The stomach does not digest food: what to do

2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14

The stomach is a tool for thoroughly processing food. At the same time, it takes from 20 minutes to several hours to digest, depending on the composition and calorie content of the products. If the stomach does not digest food, dyspepsia is diagnosed. Let's consider for what reasons it manifests itself and what to do with such a diagnosis.

Dyspepsia causes

It often happens that food is in the organ for a long time and is not digested due to overeating, snacks on the go, unhealthy food, eating a poor combination of foods or chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Also, digestion can be affected by stress, depression, daily worries for any reason.

One of the factors in the development of dyspepsia is a late, dense dinner with the inclusion of fatty high-calorie foods. Like the whole body, the stomach must rest at night and those foods that it did not have time to digest in the evening remain until the morning, which is why after waking up you can feel discomfort in the abdomen, bloating, heartburn or nausea.

The reason for the delay in eating in the organ may also be a bad reaction of the sphincter, which connects the organ with the intestines. The reaction may be compromised by the presence of an ulcer or trauma caused by too much acid in the gastric juice. Therefore, with such a violation, the patient often has a history of complaints of nausea, belching and vomiting.

There are also the following reasons why food is poorly digested:

• insufficient secretion of gastric juice;
• the presence of gastritis;
• infection of the mucous membrane (presence of bacteria);
• disturbed metabolic process.

The cause of the painful sensation in the stomach may be an improper diet. Insufficient secretion of gastric juice may be due to hormonal disruption (often in pregnant women) or due to a violation of the functionality of the secretory gland, which is responsible for the secretion of juice. Therefore, in any case, it is necessary to carry out fibrogastroscopy for diagnostic purposes to identify the cause of the pathology.

The presence of a sour taste in the mouth indicates the presence of an ulcer or gastritis. This is accompanied primarily by a decrease in appetite.

Types and forms of the disease

The disease can be divided into the following groups: functional and organic. With functional dyspepsia, there is a pathology of the intestines and stomach. When organic, there are violations in the work of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. It can also be divided by type of disease and cause.

For example, dyspepsia caused by intestinal infection can be differentiated into the following types:

• Salmonellosis, which is accompanied by high fever, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness;
• Dysentery, which interferes with the function of the large intestine, accompanied by diarrhea with blood clots;
• Intoxication dyspepsia arising from the intoxication of the body with harmful substances.

With a lack of digestive enzymes, dyspepsia can be: hepatogenic, gastrogenic, enterogenic, pancreatogenic.

In addition to these types, there are others:

• Alimentary, arising from improper nutrition;
• Putrid, arising from the consumption of large quantities of fish and meat, especially stale;
• Fatty, which is provoked by the consumption of foods containing a large amount of fat;
• Fermentation, which occurs when eating the following products: sweets, beans, kvass, beer, bakery products.

What to do if food is poorly digested

This disease can be treated in several ways - all of them are quite effective. Only when treating with folk remedies, you first need to consult a doctor. So, treatment can be divided into non-drug and medication.

The first works only in the early stages of the development of the disease:

• after eating, it is recommended to walk at a moderate pace for 30-40 minutes. This is necessary to activate intestinal motility;
• do not tighten the belt on the skirt and trousers too much;
• limit yourself to physical activity;
• it is recommended to sleep on high pillows, as this prevents the release of substances from the stomach into the intestines;
• watch your diet - avoid overeating, do not eat before bedtime, do not eat fatty foods.

Medication for dyspepsia

Depending on the cause of the indigestion, the following drugs may be prescribed:

• antidiarrheal agents that can quickly eliminate diarrhea and pain - Smecta, Enterosgel, Alma-gel;
• reducing the level of acidity in gastric juice - Maalox almagel, Gaviscon, Gastrocid;
• containing enzymes that improve digestion, breakdown of foods into micro and macro elements - Linex, Mezim, Immodium.

If dyspepsia has arisen due to stress or depression, then the patient's psychoemotional state must also be brought back to normal. Naturally, you need to get rid of the reasons why the stomach does not work well, causing indigestion.

Treatment of dyspepsia with folk remedies

Of course, in traditional medicine there are a large number of recipes that can be used to combat dyspepsia, but first of all you need to consult a doctor and consult on the question - why the stomach digests food poorly. The doctor will clarify the diagnosis, give recommendations, and conduct allergy tests.

Now let's look at some recipes for traditional medicine:

• Marjoram or cumin. You need to prepare the following drink: mix chopped cumin (or marjoram) with 250 ml of boiling water, let it brew for 15-20 minutes. Take 100 ml once a day;
• Fennel (berries, 1 g) pour boiling water, 250 ml, and heat for 10 minutes. Then cool the resulting broth, strain. You need to drink in small proportions throughout the day;
• Pour dill grains with boiled water and let it brew for 30 minutes (for 1 teaspoon of seeds, 250 ml of water). Take 30 ml after meals all day.

Herbal decoctions will also help to cope. Here are the recipes for some of them:

• Mix 370 g of aloe, 600 g of honey, 600 ml of wine (red). Take one teaspoon 5 times daily before meals. After a week, take two teaspoons twice a day. The course lasts at least three weeks;
• Mix the ground roots of elecampane with cold water (200 ml). Let it brew for 9 hours. Take half a glass 3 times a day before meals. The course is from one to two weeks;
• Mix together the crushed leaves of sage, mint, chamomile, yarrow and pour 200 ml of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes and take three times a day before meals. This decoction is effective for relieving cramping;
• Anise, mustard, buckthorn bark, licorice root, yarrow - mix all the ingredients in equal proportions. After that, take one tablespoon of the resulting collection and pour 400 ml of boiled water, let it brew for 30-40 minutes. It should be taken in the morning and evening before meals. The course lasts 1-2 weeks.

Prophylaxis

Prevention of such a disease is based on the observance of the basic rules that ensure the normal functioning of the stomach and intestines. You also need to avoid those factors that can affect the functioning of the digestive tract.

So, the following preventive measures should be noted:

• control of your diet;
• education of an adequate response to stress;
• control of the general condition of the body;
• control of bad habits.

Under the control of your diet, the following activities are understood:

• avoiding rigid diets;
• compliance with the proportions between fats, proteins and carbohydrates;
• restriction in the use of semi-finished products;
• eating large quantities of vegetables and fruits;
• control of salt intake.

As for bad habits, which it is better to give up, these include:

• alcohol abuse;
• frequent overeating;
• dry snacks and "on the run";
• drinking a lot of caffeine;
• food at night;
• neglect of breakfast.

By using preventive measures, you will not experience indigestion. Be healthy!