, life passes, but the “swamp” remains. The movement is slow, by inertia, in a circle, but there is.
• We pretend that this is not the case. “I’m fine. I’m in control. My life is in my hands. It’s okay.” And then there seems to be no problem. Nevertheless, the “swamp” blooms.
• We are distracted by numerous actions. This is a great tactic that allows you to ignore your condition and what is happening around you. At the same time, it is an unsuccessful strategy, since these actions are often ineffective and their feasibility is questionable for the quality of life in general. Although if, for example, you decide to be distracted by work, your employer will most likely like it very much 🙂

Most likely, these methods of response will not help you get out of the “swamp”. There are, of course, exceptions.But hoping for an exception is something of the first point.

What if you find yourself in a “swamp”, in a desperate situation and do not know how to get out?

1. Stop. The first thing to do is to stop doing many of the actions that you used to save yourself from contact with your own state. Directly tell yourself: “Stop.” And stop the movement by inertia. Be in silence. Listen to yourself. Look at the reality.
You may find that you exist more than you live.As if they slept for a year, two, or maybe a decade. It can be very painful. But this is the first step to take.

2. Confess that you are stuck. So tell yourself: “It looks like I’m in a” swamp “. I am stuck and do not know what to do next”

3. Realize your contribution to what is happening and the meaning of the situation. To do this, you need to answer the questions:

• How did I end up here? What have I done for this?
• Why am I here? What is the situation in my life for?

I know how difficult it is to answer these questions.How unpleasant it is sometimes to answer these questions. But they are worth the effort.
It is also helpful to sometimes shift your focus from “why” to “why?” It’s like removing noise in music.

4. To live frozen emotions. Unlived experiences make us heavy, our vision cloudy and limited, our thinking inert. After clearing your mind a bit in the previous step, you can connect your body. Emotions live in the body, and we can experience them only through the body – through breathing, movement, voice, immersion of attention in the body. The way that suits you in order to relieve tension, unload emotions. So that it is environmentally friendly for you and those around you.
Living with emotions can be compared in part to the clutter of an apartment. This process is not easy, but then it becomes easy, clean and free.

5. Select direction. A question from the series “What do I want? In which direction do I want to move?”
The expression “I want it not to be” is not about a direction, but rather about running away. If you catch yourself doing this, just reformulate in a positive way.What do you want it to be.

These steps will allow you to get in touch with the situation itself, as well as with your expectations, emotions, limitations, resources and desires, understand the relationships, see the direction and take concrete steps.
Notice what helps along the way – strengthen it. Pay attention to what gets in the way – in order not to. Otherwise, be creative. And may your path be bright!

How to understand that food is not digested.2 Causes of the onset of the disease

The most common causes of dyspepsia are unhealthy diet and lack of food intake culture. Dry snacks, in conditions of constant stress and haste, will certainly affect your health. The selection of foods can affect the functioning of the stomach. There are a number of products that, depending on the individual characteristics of a person, the stomach does not perceive.

The most common causes of dyspepsia are unhealthy diet and lack of food culture.

Discomfort can arise from fatty, heavy or overly spicy foods. Alcohol can also cause problems, as it stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid, thereby increasing the load on the stomach walls.

In some cases, dysfunction of the stomach can be caused by hormonal disruption – this phenomenon is often observed in pregnant women. Finally, the secretion of gastric juice may be the result of disorders of the secretory glands.

In some cases, you may feel unwell in the morning.This suggests that a person is abusing late meals. Like all human organs, the stomach must have time to rest.

There are other causes of dyspepsia:

• decrease in metabolism;
• The appearance of bacterial colonies in the gastric mucosa;
• insufficient concentration of gastric juice;
• gastritis.

Regardless of the reasons why the stomach does not digest food, it is necessary to urgently start treatment and seriously revise the diet and selection of foods.

In which position the food is better digested. How to speed up digestion

1. Movement is very important. While you usually don’t want to get off the couch and move with a full stomach, it’s best to go for a short walk. Thus, we will stop putting pressure on the stomach, and most importantly, we will supply blood to the intestines and make it easier for it to work, which, of course, will speed up the entire digestion. We should feel relief within the first ten to fifteen minutes.
2. Digestion is also aided by the use of the correct seasonings in food preparation.The list is very long and includes, for example, chili peppers, juniper, marjoram, lovage, ginger, cumin or cinnamon. Hot spices accelerate the absorption of food, metabolism, and promote fat burning.
3. The classic way to improve digestion is with a cup of warm tea after meals. Unlike various cold drinks, which are more likely to harm, black or green tea improves gastric secretion and speeds up the digestion of fats. In addition, its taste is neutral and therefore does not overpower the aftertaste from food.

4. Various herbal teas also have good properties, although not everyone likes their specific and very expressive taste. Immediately after eating, a glass of decoction of chamomile, mint or rose hips is recommended, and if the feeling of heaviness does not go away after two hours, turn to St. John’s wort, which was already familiar to our great-grandmothers.
5. Another drink that traditional medicine recommends for improving digestion is a warm infusion of dried fruit. By tradition, prunes are used, but dried apricots, dates, raisins, dried apples and pears, and various mixtures also help.
6. Metabolism can be accelerated by a drink that is prepared from a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, warm water and half a tablespoon of honey.
7. Kvass is an old Russian drink, it not only pleasantly refreshes, but also perfectly helps digestion. Of course, if it is a real bread kvass prepared according to an old recipe, and not a cheap carbonated fake.

