Nowadays, dietary therapy has become a popular choice for wellness. Many people turn to cookbooks and TV shows about food to learn about healthy living. The documentary "A Bite of China" once captivated audiences with its visual and culinary delights. While we know many foods provide rich nutrition, consuming them improperly can burden the digestive system.
These Foods Are Hardest on Your Stomach
Fried Foods: Rich in oils and fats, fried foods produce a substance called "acrylic acid" when heated. This substance is difficult to digest and can easily cause nausea, diarrhea, and other symptoms.
Spicy Foods: Chili peppers irritate the esophageal lining and increase gastric burden. Even if you add sour cream to cool it down, such condiments may cause other side effects.
Chocolate: Excessive chocolate consumption not only adds unnecessary calories but also relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid to reflux and irritate the esophagus and throat.
Citrus Juice: Acidic beverages irritate the esophagus. Drinking a large glass of citrus juice first thing in the morning increases acidity in the gastrointestinal tract. Sweet lemonade with high fructose content is especially problematic, as excessive sugar intake can cause diarrhea.
Mashed Potatoes: Creamy or cheesy mashed potatoes aren't as wholesome as they seem, especially for those with lactose intolerance. The milk, cream, or cheese added to mashed potatoes can cause significant stomach discomfort.
Raw Onions: Onions, garlic, and leeks can also cause digestive discomfort like bloating and abdominal cramps. However, cooking seems to neutralize the compounds that trigger these issues.
How to Self-Manage Stomach Conditions
1. Dietary Therapy is Key for Stomach Conditions
Managing stomach issues begins with dietary adjustments. Stomach conditions are generally categorized into chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers. Chronic gastritis is an inflammatory disease, further divided into superficial gastritis and atrophic gastritis.Patients should opt for low-residue, low-fiber soft foods, especially during pain episodes when semi-liquid or soft diets are recommended. Eat smaller, more frequent meals. Superficial gastritis patients should limit fat intake and avoid high-fat foods. Moderately increase fermented alkaline foods like bread or steamed buns. Atrophic gastritis patients may moderately increase sweet-and-sour dishes.Patients with peptic ulcers should opt for low-fat, moderate-protein, low-fiber soft foods. Smoking and alcohol should be avoided, along with irritating foods like strong tea, coffee, garlic, and chili peppers. Spicy foods such as hot pot have a strong irritating effect on the digestive tract mucosa. Over time, they can damage the stomach and esophagus, especially in patients with gastric conditions and the elderly, who should minimize or avoid them.
2. Enhance Exercise and Massage for Health
Regular physical activity strengthens the body and boosts disease resistance. Exercise promotes gastrointestinal motility and secretion, aids digestion and nutrient absorption, improves blood circulation in the digestive tract, enhances metabolism, and delays aging of the digestive system. Hou Peng advises against vigorous activity immediately after meals; it's best to rest for half an hour before moving.Before bed each night, lie down and massage your abdomen with both hands, moving up and down about 40 times. Alternatively, use your navel as the center and massage in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction for 60 circles each. Consistent practice aids spleen function, eliminates food stagnation, and clears stagnant energy, providing excellent health benefits for the spleen and stomach.
3. Regular Checkups for Prevention
Hou Peng emphasizes the importance of regular checkups for early detection and treatment. Gastric cancer ranks among the highest incidence rates of tumors in China. Untreated gastric disorders can lead to complications like gastric ulcers and cancer. If experiencing stomach discomfort, seek prompt medical evaluation. With proper treatment and care under a doctor's guidance, full recovery is achievable.Hou Peng recommends that individuals over 40 and those with gastric conditions undergo an annual gastroscopy.