Suddenly you are plagued by severe cramps or an oppressive feeling of fullness – it is a sign that the intestines cannot fulfill their actual function. These five habits that can be the reason that are bad for your gut.
The body is a complex organism that reacts to all kinds of external factors, including the digestion of the intestines.
Suddenly you are plagued by terrible pain, a feeling of fullness or flatulence. Often one immediately thinks of a severe illness, but mostly it is unconscious situations of everyday life that confuse the intestines.
Excessive stress often shifts priorities to areas other than the gut, presenting it with significant challenges.
However, a lack of exercise or excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can also trigger problems in the intestinal area.
No Time To Chew
Either the lunch break is too short, or the appetite is too big – often, you don’t take enough time to really enjoy a meal and instead gobble it down.
The chewing mechanism is also neglected, although you should chew at least 30 times. This condition puts a lot of strain on the intestines since the food gets into the intestines in large pieces – a mammoth task for the organ.
The result can be symptoms such as cramps or flatulence – although this situation can easily be avoided.
Conscious chewing ensures that the food reaches the intestines in smaller pieces and that a kind of digestion already takes place in the mouth.
Saliva contains special digestive enzymes that start digestion as soon as you chew – for example, the enzyme amylase ensures that sugar molecules are already broken down in the mouth.
Restricted Bowel Movements Due To Stress
Chewing behavior is often associated with everyday stress – and this stress hurts the intestinal function and the entire body.
Even if short-term stress promotes the performance of the body and brain, it causes reduced activity in the intestine. The body releases more adrenaline in stressful situations because it reacts with a fear and escape mechanism.
Since the body now uses its energy exclusively for the production of adrenaline, the digestive tract is secondary.
If a stressful situation lasts longer, symptoms such as flatulence, a feeling of fullness, cramps, or nausea can occur in the stomach and intestines.
If the intestines repeatedly react to stressful situations, experts speak of irritable bowel syndrome, in which the activity of the intestinal muscles is compassionate.
Empty Carbohydrates Promote Inflammation
As delicious as a slice of white bread or pasta is, these foods can pose a significant challenge for the intestines. Foods that consist of simple carbohydrates contain a very, very small amount of fiber and are therefore a perfect breeding ground for viruses and bacteria.
These dangerous intestinal bacteria mess up the intestinal flora to a large extent and cause digestive problems.
Therefore, the intestine should be supported with fiber-rich foods so that the intestinal flora remains in balance.
If the diet consists of primarily high-fiber and healthy foods, the occasional consumption of simple carbohydrates is not a problem for the intestines – the dose determines the effects here.
A Little Exercise For The Body And Intestines
Many people work sitting down – there is often no movement in their everyday work, and the body is permanently in rest mode. Due to the lack of exercise, the digestion of the intestines works more slowly and can break down the ingested food more difficulty.
If you want to support your intestines, you should integrate a digestive walk into your lunch break. The movement stimulates both the organs and the muscles, including the intestines.
In addition, a little exercise also acts as a real pick-me-up, so the rest of the working day can be managed.
Regular Alcohol Consumption
Whether it’s a beer after work or a glass of red wine with dinner – even small amounts of alcohol hurt intestinal function and can damage the intestines in many ways. The adsorbed ethanol reacts directly to the small intestine’s mucous membrane and causes reddening of the mucous membrane, cell damage, or even minor bleeding.
Alcohol can also lead to these symptoms indirectly, as it promotes inflammatory processes in the body and thus supports viruses and bacteria.
The stomach, which works directly with the intestines, also suffers from the consequences of alcohol consumption. Here, too, ethanol damages the gastric mucosa so that ingested pollutants can no longer be repelled.
Furthermore, frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages increases the risk of colon cancer.
ALSO READ: MIDDAY SLUMP: 5 TIPS FOR MORE MOMENTUM AFTER LUNCH