How the stomach digests food. So, what does the digestion of food depend on?

1.Food processing or cooking.

– When we boil or fry food, the enzymes present in raw food are destroyed and its original structure is destroyed, while the assimilation time is increased by 1.5 times.

2. Food temperature.

– Cold food is digested faster.

3. An important factor in digestion is the meal time.

– Scientists have proven that the most active time for food processing is lunch, and during breakfast and dinner, this process is noticeably slowed down.Therefore, nutritionists recommend eating breakfast and dinner with food of the same digestion time and one that is quickly absorbed, I will write about this below.

4. One of the most important factors that affects digestion is food mixing.

– Each product has its own absorption time. For example, an apple is digested in 30-45 minutes, and hard cheese in 4-6 hours. There are some that are not digested at all. How you mix foods with each other before consuming will determine the digestion time.

Three categories of food mixing can be conventionally distinguished:

The first category.

Products that are mixed have the same digestion time, are not heat-treated and do not have different fats and sugars added to them. For example, vegetables and fruits.

Second category.

Foods that are mixed have the same digestion time, but different oils, sugars and spices are added. The assimilation time will increase. Why do you ask? The addition of various oils and fats envelop the food and the stomach needs to allocate an additional portion of stomach acid and increase the oxidation of food in the stomach.Accordingly, the process of food digestion increases.

Third category.

Products are mixed that have different digestion times, different processing or preparation with the addition of different oils or fats.

For clarity, let us consider foods or food conventionally divided into groups according to the time of its digestion.

First group; assimilation time no more than 45 minutes. These include mainly various carbohydrates.

• – Fruits: watermelon, melon, orange, grapefruit, grapes – 30 min.
• – Cherry, apple, peach, pear, cherry, apricot – about 40 minutes.
• – Vegetables: raw mixed vegetables – 30-45 min.
• – Broths and mixed salads with fruits – about 30 minutes.
• – Fruit and vegetable juices are digested for 15-20 minutes.

The second group is represented by protein products with a small amount of fat. Digestion time is not more than 2 hours.

• – Egg (whole) – 45 minutes
• – Fish (not fatty varieties) – 30 minutes
• – Fish (salmon, trout, herring, more fatty fish) – 45-60 minutes
• – Chicken (without skin ) – 1-2 hours

The third group includes products that include complex carbohydrates and starch, the assimilation time is about 2-3 hours.

• – potatoes;
• – porridge from all types of cereals;
• – mushrooms;
• – whole milk cottage cheese – 125 minutes;
• – seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame) – about 2-3 hours;
• – nuts, almonds, peanuts (raw), pecans – 2.5-3 hours;
• – legumes.

The fourth group, the digestion time of these products is more than 3-4 hours, while many of them are excreted from the body without being digested.

• – Coffee and tea with milk;
• – Fish and canned fish;
• – Meat and various stews, pates, etc.(lamb and beef 3-4 hours, pork 5-6 hours).
• – Whole milk hard cheese – 4-6 hours.
• – Durum wheat pasta.

The stomach digests food too quickly. Stomach

In it, food is crushed, moistened and turned into a viscous liquid called chyme. Hydrochloric acid begins to break the protein chains into small fragments. Hydrochloric acid and chyme are very acidic. Direct skin contact with acid can cause severe burns.The properties of hydrochloric acid contribute to the sterilization of food and the destruction of harmful microbes that have entered it.

Fortunately, a protective layer of mucus protects the stomach lining from burns and damage. Although, perhaps even among your friends there are people with stomach ulcers. An ulcer appears when the protective layer is damaged, and the hydrochloric acid literally burns a hole in the wall of the stomach.

The stomach also produces other substances: pepsin and lipase. Pepsin helps break down proteins, and lipase helps break down fats.Although most of the nutrients in food will be absorbed further along the journey, water, salt and ethyl alcohol can enter the bloodstream directly from the stomach. This explains the speed with which you can get drunk without eating or drinking on an empty stomach.

Usually food is in the stomach from up to hours, depending on its composition. As you know, fats and fiber can slow this process down.

The stomach does not digest the food of the tablet.Separate food

If the stomach does not digest food, this method is able to normalize the process. At the same time, energy consumption for digestion is reduced and it becomes possible to determine the product that contributes to the appearance of the previously indicated problem. According to the theory, you can combine fats with carbohydrates and proteins in one meal. But the latter cannot be combined together. This, of course, is not the only rule, but it is the main one.

When using this method of nutrition, you need to take into account the time of assimilation of products.It is desirable that everything eaten be assimilated at one time. For example, if you eat oranges and nuts at the same time, the digestion process will take about three hours. The same time will be needed for a vegetable salad, if it is seasoned with vegetable oil. If you have any questions regarding this paragraph, the answers to them can be found in consultation with specialists.

Ways to improve the absorption of food:

• eat balanced, and preferably at the same time. Such a routine will have a positive effect on the work of the stomach, because it will allow to regulate the load on it;
• a day you need to sit at the table 5-6 times.However, the portions should be small. You need to leave the table with a slight feeling of hunger, this is the recommendation of first-class specialists.
• Arrange fasting days on Monday and Wednesday. This is just an example, so you can choose the suitable days yourself. If you do not know how to do this correctly, and what to eat these days, it is recommended to visit a doctor. He will answer all your questions in more detail and in detail;
• Drink water between meals.Its recommended volume is about two liters. Do not drink sandwiches with compote or mineral water. Any liquid dilutes the concentration of gastric juice, which affects the decrease in the amount of enzymes. In this regard, the breakdown of products into useful substances slows down. Against this background, diarrhea, constipation, and gas formation appear.

