Indigestion, with stomach-ache, gas, nausea or heartburn (Pain beneath the breastbone from acid reflux) may result from an over-filled stomach, gas or muscle tension or inflammation of the wall of the stomach or intestines. Causes includes a poor diet, poor eating habits, stress, infection, food-sensitivity, gallstones, lack of stomach acid and digestive enzymes (drinking during meal-times, aging, stress, illness, food-sensitivity or a Vitamin B deficiency). Occasionally other problems are to blame.
How to Cure Indigestion
Avoid wearing a tight belt and don’t bend or lie down after meals. Stop smoking and take regular exercise to reduce weight.
Food and Drink:
- Eat more food rich in vitamins B and C and zinc. this fosters a healthy digestive system and sufficient saliva, mucus, stomach guide you on how often and how much to eat.
- Boost the flow of digestive juices by savoring the aroma and flavor of meals, having bitter appetizers (such as olives) and aperitifs (such as tonic water-or gin and tonic), flavouring food with rosemary and eating chicory, watercress or artichokes.
- Begin your main meal with a salad as its fiber helps condition the stomach and intestinal lining. And chew food thoroughly. Counteract indigestion with papaya, pineapple, raw cabbage, dill, parsley or ginger with meals and afterward sipping chamomile or mint tea or chewing cardamom, fennel or caraway seeds.
- Fatty foods, alcohol and caffeine encourage heartburn, as do overeating and rushing meals. Avoid foods that upset you (milk, white flour and added sugar are common culprits) and get expert help with a food-elimination and multiple challenge test if you suspect a food sensitivity.
If antacids don’t help indigestion after a protein containing meal, try sipping water containing a teaspoon of cider or balsamic vinegar or adding such vinegar to meat, fish, eggs and cheese. This could help if your body is making too little stomach acid.
Food Supplements to Try:
- Health Supplements
- Vitamin B complex
- Multi-Vitamin & Mineral
- Fruit & Vegetable Fiber
- Milk Thistle
Stress management:
Use more effective stress management strategies, as stress can make the stomach muscles overactive, and alter acid production.
Remember that antacids aren’t recommended for long-term use. Relax and enjoy meals as one of life’s great pleasures and avoid using food or drink to smother or drown difficult emotions. Comfort foods and alcohol can’t cure what’s wrong and may make you tired, unwell and overweight in addition to worsening your digestion.
Try Yoga:
Some Yoga Asans help in dealing with indigestion. There are lots of exercises of yoga help the digestive system for its proper functioning. Yogasana improve your abdominal muscles and improves digestion. Yoga not only provide strength and tones the body but also improves the rate of metabolism of the body.
What else Doctor may suggest- If necessary, a doctor can arrange investigations such as breath test, blood tests, scans, X-ray and endoscopy (a look inside the stomach via a swallowed camera), then use drugs or surgery to treat any problem if necessary.
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