The gastrointestinal tract is a large muscular tube that extends all the way from the mouth to the rectum in human beings. It is also called the digestive tract or alimentary canal. The muscles in this tube move the food, all the way to the stomach, from the mouth and then, due to the release of enzymes, the food is digested. The components of the gastrointestinal tract are the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, gallbladder etc. 

Symptoms of gastrointestinal tract problems include:

Pain
Abdominal distension
Heartburn
Bloating
Nausea
Vomiting
Constipation 
Diarrhea
Some of the most common gastrointestinal tract problems are:

Chest Pain: Also known as Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease, this happens if the stomach acids travel back into one s esophagus. This phenomenon is commonly called an acid reflux. Often, it could occur after meals. It is quite common to experience this every once in a while. However, having these on a daily basis or at least thrice a week should not be ignored, as it could be a symptom of GERD.
Celiac Disease:  This refers to severe gluten sensitivity, a protein present in rye, wheat and barley. People who suffer from this disease are advised to avoid consumption of gluten in any form. The consumption of gluten sends the immune system on attack mode, damaging the villi which are found in the small intestine, that help to absorb nutrients from the food consumed. 
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The feeling of discomfort and stomach pain, at least thrice a month for a prolonged period of time, maybe a symptom of IBS. What causes IBS  is unknown, but the treatment is to avoid foods which produce gas. A diet low in fats and high in fiber content is also advised. 
Hemorrhoids: Blood during bowel movements is a sign of hemorrhoids. It happens when the blood vessels present towards the end of one s digestive tract get inflamed. The causes may include diarrhea, chronic constipation, or a low fiber diet. OTC creams may give temporary relief. A high fiber diet, drinking a lot more water, and exercising regularly is advised. 
Crohn s Disease: This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks cells in your own body. Crohn s disease is part of a group of digestive conditions called inflammatory bowel disease. Some symptoms include weight loss, rectal bleeding and abnormal pain.       
Gallstones: These are hard deposits that form in the gallbladder. They occur when there is a high amount of waste or cholesterol in your bile. Gallstones block the passage from the gallbladder to the intestines, which may result in a sharp pain felt in the upper right region of the abdomen. Medication to dissolve the gallstones or surgery is advised.
The gastrointestinal tract is very important and should be taken care of properly. Any discomfort shouldn t be ignored. 

6 Most Common Gastrointestinal Problems!

From our early memories, we would have been drilleed down with the importance of food and the benefits of eating certain foods. We naturally tend to assume that foods make us grow and sometimes we end up gobbling tons of food with a childhood innocence that they are going to make us taller and smarter in a jiffy. Looking back, we tend to smile at those memories nostalgically. However, in some cases, we grow up or we simply ignore one basic rule of eating the right food at the right time. 

Foods are very much related to time and the physics of our body can agree with them only if they are taken for a certain period. For instance, there are some foods that are beneficial to us, but can actually work in a negative way, if taken at a wrong time. For example, there are some foods that should never be taken on an empty stomach. Here are some such foods that you may want to know:

Tomatoes: Tomatoes are no doubt full of vitamins and antioxidants. However, when eaten on an empty stomach, these ingredients combine with acidic nature of our stomach and can result in stomach block. They put unnecessary pressure on the stomach and can cause stomachache. This can be dangerous for people who are already suffering from ulcers.
Citrus Fruits: Though citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons are high in vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants, they may irritate your stomach when taken first thing in the morning. The oesophagus lining of your stomach gets enlarged when there is no food to digest and taking these fruits can directly enlarge them even more, causing more friction to your stomach.
Short Crust/Puff Pastry: Pastries can be a good combination for breakfast but it is a strict no on an empty stomach. Pastries and crusts have yeast in them and they simply will not go well for an empty stomach.
Carbonated Drinks: Carbonated drinks are basically bad for health and imagine having them on an early morning. Nothing can be more troublesome for your stomach than having these carbonated drinks first thing in the morning. They up the risk of cancer and heart diseases and can also lead to many other complications. Strictly avoid them on an empty stomach.
Coffee or Tea: Is having coffee the first thing that you do in the morning? You may be unaware but you are actually causing a lot of harm to your body. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach can increase the levels of hydrochloric acid and can lead to constipation vomiting. They also slow the digestion process. Try having a glass of water on an empty stomach; give it some time to settle and then intake caffeine.