90,000 Which position is best to eat

Nutritional advice is attacking us from all sides.
We constantly read about what to eat, when to eat,
how many calories and what nutrients you need to get in order to
be slim and healthy.Among such advice is often found
recommendation not to eat while standing or lying down – although millions of people have eaten while lying down
a significant part of human history. Let’s try to figure it out
how it is scientifically substantiated and whether it is substantiated at all.
Let’s compare three eating positions – standing, sitting and lying down – and
let’s see what effect they have on the body and occurring
processes in it.

Eat lying down

Eating lying down was popular in antiquity – in Ancient Greece and
Ancient Rome.And perhaps not only because the ancient Greeks and
the Romans were sybarites and were too lazy to get up to eat.
Some studies show that if during or after
lie on the left side of a plentiful meal, this relieves pressure
on the lower stomach and thus relieves the discomfort from
overeating, which for the ancient Romans, who feasted all day long,
was very relevant. But since few of us
adheres to such a diet, this is an advantage for
modern man is very controversial.

There is another suggestion. According to some reports,
if you eat while lying down, then due to the speed of evacuation of food from
stomach carbohydrates are broken down and absorbed more slowly than when
we eat while sitting, and this helps to avoid spasmodic intake
glucose into the blood and the associated sharp fluctuations in the level
insulin.

But at the same time, eating lying down increases the risk of developing
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – a condition when
which stomach contents due to weakening of the sphincter
thrown back into the esophagus.GERD, in addition to causing
discomfort and heartburn, serves as a risk factor for the development
other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as the esophagus
Barrett and esophageal cancer.

The number of cases of GERD in the world is constantly increasing, and its
symptoms are often mistaken for heart attack symptoms. And although the publications
on the relationship between the development of GERD and food intake in the supine position
no, American College of Gastroenterology for GERD Prevention
recommends not to lie down for two hours
after eating, not to mention eating in this position.

Therefore, if you dreamed of having dinner like an ancient Greek, or just
love to chew pizza lying on the couch, there is reason to think.

Eat while sitting and standing: for and against

The question of which is more useful – sitting or standing – during execution
daily chores has recently been widely discussed. So,
a sedentary lifestyle is associated with a number of risks
diseases, such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome, more
poor health in general and an increased risk of premature
of death.Although recent research is exposing this well-established point
view of doubt. For example, one study showed that sitting
no more harmful than standing.

But when it comes to food, the preferred posture is still
there will be a seat. In particular, because, as it is believed, sitting we
eat more slowly and chew food better, which leads to more
fast satiety and prevents overeating, helping
control weight. True, research confirms that
seated people eat more thoughtfully, was not carried out.

As for eating while standing, scientists do not suggest any
evidence that it has any negative
effects on digestion. There are also no medical prohibitions,
concerning eating while standing. Moreover, while standing, we spend a little
more energy, about 50 extra calories per hour, than when
sit, which means that longer periods spent in
standing position, will add some calories burned to the piggy bank
weight loss.

So which is better – sitting, lying or standing? Although convincing
scientific evidence that in any of these positions there is
better does not exist, we can conclude that if you eat calmly
and chew food thoroughly, it is not at all important for health,
whether you are sitting or standing, and both of these positions are
a healthy alternative to eating while lying down.And in doing so, you help
society.

90,000 Myths and truths about your stomach

Pirogova Irina Yurievna

Deputy chief physician for organizational and methodological work, head of the center of gastroenterology and hepatology, gastroenterologist

When it comes to the stomach and the human digestive system, there are many myths and assumptions.Do you know the truth?

Our stomach can cause a lot of discomfort if it is not working properly. The discomfort is often associated with heartburn, belching, or bloating.

Experts say that most people know very little about their stomach and how the digestive tract works, which is one of the reasons that sometimes it can be quite difficult to deal with emerging health problems.

1. Truth or Fiction: The digestive process takes place exclusively in the stomach

This is a myth. The main process of digestion actually takes place in the small intestine. The food enters the stomach, is mixed and crushed into tiny pieces, turning into food gruel . This gruel enters the small intestine in small batches, where it is digested.

Refuting popular belief, experts say that food does not begin to be digested immediately after it enters our stomach. In fact, the stomach only prepares food to be digested.

2. Truth or Fiction: If you reduce the amount of food consumed, the stomach will contract, and the person will be less hungry

This is a myth. When a person becomes an adult, the size of his stomach no longer changes, unless, of course, he undergoes surgery to reduce it.

Eating less will prevent your stomach from shrinking, but it can help rewire your appetite regulator so you won’t feel hungry even if you start eating less.

3. Truth or Fiction: Thin people have smaller stomachs than obese people

This is a myth. Although it is difficult to believe, the size of the stomach does not correspond to the total weight of a person.

People who are naturally thin can have exactly the same stomach size as those who have been struggling with being overweight all their lives, even if you have surgery on your stomach and reduce it to the size of a walnut, this does not mean that you are not gain weight.

4. Truth or Fiction: Squatting or swinging the press can reduce the size of the stomach

This is a myth. No amount of exercise can help shrink your stomach, but it can help you get rid of layers of belly fat. Plus exercise helps to strengthen the muscles in the abdomen, which is good for the internal organs.

