How to improve digestion and bowel function? Look for the answer here!

How to improve digestion and bowel function? As a rule, this question is asked by people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and are used to an unbalanced diet. But these are not all factors that can lead to disruptions in the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Why might some people eat junk food all the time, but their intestines will work like a clock, while others must regularly take stimulant drugs? Is it all about nutrition, or are there other, more serious reasons? You can find answers to these questions in this article.

Causes of unpleasant symptoms

Disruption of the stomach or, as doctors call it, dyspepsia, is divided into 3 types: fermentation, putrefactive and fatty. With development fermentative dyspepsia the patient's process of digestion of carbohydrate food worsens. Typically, this phenomenon occurs due to excessive consumption of foods rich in fiber. This leads to the development of fermentation processes, which causes flatulence and rumbling in the stomach.

Putrid dyspepsia accompanied by a deterioration in the digestion of protein foods, which leads to the decomposition of proteins in the colon. As a rule, food lovers most often suffer from putrefactive dyspepsia. Poor absorption of fats or fatty dyspepsia is much less common than other species. The disease manifests itself in the form of frequent diarrhea.

On a note! If problems with bowel function appear regularly, this may indicate the development of such diseases such as ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic enterocolitis, pancreatitis or gastritis. All these diseases are very dangerous for the body, since if untimely or improperly treated, they can lead to serious complications.

General recommendations

The main problems in the work of the digestive system include constipation. They can occur against the background of an unbalanced diet. In this case, you need to adjust your diet to fix the problem. But also constipation alternates with diarrhea. Here, a diet is no longer enough - a completely different approach is needed. And if, in the treatment of constipation, people use laxatives or consume products with a laxative effect, then in the case of diarrhea, it is not recommended to take such medications. Better to limit your diet to sweet tea and rice water. These products help to improve the functioning of the digestive tract.

At flatulence it is not recommended to overload the digestive system with heavy food. In the summer, various vegetables and fruits appear on the tables, but in winter the diet is replenished with cookies, sweets and other junk food. All this contaminates the body, so nutrition should be rational all year round. There are other digestive problems such as bloating or nausea. In rare cases, a combination of these symptoms indicates the course of serious pathologies.

If suspicious symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a gastroenterologist for help. The correct approach to the problem will avoid unpleasant consequences. But if the problem is not serious, then you can cope with it at home.

How to improve bowel function

Upset stomach, poor bowel function and other digestive problems can in most cases be resolved on their own, but only after consulting a specialist. First of all, the doctor will advise you to make adjustments to your nutrition plan. There are also many different ways to improve bowel function. These include taking medicines and folk remedies, remedial gymnastics, and so on. Let's consider each of these methods separately.

Diet

The first thing to do when you have digestive problems is to review your diet. You need to add the following products to the menu:

• fresh vegetables and fruits (kiwi, apples, plums, carrots, cucumbers);
• fermented milk products (sour cream, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk and yogurt);
• pickles, cabbage soup, vegetable soups;
• corn, buckwheat, millet and oatmeal;
• dried apricots.

Try to limit the amount of junk food in your diet. First of all, this applies to:

• chocolate;
• white rice dishes;
• cookie chocolates and other sweets;
• fast food;
• semi-finished products;
• smoked, pickled, salted and fried foods.

All people are unique, so you need to choose the most suitable diet individually, through trial and error. Make sure that each of the dishes contains at least one product that has a positive effect on the functioning of the intestines.

Pharmacy preparations

If you have problems with digestion, you can use a medication method of treatment. The drugs can improve the intestinal microflora, eliminate constipation or diarrhea, and improve the functioning of the digestive system as a whole. But we must not forget that the attending physician or pharmacist should select the medicines. If the condition does not improve after a long course of treatment, then you need to undergo a diagnostic examination. Below are effective drugs that stabilize metabolic processes in the body.

Table. Review of drugs to improve bowel function.

Name of the drug, photo	Description
Lactuvit	An excellent laxative, the active component of which is lactuose - a substance that stimulates the intestinal motility of the patient. Regular use of the drug promotes natural defecation by normalizing the consistency of feces.
Isabgol	A laxative drug that has a positive effect on the work of the digestive tract and intestines. Isabgol contains exclusively natural ingredients that are obtained from the processing of ovate plantain. The tool is actively used for disorders of the intestines.
Colofort	Another drug with anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and anxiolytic properties. The active components of this drug have a positive effect on intestinal function, relieve discomfort and inflammation in the intestines.
Phytolax	A dietary supplement (dietary supplement) used in medicine to support bowel function. The remedy has laxative, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties, due to which it helps to increase the secretion of the digestive glands. The tool begins to act within 8 hours after application.
Hilak forte	This preparation contains metabolic products of normal microflora, due to which Hilak forte improves the functioning of the digestive system. The action of the drug is to preserve the functions of the intestinal mucosa and improve its normal microflora.

Important! If you have problems with the intestines, you should not close your eyes to them, because this can lead to serious consequences. Try to take all necessary measures to eliminate the need to take potent drugs in the future (follow preventive measures, adjust the diet, and so on).

Massotherapy

Massage is another effective way to normalize bowel function. Place your palm in the navel area and start massaging your abdomen in a circular motion. Everything should go smoothly and carefully so as not to provoke pain.