5 Things You Must Never Consume Empty Stomach!

A digestive system that is healthy and functions smoothly ensures sound health of both body and mind. If the digestive system faces any kind of interference, the body will be in trouble too. Regular exercising benefits the digestive system as well as the digestive process.

Keep on reading to understand the importance of exercise on digestion:

Boosts the blood circulation: Exercise is known to boost the blood flow in the body. Blood, being responsible for absorbing various nutrients from the digested food and then distributing them throughout the body, proper blood flow becomes necessary for the digestive system to function smoothly. The better the blood flow, the more efficient will be the digestive process. It also prevents risk of developing heartburn, gas, constipation, stomach cramps, etc.
Increases metabolism: Exercise also helps in boosting metabolism. As a result, it makes the food move through the digestive system more quickly. The quicker the passage of the food, the lesser the load or work done by the digestive system. When the food fails to pass quickly, it ends up sitting and rotting in the gastrointestinal tract, causing acidity and other stomach discomforts.
Helps in maintaining a digestive routine: Exercise also plays a crucial role in helping the body maintain a healthy digestive routine. Yes, it is through exercising that you can help your body to better utilize the nutrient-rich food that you are consuming. It is not only the fiber-rich foods or necessary water consumption, but also exercise that can help in establishing a routine for the body, such as regular bowel movement.
Makes the muscles strong: The role that regular exercising plays in strengthening the muscles around the intestines as well as the stomach say a lot about the relationship of exercise and smooth digestion. Just as the muscles of various parts of the body become strong, exercising strengthens the muscles involved with the digestion process. These muscles move the food through the intestines and stomach more easily and efficiently.
Keeps the mind relaxed and stress-free: Excessive stress can cause the oesophagus muscles to go into sudden convulsion or contraction, letting the stomach acid and the gastric secretions go back up the food pipe and interrupt the digestive process. The more stressed one is, the more hampered will be the process of digesting and absorbing nutrients. It is undoubtedly through regular exercising that both the mind and body can stay relaxed, and free from troubles caused by stress.
Before opting for any exercise, it's important that you consult a doctor first. This is because sometimes you may not be aware of your physical condition. If there are any underlying health problems, they could worsen by random, strenuous exercise.


Exercise - Why Is It Important For Your Digestive Health?

Bloating isn't a medical condition. It doesn't necessarily mean that a person has eaten too much. It can be a case of eating wrong food which has not been digested by the body. Bloating occurs when air and water get trapped inside the stomach or intestine. As a result, the stomach gets swollen well past its normal level.

Culprits of bloating:
Bloating can result from a number of cases. Fatty or junk foods are one of the biggest culprits of bloating. It hinders the digestion process and doesn't let the stomach empty on time. Carbohydrates too can cause bloating. Even carbonated drinks can play spoilsport. It creates bubbles in the stomach leading to indigestion and bloating. Some food items related to gas include cauliflower, lettuce, hard candy, beans, Brussels sprouts, broccoli etc. Apart from this, consumption of excessive junk food and soft drinks can lead to bloating.

Steps to avoid bloating:
The best way to avoid bloating is to refrain from bloat causing foods as mentioned earlier. If you wear dentures, it should be ensured that it fits properly. There are instances when excess air gets inside the stomach due to an improper fixture of denture leading to bloating. Eating or drinking slowly is another good way of staying away from bloating. When you eat slowly, there are fewer chances of extra air getting inside the stomach. In the case of beverage consumption, avoiding the straw is a good idea. This way the unwanted air cannot make their way inside the tummy and play foul.

Taking a small walk after every meal is another good way of staying away from bloating. This way the gas inside the tummy cannot rise above the surface. The practice of calming technique such as yoga, deep breathing and meditation also goes a long way in giving relief from bloating.

Some home remedies to get rid of bloating include:
a. A cup of ginger, lemon and honey in a cup of hot water once everyday
b. 1 cup of herbal peppermint tea freshly prepared in boiled water
c. In the case of regular stomach bloating, intake of one caraway seed on a daily basis fetches immediate results
d. Consumption of a cup of baked pumpkin twice a week
e. Consumption of warm lemon water before you start your day is another good way of keeping bloating at bay.

Bloating can also be a symptom of other intestinal related problems as well. If the general method of control and measured diet doesn't suffice, it is time to visit a doctor to find the underlying cause of your problem. Doctors perform a series of tests to understand the problem and prescribe the required medicine to control or cure the problem.