Interestingly, belly fat can bring a lot of problems, including fat that we don’t actually see.This fat accumulates in the inner layers and surrounds the internal organs. Overweight people have a lot of fat between the internal organs. In this case, sometimes the liver is so “packed in fat” that it leads to some form of hepatitis, in special cases it generally fails, experts say. The good news is that eating well not only helps control the appearance of visible fat, but also prevents the appearance of the inner layers of adipose tissue.

5.True or Fiction: Foods high in water-soluble fiber cause bloating and gas in the intestines, while foods with insoluble fiber usually do not

This is true. Fiber is the dietary fiber found in most plants. It is she who is the basis of cell walls in plant organisms. Fiber plays an important role in the functioning of the body, promoting good digestion. Many people don’t know that fiber is different.Water-soluble fiber is found in foods such as oats, legumes, peas, and citrus fruits, which are more likely to cause bloating and gas than insoluble fiber foods such as whole wheat bread, wheat, cabbage, beets, and carrots.

Gas and bloating occur because the intestinal flora needs to digest soluble fiber; since insoluble fiber is not digested at all, but simply passes through the gastrointestinal tract, it does not interact with the flora, so gases are not produced.

6. Truth or fiction: To get rid of reflux disease (sour belching), it is enough to lose a little weight

This is true. The less acid enters the esophagus, the less problems. Believe it or not, just remove the extra pounds from your stomach, and the result will be felt immediately.

During pregnancy, the baby grows and puts pressure on the internal organs, this can cause heartburn, but after childbirth, when the pressure goes away, heartburn also goes away.

The good news, experts say, is that if you lose weight first, you’ll be free of heartburn in a few weeks.

7. Truth or Fiction: If you eat at night, you will gain weight faster than if you eat the same during the day

This is a myth. Most experts believe that we gain weight because we consume more calories than we expend. And while it seems logical that the food we eat during an active day burns faster and is more efficient than the food we eat before bed, weight gain is not at all dependent on the time of day.Whether or not you gain excess weight depends on how efficiently you use up the calories that enter your body.

Recent animal studies have shown that avoiding evening meals will not help you lose weight. Eating at night can disrupt our body’s circadian rhythms, alter the hormones that control appetite, and as a result, people get fat.

Also, if you are tired or stressed, digestion is difficult before going to bed, and you may have a bloated stomach, gas or heartburn.Our alimentary canal has its own “brain”, which helps food move through the digestive system correctly and in the right amount. If we are tired, and this happens to almost everyone after a whole day at work, the “brain” of our intestines also gets tired, therefore it reduces the number of contractions, which, in turn, prevents food from being digested properly.

8. True or fiction: Cookies with 200 kcal butter will be able to control appetite more than 200 kcal cookies, but without butter

It’s true .The reason is that fats are digested much more slowly than carbohydrates and stay in the stomach longer, which means that we will feel full for longer if we eat cookies with butter.

What’s more, simple carbohydrates (cookies, bread, or baked goods) are known to rapidly raise blood sugar and insulin levels, which quickly drop, leading to mood swings and appetite swings. You will get hungry quickly.

9. Truth or Fiction: Legumes cause gas in everyone, and nothing can be done about it

This is a myth … in a way. Legumes contain a lot of sugar, which requires a certain enzyme to be digested. Some people have a lot of this enzyme, others have little. The less enzyme you have, the more gas will form in the intestines after eating legumes.

We have given only a part of the questions that are often encountered in patients of a gastroenterologist. We will be happy to answer your other questions in person

– Pirogova Irina Yurievna

Digestion of nutrients and their absorption in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract

Oral cavity

Only starch is partially absorbed from carbohydrates in the mouth.This is carried out by the enzyme amylase contained in saliva. Under its influence, starch is partially broken down into small components. If you chew starchy food for a long time (which is very useful), then a small part of the starch is broken down into glucosin (a sweet taste that occurs, for example, when chewing bread). Other carbohydrates in food (eg sucrose, lactose) are not broken down in the mouth.

The main lipids of food are fats (triglycerides). In the mouth, they are not significantly degraded, but still there is a sublingual enzyme called lipase, which breaks down a small amount of triglycerides.

No proteins are digested in the mouth.

Stomach

The task of the stomach is to ensure mixing of the food mass coming from the esophagus and the formation of a well-mixed emulsion.

Since the stomach has a strong acidic environment (hydrochloric acid), there is practically no further breakdown of carbohydrates in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid is necessary for the coagulation of food proteins, the conversion of the enzyme pepsinogen that breaks them down into pepsin, and the release of hormones that provide various functions of gastric juice.Hydrochloric acid also kills bacteria.

The stomach contains an enzyme called gastric lipase. It acts mildly, but since it is relatively acid-resistant, a mild breakdown of some triglycerides still occurs.

Stomach hydrochloric acid coagulates food proteins. This means that large molecules of food proteins unfold and the enzyme pepsin produced by the stomach can begin to partially digest (hydrolyze) the proteins.

The stomach plays another important role.The stomach absorbs vitamin B ₁₂ with the corresponding protein, which helps this vitamin move to the place of its absorption.

Small intestine and duodenum

In the small intestine, the food mass coming from the stomach is mixed with the enzymes of the gallbladder and pancreas. The upper part of the duodenum contains acidic gastric juice, and neutral bile secretion enters the lower part through the pancreatic and bile ducts.The glands in the duodenum itself produce alkaline secretions saturated with hydrocarbons. Bicarbonates and the resulting CO ₂ are needed to emulsify the digested food mass. B ₁₂ is freed from protein and mixed for absorption with the desired protein factor.

