Digestion

What is Digestion?

Digestion is the process by which food is broken down so that nutrients can be absorbed into the lining of the gut from it, and then the remaining material is processed into waste that is then eliminated from the body through the colon and rectum. Digestion involves more than just the stomach and small intestine, and the entire digestive tract extends from the esophagus all the way to the anus. The biliary system is also involved in digestion, and this includes a person’s gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.

It is these organs that produce the enzymatic fluids like bile that are essential for moving food from its solid form into something that is much less solid so that nutrients can be extracted from it. These enzymes also ensure it is more easily processed into fecal matter to end the digestive process. The small intestine components – duodenum, jejunum, and ileum - are the most integral part of the digestive system because this is where most nutrient absorption occurs to provide the body with the nourishment it needs.

What Causes Poor Digestion?

There can be any number of reasons why a person has improper digestive function. One of the most common ones is also the most easily rectifiable, and that is to make up for a lack of fiber in the person’s diet. Fiber is essential for having food pass smoothly through the middle and lower sections of the digestive tract, and people who don’t get enough fiber in their diet but eat a lot of processed food and ingest a lot of saturated fats have a recipe for poor digestion right there.

Another possibility is that the individual is not chewing their food thoroughly enough before swallowing, or that they are dehydrated from not drinking enough water. An overly sedentary lifestyle combined with eating a lot of rich, heavy foods can also be behind what causes poor digestion.

It is also possible that disease can be the reason a person is unable to digest food well, and these diseases include irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), diverticulitis, and colon / stomach / liver / pancreatic / esophageal cancer.

Symptoms of Digestive Issues

Regular constipation is a common sign of a person not digesting their food well, and other symptoms of digestive issues include diarrhea, heartburn, hemorrhoids, gastroenteritis, excessive flatulence, stomach pain or cramps, acid reflux, frequent regurgitation, tiredness, or oily / greasy / overly dark stools. Signs of a food allergy may also be indicators of a harmful digestive problem occurring, and a person with poor digestion may feel full after only eating small portions of food while still being hungry.

Poor Digestion Treatment

The most conventional approach to poor digestion treatment is to have the person take a medication formulated to address whatever specific digestive ailment they are dealing with. Examples can be a pancreatic enzyme medication like Creon or Amitiza for people with irritable bowel syndrome. Prilosec (Omeprazole) is a standard prescription for people with gastroesophageal reflux disease, and there are many other Rx drugs that are used to treat digestive disorders.

As you’d expect, it is also common for doctors to recommend dietary changes as part of poor digestion treatment if the patient’s ailment is related to foods they have been eating. Food elimination diets are often used to determine if an undiagnosed food allergy is the reason a person is experiencing digestive problems. There are also specific diet plans that are designed to help people improve on the relief they get from their treatment medications.