Digestive disorders are commonplace. It's easy to rush meals when at work or on the go to pick up children from school. The cost, however, is indigestion, constipation or more serious conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or leaky gut, or long-term colon cancer.
All digestive disorders can be monitored from an early stage. If you don't have a daily bowel movement, this is reason enough to see your doctor. Using laxatives is discouraged; they can become habit-forming and weaken the colon.
Identification
Indigestion is characterized by flatulence, gas or bloating. Constipation is the inability to have a regular bowel movement daily.
IBS is characterized by cycles of indigestion, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. While these symptoms are quite uncomfortable, according to the National Institutes of Health, they do not "harm the intestines."
Leaky gut is so named for undigested food that "escapes" and enters the bloodstream. This can create problems, as all food ideally moves through the gastrointestinal tract to the colon--where it is later evacuated through normal detoxification.
Colon cancer may be hereditary but may also be a result of many years of neglecting proper eating and detoxification habits.
Significance
Minor digestive disorders may be temporary, but if they are a regular pattern with you, see your doctor.
If you experience IBS, your doctor may run tests to be certain it's not a more serious problem such as diverticulosis, in which parts of the intestines become "twisted." This makes it difficult for waste matter to be completely evacuated from the colon.
Leaky gut syndrome occurs when there is irritation in the intestinal wall that allows undigested food particles to pass through areas called desmosomes. The body does not recognize these undigested food particles and produces antibodies that can result in inflammation in different areas of the body.
Considerations
Digestion begins in the mouth--as you may remember your junior high school health teacher or your mother tell you. Saliva contains enzymes that help digest the food you eat. By chewing food thoroughly, many minor digestive disorders can be avoided such as indigestion, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Warning
If you experience constipation or indigestion on a regular basis or have a sudden change in bowel habits, see your doctor. You may have a more serious health condition that warrants medical intervention.
Prevention/Solution
Keep track of what you eat, and note what is difficult to digest. If you hurry through meals, reconsider the consequences.
If you don't have time to eat a full meal at work, for example, eat half of it or eat an easy-to-digest meal, such as soup. Save your larger meals for when you have time to properly chew and digest them.
If you use laxatives, don't rely on them to relieve constipation. Eat fresh and dried fruits, get regular exercise and design an effective stress management plan to reduce digestive disorders.
If you're unable to find relief from constipation, see your physician.
Tags: your doctor, more serious, undigested food, bowel movement, bowel syndrome, digestive disorders