The common place of digestion of all food macronutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) is the upper part of the small intestine (including the duodenum). This means that in it they are converted into smaller and simpler compounds (sugars, amino acids, fatty acids).

Pancreatic amylase enters the duodenum from the pancreas. It is the most important enzyme for the digestion of carbohydrates and breaks down most of the starch. The amylase of the pancreas, in cooperation with the small intestine’s own enzymes, completes the breakdown of starch into glucose. Under the action of enzymes of the surface of the small intestine (pile mucous membrane) – sucrase, lactase, etc. – sucrose and lactose also break down into components. Triglycerides in the upper part of the small intestine should be converted into a finely dispersed emulsion, only then the corresponding enzymes (lipases) can break them down into glycerol and fatty acids.

The most important emulsion producers are bile acid and its salts. Milk proteins (caseins) also form a fine food emulsion well. The formation of a food emulsion is also facilitated by the fact that bicarbonates coming from the pancreas react with the acidic food mass coming from the stomach, forming gases necessary for digestion, thoroughly mixing the food mass. The peristalsis of the intestinal wall also helps to mix its contents.

From the pancreas into the duodenum comes the main enzyme for the digestion of fats – pancreatic lipase.Together with other enzymes, it breaks down food lipids into simple compounds (triglycerides, glycerol, free fatty acids), phospholipids – also into simpler initial components

The pancreas also supplies the duodenum with enzymes necessary for the final digestion of proteins. These enzymes are trypsin, chymotrypsin, etc. The combined action of stomach pepsin and pancreatic trypsin decomposes most dietary proteins into amino acids.A small amount of short peptides is also formed, which are cleaved into amino acids by enzymes of the hairy membrane of the small intestine.

Partial absorption of nutrients begins already in the duodenum. Here, to a large extent, the absorption of iron and calcium takes place.

Absorption of nutrients begins in the digestive tract quite early: a little in the mouth under the influence of saliva, a significant part when moving through the duodenum, and the largest part is absorbed in the part of the small intestine called the jejunum.When hummus is found in the jejunum, a significant portion of the vitamins and minerals is absorbed. Free amino acids, glycerin, fatty acids and most of the water are also absorbed here. The resulting substances enter the blood circulation or the lymphatic system. The blood carries nutrients primarily to the liver, where carbohydrates and amino acids are used. Vitamin B ₁₂ is not yet absorbed in the jejunum.

By the time food enters the small intestine called the ileum, most of the nutrients have already been absorbed.However, the importance of the ileum is primarily manifested in the fact that there is absorption of vitamin B _12, bound by the corresponding receptors.

Large intestine

A small portion of food remains undigested by the time it enters the colon. The microbiome of the digestive tract helps break down this part.

Microorganisms break down dietary fiber that digestive enzymes cannot break down. In the course of this, short fatty acids are formed, which are absorbed into the bloodstream and which the body can use for energy, they also activate peristalsis.The colon microbiome helps to break down a significant portion of the cellulose, which also produces short fatty acids, and also provides a semi-solid consistency of intestinal contents. The most effective absorption of sodium and water occurs in the colon.

Microorganisms, in addition to assimilating nutrients, are also involved in the removal of harmful substances, the functioning of the immune system and other processes. Due to the breakdown of dietary fibers not digested by humans, microorganisms are able to supply energy to intestinal epithelial cells and regulate important processes.

In the large intestine, there is also a partial reabsorption of bile acid into the blood. A certain part of the bile acid is excreted in the excrement. This is important from the point of view of regulating blood cholesterol levels, since the newly supplied bile acid starts producing cholesterol again. Dietary fibers (pectin, various polysaccharides, cellulose, etc.) contained in food, which are not digested by human enzymes, bind with bile acids, reducing their reabsorption into the blood and increasing their excretion with excrement, which is an important mechanism for removing a certain amount of cholesterol from the body.

Colon microbiome

There are ten times more bacteria in the digestive tract than there are cells in our entire body.

Microorganisms (both beneficial and problematic) are found throughout the entire length of the digestive tract. The least number of microorganisms is usually in the stomach and the beginning of the small intestine, since low acidity, bile and pancreatic secretions inhibit their development. Most of the microorganisms are in the colon.

The activity of the cells of the human body and the microorganisms inhabiting the digestive tract is interconnected throughout the entire digestive tract, but the closest connection is observed in the large intestine.It contains the main “place of work” also for microorganisms called probiotics.

Balanced microbiome of the body:

• participates in stimulating the growth of lymphatic tissue, which is associated with the ability of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract to produce antibodies to pathogens
• Reduces the risk of inflammation of the digestive tract and allergies
• Can also synthesize certain amounts of certain vitamins: for example, vitamin K, folates, biotin, also entering the bloodstream
• also helps to break down some of those compounds that are not broken down by enzymes of the digestive tract:
  • Dietary fiber and starch resistant to digestive enzymes of the human body, during the breakdown of which various fatty acids with a short molecular chain, to a large extent absorbed by the cells of the colon and contributing there to the energy of the human body.It is believed that some of these short fatty acids may also partially limit the occurrence of cancerous tumors.
  • Even with normal digestion, very little of the proteins (collagen, elastin, digestive enzymes, dead cells) remain undigested in the upper digestive tract. Colon microbes help to break down into amino acids and this smallest amount of unbroken proteins. The resulting amino acids are mainly used by the microbes themselves. As a result of microbial degradation, compounds that are problematic for the human body can also be formed in extremely small quantities.If the microbiome of the digestive tract is diverse, this does not pose any problem for the human body, firstly, because the amounts of these substances are very small, and secondly, because they are quickly transferred to the liver and are very quickly rendered harmless there.