Bloating: The Causes & Solutions

The term fast food refers to those particular food items that can be quickly prepared and served instantly. From pizzas to chips, pastries, burgers, candy, soft drinks, fried and salted snacks, everything falls under fast food. There is no doubt that they appear irresistible and are equally delicious. But do you know that they can end up seriously affecting your stomach? Yes, for those who follow a diet, which is based on fast foods, it's time to know the effects of them on your digestive system.

Discomfort to the Stomach and Kidney: As fast food contains various toxic elements, chemicals and high amount of sodium, these naturally increase the risks of developing bloating, stomach ulcers and sometimes even stomach cancer. As more salt is consumed by your body (through fast food), greater amount of water will be held by the sodium, which cannot only result in swelling or bloating of the abdomen but also may cause stomach discomfort.
Fast Food Diet Increases Constipation: Dietary fiber, which is found in fruits, vegetables, seeds, whole grains, and nuts, plays a crucial role in the maintaining a smooth digestive system. Not only do they keep the digestive tract functional, but also helpsin excreting the waste out of the body. But unfortunately, when your diet becomes filled with fast food, you lack the necessary fiber intake as fast food contains little or no dietary fiber. Less fiber means less absorption of water, resulting in constipation, which causes discomfort in the stomach as well.
Peptic Ulcer May Be Next: Continuously having fast food often leads to stomach ulcers. Peptic ulcer disease or peptic ulcer is probably the most common form of ulcer that damages the gastrointestinal tract severely. For ages, intake of excessively spicy foods, alcohol and leading a stressful life have been considered to be the root cause of stomach ulcer. However, scientific studies have highlighted the consumption of fast foods too as a cause of ulcers.
It Invites Liver Diseases: The liver is another victim of regular fast food intake. If you think that the stomach doesn't have to bear the side effects of liver disease due to fast food consumption, then you are wrong. Whether it's liver disease or any kind of liver damage, it may lead to a bloated abdomen, swelling of the veins or bleeding veins around the stomach, the esophagus and even pain in the stomach, interrupting the digestive process.
Those who consume fast food regularly or whose diet comprises of mostly fast food items should consult a medical professional or a gastroenterologist to be more specific, in case they experience pain and discomfort in the stomach. Dependence on a fast food diet for long often leads to life-threatening conditions, which can only be dealt with through medical attention.

Fast Food Diet - How It Affects Your Stomach?

We face different types of chronic diseases and health problems because of the way we live and lead our lifestyle. However one of the most important factors that influence our health and body is our food habit. We need to keep in mind regardless how busy we are, that 'our stomach is not a trash can'. We cannot continue eating junk and unhealthy food regardless how time saving and tasty they are. The more junk we eat the more harm our stomach and digestive system faces. So in this article, we will discuss how to not make your stomach a trash can and fall ill.

Here are some tips which will help you to keep your stomach healthy and away from potential harms. Follow these tips and improve the metabolism of not only your stomach but also your whole metabolic structure and live a healthy long life.

First of all, try to make a chart of the things which you eat regularly. This will help you to look into the things which you are eating and plan the diet accordingly for the next day. Thus maintaining a balance between different kinds of food. Try to substitute one of the heavy meals i.e. breakfast, lunch or dinner with a big glass of fresh fruit juice or shake.
Usually, a big glass of fruit shake includes all the essential vitamins and proteins that will keep you going through the day and it is completely healthy as well.
Drinking plenty of water is the key. Water is one of the, if not the, most important ingredient which keeps our body healthy and going. Water not only rehydrates our cells, vessels, organs etc. but it also helps the digestive tract to flush out unnecessary waste in the digestive system. It helps your stomach to digest better and also helps to prevent constipation. Therefore drink a minimum of 13 cups of water throughout the day if you are a full grown adult.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These two elements help your body to gain back the minerals and vitamins it had lost when you worked so hard throughout the day. Just like we need replenishment, our body needs it in a similar way. It keeps our digestive system and the brain clear and packed with the necessary ingredients.
Avoid eating junk food as much as you can. It was never said completely stop eating junk food, we all know that they are tasty and thus hard to resist. But do not make it a habit. Eat junk and oily food once or twice a month.

Are You Making Your Stomach A Trash Can?

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