Digestion: Facts And Myths

Dairy foods, rich in lactose, are usually harder to digest as compared to other food items. Acidic foods and fatty foods, too may cause additional problems during times of gastrointestinal problems, and should usually be avoided.

Though it is believed that the stomach is usually the center of the digestive process, it is a misconception. Your stomach is just the center of the process of 'mechanical digestion', which is essential for churning and mixing of food with gastric juices secreted by the digestive system. The stomach is, however, not as involved in the process of chemical digestion, as it is mostly carried out by the other parts of the digestive system, in order to absorb requisite chemicals into the bloodstream.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease lead to inflammation of the inner linings of the intestines; both small and large. An important reason for this is harm to the body's immune system, usually by some bacterium, or other genetic disorders.

This is a very common misconception to have plagued the world for long, whereas in fact, this statement isn't even remotely true. Ulcers in your stomach are mainly sores that are caused by certain specific bacteria or excessive intake of certain medications. It has often been noted that very spicy food can accentuate the pain caused by ulcers, but they are definitely not the source. But if spicy food is taken along with alcohol, smoking or on an empty stomach over a period of time, it may cause peptic ulcers.