Gradually enlarge the area to be massaged so that in the end it covers almost the entire surface of the abdomen. The duration of the procedure should not exceed 10 minutes. It is necessary to perform 3 massage sessions a day, taking short breaks between them. Each next session must be accompanied by great effort. It is recommended to do this massage about 30-40 minutes before meals.

Folk remedies

As noted earlier, you can fight the problems of the digestive system with the help of proven folk remedies. As a rule, they are used as an adjunct to traditional therapy, but some drugs are not inferior in their effectiveness even to the most expensive pharmaceutical drugs.

Table. Traditional medicine recipes to improve digestion.

Name of the product, photo	Application
Liquorice root	This is a unique plant used in folk medicine in the treatment of various gastroenterological diseases. Regular consumption of licorice root will help get rid of the symptoms of heartburn, spasmodic stomach contractions and reflux of stomach acid. To do this, you need to make licorice tea. Pour boiling water over a few tablespoons of the crushed plant and leave for 10-15 minutes. After preparation, drink the drink throughout the day, but not more than 3 glasses a day.
Peppermint essential oil	To eliminate bloating and soreness in the abdomen, you need to consume essential oil daily. You can buy ready-made oil in capsules or use the fresh leaves of the plant. Chew several leaves a day to improve stomach and intestinal function.
Chamomile tea	Chamomile is often used medicinally for its medicinal properties. Also, with its help, you can improve digestion. To do this, prepare tea by pouring 200 ml of boiling water for 2 tsp. l. plants. After the drink is infused, consume it throughout the day. This will eliminate pain and colic in the abdomen, get rid of bouts of nausea and other pathological conditions of the intestine. The recommended dose is 100-300 ml of tea per day.
Ginger root	Since ancient times, people have used this plant to treat many diseases. Ginger also burns calories well, which has made it popular in the fitness industry. To cope with abdominal pain and improve metabolic processes in the body, you need to consume 2-3 g of ginger daily. You can make ginger tea by pouring boiling water over the same amount of the plant. For flavor, some add a little honey or sugar.
Aloe vera	To improve digestive processes, you need to drink 1 tsp every day. l. aloe vera juice. The plant contains useful components (amino acids, vitamin C, and so on) that have a positive effect on the digestive system.

Before using this or that folk remedy, it is imperative to consult a doctor. Only after his consent can one start alternative therapy.

Prevention measures

You can prevent the occurrence of various problems with digestion and bowel function. It is much easier than dealing with treatment. It is enough to take preventive measures, which are indicated below.

Step 1. Drink plenty of fluids, that is, at least 8 glasses a day. This will help cleanse the body of harmful toxins that interfere with digestion. Water also softens stools, making bowel movements much easier. If you spend a lot of time on the road, bring a water bottle with you. This does not mean that you need a 5-liter canister, which is inconvenient to carry. A small liter bottle will be enough to replenish the water balance. Drink plenty of water during active sports. The fact is that during training, the human body loses a lot of fluid, the reserves of which must be replenished.

You can tell that you are drinking enough fluids by the color of your urine - it will be clear throughout the day. Depending on the degree of dehydration, the urine may become more yellow. As a supplement, you can eat fruits containing a lot of water (tomatoes, cucumbers, asparagus, peaches).

Step 2. Set aside some time for sports each day. Active physical activity will not only rid the body of excess gases, but will also tone the body. Even devoting 8-12 minutes of time to active movement, you can stimulate the digestive system. Exercise helps speed up metabolism, improves blood circulation and stimulates intestinal muscle tone.

Step 3. Lose weight if necessary. Obesity can cause the stomach valve to not close properly as a result of increased pressure on the abdomen. With such a violation, heartburn often occurs. Try to reduce the pressure on your stomach as much as possible by losing weight. With the right approach, you can achieve the desired result safely and quickly enough.

There are a few more recommendations that will certainly help you get rid of a few pounds:

• eat fractionally;
• drink 100 ml of warm water 30 minutes before meals;
• do not overeat;
• the last meal should be 3-4 hours before going to bed.

The correct regimen, combined with diet and regular exercise, is the key to success.

Step 4. Take your time with your meals, eat slowly. This will prevent large amounts of air from entering the stomach along with food, which in turn can lead to discomfort in the abdomen. Also, when eating food quickly, a person often overeats, which causes increased pressure in the abdomen, which significantly impairs the functioning of the digestive system.

Each piece must be chewed thoroughly so that the stomach can prepare well for food. This time is also necessary for the brain to be able to determine that the body is already full and there is no more need to eat. Many people usually watch TV or read an interesting book while eating, but such habits lead to overeating, because a person eats a lot more food if he is distracted by something.

Step 5. Give up bad habits. As an experiment, try cutting out coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, and sugary snacks for at least a week. This will allow your digestive tract to recover and restore the natural microflora. It will also have a positive effect on other body systems, and limiting the amount of sweets in the diet will allow you to get rid of a few extra pounds.

Step 6. Before using this or that drug, be sure to read the instructions from the manufacturer. If some problems with the work of the digestive system are indicated as a side effect, for example, nausea or heartburn, then you need to find a good replacement for this drug. Ask your doctor to find an effective analogue. But remember that only a qualified specialist can prescribe drugs.

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