The gut microbiome is affected by long-term or frequent use of antibiotics. Prolonged fasting or prolonged severe stress reduces the diversity of the gut microbiome. To maximize the diversity of the gut microbiome, probiotics and prebiotics obtained from food and beverages are used.

Probiotic

Probiotic is a collection of living microorganisms that, when consumed in sufficient quantities, favor the human microbiome. Some of these microorganisms can produce substances like antibiotics (bacteriocins) and lactase, which are especially important in lactose intolerance. Some microorganisms weaken lipid peroxidation. The most commonly used probiotics are bacteria of the species Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium .

Probiotic microorganisms obtained from food and drink:

• should initially be included in the microbiological composition of the human body
• should not have pathogenic properties
• should remain alive, passing through the human digestive tract (especially the stomach) and be resistant to the action of bile acids
• should bind to cells of the surface layer of the intestine, be contained and multiply in the digestive tract
• should have a positive effect on human health

Hundreds of long-term studies have proven that probiotic microorganisms obtained with food and drink:

• restore the normal microbiological composition of the digestive tract after antibiotic treatment
• participate in the breakdown of milk sugar, that is, lactose, thereby facilitating its digestion
• enhance the absorption of vitamins g in the digestive tract Group B
• Promote the absorption of calcium, iron and phosphorus in the intestine
• Reduce the risk of diarrhea, reduce its duration and relieve pain
• Increase the efficiency of the digestive activity of the elderly
• Strengthen the immune system
• indirectly (by capturing places for growth in the intestine) and directly (by releasing compounds that kill harmful bacteria) prevent the development of pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract
• accelerate the recovery from intestinal infections
• shorten the life of harmful compounds in the digestive tract and thus can prevent the creation of conditions for the occurrence of intestinal tumors
• weaken potential allergic Exposure to casein milk protein
• Reduces excessive oxidative stress constantly occurring in the digestive tract
• Regulates the ecological balance between different actors Microbiologists of the intestinal community
• through the products of cell synthesis of the host organism affect the expression of certain genes

Prebiotics (fibrous substances)

Prebiotics (fibrous substances) – compounds present in normal food that cannot be hydrolyzed by human digestive enzymes.But they are food for the microbes of the digestive tract (primarily the colon), stimulating an increase in the number and variety of beneficial microorganisms. The best known prebiotics are, for example, inulin and oligofructose. Synthetic chemical compounds identical to natural ones can also be prebiotics.

90,000 Seven Ways To Make Your Gut Healthier And Digestion Better

Seven Ways To Make Your Gut Healthier And Digestion Better

Digestion, and speaking in modern languages, the work of the gastrointestinal tract, affects the entire body.Poor bowel function can cause or catalyze a wide variety of ailments, from weak immunity to psychological ailments such as depression.

The key to good digestion is, above all, the provision of proper microflora in the intestines. Namely – a variety of “good” bacteria that help to properly digest food, assimilate nutrients and remove useless ones, and minimizing “bad” bacteria, that is, interfering with the digestive process and causing intestinal diseases.

The British newspaper The Daily Telegraph publishes expert advice on how to do this – on the advice of seven experts.

According to nutritionist Matt Perkins, the first step to a healthy gut is to get plenty of fiber in your diet. It is beneficial for the intestinal cells and promotes the correct elimination of waste products. Among fiber-rich foods, Perkins mentions bread and pasta, both whole grains (fiber is the part of the plant fiber in unrefined grains that gives flour products their brown color), oats, berries, pears, melons, broccoli, carrots, and nuts.

Many people know about the need for probiotics – products or preparations containing the very bacteria beneficial to the intestines. Kaisa Ernestam, a nutritionist at LifeSum, suggests another option: there is miso, a Japanese dish made by fermenting soybeans, rice or wheat, or a mixture of these grains, using a special type of mold. Miso soup, which is made from such a paste, contains all the living cultures that are used in probiotics, the nutritionist says.

Julie Lembl, biochemist at Lifeplan, advises choosing probiotics containing several strains of the same bacteria and drinking them down with cold drinks or eating cold food.

Perhaps this advice is made due to the fact that recently Israeli scientists from the Weizmann Institute experimentally proved that simply consuming products with probiotics from the store is almost an empty exercise. The missing beneficial bacteria coming from the outside never take root in the intestine, do not form colonies in it, but leave it “naturally”.

Third tip – “fertilize” beneficial bacteria with so-called “prebiotics”. These are food components that are not absorbed or digested in the upper sections of the gastrointestinal tract, but are fermented by the microflora of the large intestine, contributing to its increase and activity. Prebiotic substances are found in onions (onions and leeks), garlic, chicory, beans and cold potatoes. However, they are contained there in very small quantities, so it makes sense to either eat these foods every day, or take prebiotic supplements (not to be confused with probiotic ones).

Polyphenols are also prebiotics that promote the growth of “good” bacteria, in particular, bifidobacteria, and block the growth of “bad” bacteria. These substances are found in fruits, vegetables, cocoa, tea and red wine.

