Stomach ailments are a frequent problem in our modern life. All sorts of stomach issues, such as bloating, abdominal pain, indigestion, excessive acidity, and gastroesophageal reflux, are examples of maladies many people have to manage.
Causes of stomach ailments
Weakness of the spleen and stomach
When people overwork, are ill for a long time, or rely on over-the-counter medicines for a long period of time, the spleen and stomach are weakened, and this can exacerbate these kinds of problems.
Damage to the organs caused by stress
High pressure or excessive worry leads to stagnation and heat in the liver, which burns the meridians and causes burning pain.
Chewing
It is best to thoroughly chew your food when eating, as it is more conducive to gastrointestinal digestion. Chew your food 20 to 30 times. This aids digestion, and when food is properly broken down, it reduces the risk of stomach ailments.
Taking in enough dietary fiber
Eating fruits and vegetables to supplement dietary fiber can help gastrointestinal peristalsis and aid digestion. The water-absorbing and swelling characteristics of food fiber are conducive to increasing the volume of chyle, stimulating gastrointestinal peristalsis, softening stools, preventing constipation, promoting defecation, increasing the frequency of defecation, and playing the role of excretion, thus reducing the time that the stool stays in the intestinal tract, and decreasing the contact between the harmful substances and the intestinal tract.
Drinking water
If your stomach is not feeling well, you can eat porridge to replenish water. Porridge is better cooked at a temperature that is at or above 60℃/140°F. This temperature will produce a soft and hot porridge, which is very easy to digest, making it suitable for people with gastrointestinal discomfort. Porridge contains a lot of water, but it also can effectively lubricate the intestinal tract, clear the harmful substances in the stomach and intestines, and smoothly discharge them from the body.
Exercise
Moderate exercise has the effect of nourishing the stomach and strengthening the spleen, which can promote the digestion and absorption of food. Walking, jogging, doing aerobics, Tai Chi, qigong, etc. are great choices.
Decompression
A stressful work and home life might lead to an irregular diet, overeating, etc. The rhythm of our life is very fast, and many people have not been able to eat a good meal slowly and enjoyably, so it is necessary to reduce pressure timely.
Decrease alcohol
Excessive alcohol stimulates the gastric mucosa, causing redness, congestion, erosion, and ulcer formation, which may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhoidal bleeding. After ethanol enters the bloodstream, it can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, indirectly leading to a large amount of gastric acid secretion and aggravating gastric mucosal damage.
Many people have upset stomachs because of irregular diets or unhealthy habits. To lower the risk of such ailments, you must pay attention to your dietary habits. One bad habit is to eat the wrong foods on an empty stomach. Eating the wrong food in the morning or when you are very hungry may cause stomach problems or even gastroesophageal reflux.
Don’t eat these foods on an empty stomach
Stimulating foods
Wine: Drinking wine on an empty stomach allows a lot of alcohol to quickly get into the bloodstream, which more easily causes alcohol poisoning.
Soybean milk: Drinking soybean milk on an empty stomach will increase the gastrointestinal burden.
Cold drinks: Cold drinks on an empty stomach stimulate gastrointestinal contraction, and long-term gastrointestinal disorders may be triggered. Women drinking cold beverages during menstruation are more likely to experience menstrual disorders.
Certain fruits
Pineapple: When eaten on an empty stomach, pineapple will harm it. It is better to soak it in a light salt water solution before eating to reduce the acidity.
Hawthorns: Hawthorns contain a lot of organic acids. Eating on an empty stomach will increase stomach acids, stimulate the gastric mucosa, and may lead to pain.
Bananas: When eaten on an empty stomach, the amount of magnesium in the blood suddenly increases. This puts the health of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems at risk. This is especially true for patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.
What is suitable to eat in the morning on an empty stomach?
Warm porridge: It provides carbohydrates and gradually wakes up the digestive system.
Warm boiled water: It helps to clean the intestines and wakes up gastrointestinal functions.
Two kinds of food that relieve stomach ailments
Pumpkin: The rich pectin in it can absorb bacterial toxins and harmful substances.
Millet porridge: It helps relieve stomach discomfort.
Eat more of these foods to nourish the stomach
Cabbage: Cabbage is rich in many vitamins that help repair injured tissues and improve the discomfort caused by gastric ulcers. It also helps with calcium absorption, thereby preventing osteoporosis.
Papaya: From a Chinese medical point of view, papaya has a sweet flavor that helps digestion and can also quench the thirst of summer heat, moisten the lungs, and relieve coughs. Papaya contains proteolytic enzymes that help break down proteins and starches and promote digestion. Those with stomach ulcers should not eat papaya on an empty stomach.
Dietary precautions for stomach patients
- Reduce the consumption of deep-fried foods.
- Have a regular diet.
- Choose the right temperature for your foods, not too cold and not too hot.
- Chew thoroughly when eating.
- Drink water at the right times to avoid dilution of gastric juices.
- Pay attention to the cold and keep your stomach warm.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C to help protect the gastric mucosa.
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