Heartburn And Indigestion

By Author: Chester Ku-Lea
Total Articles: 40
Comment this article

Indigestion is a very common problem, especially among those living in wealthy nations. In geographic areas in which we have an excess rather than a deficit in food consumptions, problems associated with eating too much and/or too much of the wrong things abound. While indigestion and heartburn are actually two separate things, heartburn often accompanies indigestion.

Symptoms of indigestion include abdominal pain, belching, bloating, chronic bowel irritation, nausea, constipation, diarrhea and a burning sensation that follows eating. Alongside these, chronic symptoms can result including muscle and joint pain, vomiting, sugar cravings, insomnia, and gas.

There are many causes of indigestion. Eating too quickly, swallowing air while eating and chewing with the mouth open can all be common causes. Dirking liquids while eating can also cause indigestion as these tend to dilute the enzymes that are utilized by the body during the digestive process. Certain foods such as alcohol, greasy, spicy and refined foods, caffeine and vinegar can also all upset the digestive tract. Other factors such as ulcers, malabsorption, ...
... liver and gallbladder disorders as well as the simple lack of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract can all lead to chronic indigestion. Food allergies and food intolerances will also often result in indigestion. If, for instance you suffer from lactose intolerance, eating anything that contains dairy may lead to a bout of indigestion and other intestinal difficulties.

Foods high in complex carbohydrates are also often some of the most vicious culprits when it comes to indigestion. These foods can lead to gas because they are difficult to digest. As such these food ferment in the stomach and upper intestines rather than being properly digested. When this happens, gas and bloating occur. Left undigested these food particles cause upset which itself can lead to other conditions. Leaky gut syndrome involves a condition in which the undigested particles leak out of the intestines and go straight into the bloodstream. When this happens allergic reactions can result. This latter condition is also associated with other intestinal problems such as Candida, parasites, and chemical overload. Anxiety, stress, worry and depression can also all make the problems worse.

One way to test yourself to see if you have too much or too little stomach acid is to take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. If this helps indigestion, this test suggests that you need more stomach acid. If, on the other hand, this makes you feel worse, then you likely have too much acid in your system. If you find you have too much stomach acid, be sure not to take any supplements that contain HCI (Hydrochloric acid, the acid responsible for the breakdown of food in the stomach).

Indigestion can be helped by avoiding large, processed meals and replacing these with smaller more frequent meals composed of fiber-rich foods as well as fruits and vegetables. Fresh papaya and pineapple contain enzymes that can help you breakdown your food. Acidophilus is also vitally important for ensuring that your digestive tract has enough of the good bacteria.

Garlic aids digestion and does Vitamin B Complex vitamins. Omega 3s are also essential for intestinal health and normal digestive functioning. Adding these supplements to your diet and switching up your meals may be enough to avoid further suffering and complications. Keeping an allergy journal and tracking everything you eat and your symptoms afterwards can also be a great way to discover what particular foods seem to trigger attacks. Only by carefully monitoring how your own body reacts, can you begin to steer yourself clear of indigestion and heartburn.
Chester Ku-Lea is a health nutrition consultant and is the owner of AstroNutrition.com - a provider of premium health nutrition and sports supplements. Check out our blog at AstroNutrition.com/blog.