The next tip is to use less sugar. If sugar gives pleasure to our mouth and brain, then the stomach – vice versa. Sugar feeds yeast, such as candida, which is usually found in any intestine. It is not a problem on its own, but its overgrowth suppresses the friendly intestinal flora and causes skin problems, fatigue, digestive upsets, nail fungus, etc.etc., says nutritionist Jenny Bodham.

Dr. Harald Stossier proposes to massage the abdomen two hours after a meal to improve digestion.

Nutritionist Joe Travers advises avoiding stress – the hormone cortisol released during nervous stress disrupts the exchange of data between the intestinal tract and the brain, leading to changes in intestinal secretion, and the unfavorable ones – the beneficial microflora is suppressed, the harmful ones – increases in volume.

Kaisa Ernestam also reminds you to drink enough fluids – water supports the digestive process, ensuring proper absorption of minerals and nutrients by the body.The nutritionist advises starting the morning with a glass of water “to wake up the body,” and then taking care of maintaining fluid levels throughout the day.

Time of food digestion in the stomach

The time of food digestion in the stomach is different for different foods. Vegetables, fruits, various drinks, fatty and lean meals are digested differently in time.

Those who are on a diet know that at night it is better not to eat fatty foods that take longer to digest dairy products.At night, those who are trying to lose weight drink kefir, and in the morning and during the day they eat fully.

Digestion and assimilation of food

Food is vital for our body, because from it it receives all the nutrients and biologically valuable substances necessary for life. But in order for the body to receive them, it is first necessary to digest food, breaking it down into separate elements, and then assimilate. The process of food digestion begins with the enzymatic and mechanical processing of food in the mouth and ends in the intestines.By time: from half an hour to 6 hours, food is first digested in the stomach, then up to 7-8 hours it continues to travel in the small intestine, while continuing to be split and absorbed, and only then undigested and undigested particles enter the large intestine, where up to 20 hours.

Food digestion time

• The following products are digested in the stomach for 1-2 hours: coffee, water, boiled river fish, tea, cocoa, broth, milk, soft-boiled eggs, rice.
• The following food is digested in the body for 2-3 hours: hard-boiled eggs, bread, scrambled eggs, boiled potatoes, boiled sea fish.
• 3-4 hours are needed for the gastrointestinal tract to digest boiled chicken or beef, rye bread, carrots, cucumbers, radishes, ham, spinach, fried potatoes.
• Beans (for example, beans or peas), herring, game, various fried meat are digested in the human body for 4-5 hours.
• 5-6 hours are needed to digest mushrooms and bacon.

Liquids:

• Water is absorbed almost immediately, if there is no other food in the stomach at that time, and passes into the intestines)
• Fruit and vegetable juices are assimilated in the body in 10-30 minutes
• Broths: 20-40 minutes
• Milk is digested up to 2 hours

Vegetables

• Cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, herbs are digested for 30-40 minutes (if they are filled with oil, the digestion speed decreases and the process now takes up to one and a half hours)
• Cooked vegetables (corn, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini) are digested in 40 minutes, if they are seasoned with oil, the time increases to an hour.
• Carrots, beets, parsnips, turnips will be assimilated in the body in 50-60 minutes.
• Sweet potato, pumpkin, potatoes, yams, Jerusalem artichoke, chestnuts are digested in 1 hour

Fruits and berries

• Watermelon and a variety of berries are absorbed in the stomach in 20 minutes.
• Citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, tangerines and others), as well as melons, grapes and other such juicy fruits will be assimilated in 30 minutes.
• Pears, fresh apples, peaches, apricots, cherries, cherries can be digested in just 40-50 minutes.
• Fruit and fruit and vegetable salads are absorbed in a maximum of an hour.

Cereals, cereals and legumes

• Buckwheat, rice, millet are digested in an hour and a half.
• Oatmeal, pearl barley and corn flour are also a maximum of an hour and a half.
• Plain peas and chickpeas, lentils and beans also in an hour and a half.
• Soy is needed for assimilation as much as 2 hours.

Nuts and seeds

• Seeds of pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, melon pear are absorbed in 2 hours.
• Pecans, peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts are digested in the human body in 2-3 hours.

Eggs

• The yolk is absorbed in 30 minutes.
• Protein is digested a little longer, for 45.

Dairy products

• Fermented milk drinks are absorbed in 1 hour.
• Cheese, cottage cheese and homemade cheese in 1.5 hours.
• Milk and fat cottage cheese in 2 hours.
• Fatty hard cheeses require more digestion – from 4 to 5 hours.

Fish and seafood

• Small and lean fish are digested in just 30 minutes.
• Fatty fish, depending on the size, will take an hour and a half.
• Seafood is digested in 2-3 hours.

Poultry

• Chicken and chicken without skin will be absorbed from 1.5 to 2 hours.
• A skinned turkey takes about 2 hours to digest.

Meat

• Lamb is digested in the body in 3 hours.
• Beef will be digested in 3-4 hours.
• Pork takes longer to digest – up to 5 hours.

Avoid eating 3-4 hours before bedtime. If you really want to, you can drink kefir.

If you adhere to the principle of not overeating, and do not eat too much, while there is still food in the stomach, then you can not only lose weight, but also maintain such an important health of the gastrointestinal tract.Gradually, adhering to the simple and complex principle of not overeating at the same time, the stomach will decrease slightly in size over time, and the habit of not overeating during the day will remain with you.

