Digestive Disorders
Flatulence, the feeling of fullness, or constipation are common digestive disorders that almost everyone is familiar with. Usually, these symptoms are caused by problems while the food is digested. Various digestive organs can play a role in the development of digestive disorders.
The medical term for digestive issues is dyspepsia. It is derived from the Greek words “dys”, meaning bad and “Pepsis”, meaning digestion. If no organic diseases can be identified as the cause of the digestive problems, doctors speak of functional dyspepsia.
The digestive system grinds food and breaks it down. Thus, the body can absorb the nutrients it needs.
Blood and lymph then transport food components taken from the intestine to where they are needed. The proportion of food that cannot be absorbed by the body is excreted together with degradation products such as stool.
So, digestion means making the nutrients from the food available for our body cells.
Our digestive tract has the following stations:
- Mouth
- Oesophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
(consists of 3 parts: duodenum, jejunum, ileum) - Colon with appendix
- Rectum
- Anus
The food is chewed and the enzymes already start digesting the first large food components. Carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars with the help of the amylases in the saliva.
"You should chew your food properly!". The better the food is chewed and masticated, the easier further digestion is.
Stomach: Thorough mixing and acidification
Food is ground up and thoroughly mixed with gastric juice in the stomach.
Gastric juice is often called gastric acid because it is extremely acidic. It consists of water, hydrochloric acid, and enzymes among other things. Gastric juice breaks down protein from food and acts as a disinfectant.
Furthermore, the lower part of the stomach mechanically grinds down the food through strong muscle movements. Then, the resulting stomach contents are transported in small portions to the small intestine.
Intestine: Nutrient uptake
The first station in the small intestine is the duodenum. Here, the (gastric) acidic stomach contents are neutralized using bicarbonate. This basic juice is produced by the pancreas.
Pancreatic juice also contains enzymes that break down proteins, sugar, and fats. Other digestive juices are produced by the liver (bile) and ileal glands. The stomach contents are broken down further in the small intestine and the nutrients are made fit for uptake and transport by the blood.
The nutrients are taken up by the bloodstream or lymph channels and transported to where they are needed for the intake or production of energy.
The intestinal content moves forward at a speed of 1 to 4 cm per minute. This means its retention time in the small intestine is approx. 2 to 4 hours.
The residual waste from the food is then transported to the 1.5 m long large intestine (lat.: colon) and reduced there. The "finished" feces are then supplied to the rectum for a bowel movement. The chyme remains in the entire large intestine for between 5 and 70 hours.
The most common digestive problems symptoms include:
- Feeling of fullness due to a lack of gastric juices (bile, pancreatic juice, gastric juice)
- Flatulence due to the excessive production of gas from foods that are hard to digest
- Acid reflux and heartburn from too much gastric acid
- Abdominal pain (stomach pain) caused by inflammation of the gastric mucosa (gastritis) or intestinal mucosa (inflammatory bowel diseases such as colitis or Crohn’s disease)
- Food intolerances can give rise to flatulence, diarrhea and abdominal cramps (lactose, fructose, or gluten intolerance)
- Vomiting and diarrhea are often caused by infections. These can be bacterial (e.g. Salmonella) or viral (norovirus, rotavirus).
- Disruption to the intestinal flora (dysbiosis) due to a poor diet or frequent use of antibiotics and other drugs. This can lead to abdominal pain, an alternation between diarrhea and constipation, flatulence, food allergy, immune deficiency and more.
- Severe, stabbing pain in the upper abdomen may point to inflammation or gallstones in the bile duct. The organs of the urinary tract can also cause different types of abdominal pain. Painful colic can result from stones in the ureter.
If your symptoms interfere with your daily life or you experience a sudden weight loss, you should consult your doctor. It is important to get tested to rule out more serious conditions like celiac disease or colon cancer.
Here are some tips to prevent and improve your digestive issues:
- Enjoy a relaxed meal and avoid stress
- Preferably eat small meals
- Choose a diet rich in fibre, including plenty of fruit and vegetables
- Eat fatty foods only in small portions since they overstrain the upper part of the digestive system
- Do not eat too much before going to bed
- Avoid food and drinks that cause flatulence, such as legumes, cabbage, onions, whipped desserts, or carbonated beverages
- Massage the abdomen lightly in a clockwise direction
- Provide warmth by using a hot water bottle
- Drink herbal teas with fennel, chamomile, or caraway
Use herbal bitters before eating or digestive aids after the meal
Bitter substances
Bitter substances are known to stimulate the formation of digestive juices. They can be found in gentian roots, cinchona bark, bitter orange peel, cinnamon bark, and other plants. Digestive bitters should be taken 30 minutes before a meal.
Digestive aids
Proven herbal digestive aids are also peppermint leaves, chamomile flowers, and caraway seeds. They help with general digestive problems after the meal such as flatulence, cramps and a feeling of fullness.
Digestive enzymes
People who suffer from symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or had certain gastrointestinal surgery can be deficient in digestive enzymes. They might benefit from digestive enzyme supplements. However, you should always consult your doctor first.
The gut harbours many different microorganisms. This includes billions of bacteria needed for digestion, immune defence, and nutrient utilization. Maintaining a natural intestinal flora is essential for healthy digestion. It also has a central role in maintaining our health and mental well-being.
Lactic acid-producing bacteria are the good bacteria in our gut. They prevent bad bacteria from spreading and causing symptoms and disease. Stress, an unvaried diet high in protein, alcohol use, or medicines can cause a shift in the bacterial balance in the bowel.
A healthy lifestyle has a positive influence on the intestinal flora. This includes a healthy diet with little sugar but plenty of vegetables, dietary fibres, and probiotics. Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain live bacteria which improve gut health.
We can also support these good gut bacteria with so-called prebiotics. Prebiotics are an essential food source for gut bacteria. Examples of prebiotics are inulin, lactulose, and oligofructose. These compounds can be found in fibre-rich plants such as Jerusalem artichoke, black salsify, and chicory.