By the way, separate food is based on not taking incompatible foods until the previous food has been digested in the stomach. After all, a separate meal does not mean at all a sequential consumption of food, which is necessarily divided in time, but simply the intake of one food group after it has been completely digested (or assimilated) by another group.At the same time, factors such as the speed and time of assimilation of various products can differ significantly from each other.

Remember that any diet must be personally agreed with a dietitian, so as not to worsen your health!

ATTENTION! IMPORTANT! The information is provided for informational purposes only and should not be used as a guide to self-medication. Self-medication can be hazardous to your health! Please consult your doctor before use! The need for prescription, methods and doses of the agent (or method) are determined exclusively by the attending physician!

90,000 Positive effect of coffee on digestion

A cup of aromatic coffee throughout the day is a guarantee of high productivity and excellent mood for many of us.This wonderful drink perfectly invigorates, helps to fight drowsiness, fatigue and low blood pressure, as well as improves mood and improves brain activity and physical activity.

But how many myths about coffee can be found on the Internet! From the fact that coffee raises cholesterol levels to the fact that it negatively affects digestion. All this, of course, is not true! Let’s say even more – coffee has a great effect on the gastrointestinal tract, helps to better digest food, and in some conditions it can even have a mild healing effect.

So what exactly is coffee good for digestion? Can everyone drink coffee? Does coffee help you lose weight? And how to drink coffee correctly in order to bring only benefits to your body?

Sit back as we embark on an exciting journey through uncharted coffee edges!

Benefits of coffee for digestion

We all know perfectly well that coffee gives a feeling of cheerfulness and lightness due to its direct effect on the nervous system.It promotes the production of the happiness hormone dopamine, blocks receptors responsible for decreased activity and increased sleepiness, promotes greater production of adrenaline – the hormone responsible for increasing concentration and alertness, for productivity, physical endurance and quick decision-making in stressful situations. It also perfectly helps to fight headaches and fatigue for people with low blood pressure. This effect is achieved by increasing blood pressure and vasodilation.

But how much do we know about the effects of coffee and caffeine on the digestive tract?

1. Coffee helps to speed up digestion. Drinking just a couple of sips of your favorite drink starts a long chain of processes in your body. It all starts with the mouth, where coffee stimulates the increased production of saliva. Further, already directly in the gastrointestinal tract, coffee slightly irritates the walls of the stomach and promotes increased secretion of hydrochloric acid and bile.By consuming coffee with or after meals, you get the bonus of better digestion of food in your stomach.

2. Coffee is an excellent diuretic. Coffee has long established itself as an excellent remedy for the prevention of urolithiasis. Its mild action as a diuretic helps to better flush out and remove all toxins from the body. Just be careful – drink enough water to maintain your water-salt balance!

3. Coffee helps you get more out of your food! The characteristic noble bitterness inherent in all coffee drinks not only makes the taste of your favorite drink unique, but also helps to absorb more nutrients from food! As we wrote at the beginning, coffee stimulates salivation, the secretion of bile and hydrochloric acid, which in turn helps us get much more health benefits from food than we would get by missing a cup of coffee.

4. Coffee helps bacteria in your body. You may have always thought coffee was bad for your digestion, but scientists have proven the opposite! In their opinion, phenolic compounds in coffee are able to effectively eliminate inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract associated with the balance of bacteria. This is due to the effect of phenols on the intestinal microflora and the alignment of the balance of conditionally harmful and beneficial bacteria.

5. Coffee and chair. Another useful property of coffee, which is not customary to talk about out loud.Nevertheless, coffee can indeed have a positive effect on the digestive system. This drink will be especially useful in the fight against constipation.

Harm of coffee to the body

But not everything is as smooth as it might seem at first glance! Yet coffee is not a universal remedy for all diseases. It requires special moderation in the frequency and quantity of its consumption, as well as special care for certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

1. Coffee for gastritis.If you are temporarily or permanently suffering from acidity, heartburn, or gastritis, take a closer look at your daily coffee consumption. As you know, coffee is a product with a fairly high acidity, which also provokes irritation of the intestinal walls and the release of hydrochloric acid. If, after drinking coffee drinks, you feel an increase in pain and a greater manifestation of a symptom of the disease, we strongly recommend that you give up your favorite drink at least for a while. For everyone else, there are simple recommendations: do not drink coffee on an empty stomach, drink coffee drinks only with food or 1-1.5 hours after, do not abuse strong coffee.

2. Coffee on an empty stomach. Never drink coffee in the morning on an empty stomach unless you want serious health problems. We even dedicated a separate article on this topic, “Can I drink coffee on an empty stomach?” We recommend that you familiarize yourself!

3. Coffee for celiac disease. Scientists have found that some of the chemicals formed after heat treatment of coffee (roasting beans, brewing coffee) are able to be recognized by our body as gluten.Of course, for most healthy people who do not suffer from this specific disease, the information will seem trivial. However, for those whose body is extremely sensitive to this protein, we advise you to be on the alert!

Does coffee help you lose weight?

No, this is nothing more than a myth. Coffee does help to improve digestion, but it is unlikely to significantly affect your weight.

Does coffee raise cholesterol levels?

Scientists are still debating this issue.Different studies come to different conclusions, but the most plausible version is that coffee, when consumed in moderation, is not able to affect blood cholesterol levels. Moderate consumption means 1-2 cups of coffee per day.

In any case, we advise you to follow the recommendations of your doctor!

90 735 Buy coffee with delivery

And you can buy such a tasty and healthy drink as coffee with delivery from the Filizhanka online store.