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15<br />
According to the National Institute<br />
of Health, USA, the digestive system<br />
is made up of the gastrointestinal<br />
tract, also called the GI tract or<br />
digestive tract, and the liver, pancreas,<br />
and gallbladder. Each part of your<br />
digestive system helps to move food<br />
and liquids through your digestive<br />
tract, break them into smaller parts, or<br />
both. Once foods are broken into small<br />
enough parts, your body can absorb<br />
and move the nutrients to where<br />
they are needed. Your large intestine<br />
absorbs water, and the waste products<br />
of digestion become stool. Your<br />
hormones and nerves work together to<br />
help control the digestive process.<br />
Digestion is important because<br />
your body needs nutrients from food<br />
and drink to work properly and stay<br />
healthy. Proteins, fats, carbohydrates,<br />
vitamins, minerals, and water are<br />
nutrients. Your digestive system<br />
breaks nutrients into parts small<br />
enough for your body to absorb<br />
and use for energy, growth, and cell<br />
repair. If you have problems digesting,<br />
absorbing and eliminating your food,<br />
it will undermine all other health<br />
functions of your body. Millions, the<br />
world over, suffer from digestionrelated<br />
issues. Some of the most<br />
common problems are discussed here.<br />
Upset Stomach?<br />
Don’t Tough It Out!<br />
Frequent or persistent upset<br />
stomach needs your attention.<br />
Dyspepsia or indigestion is the<br />
name for a group of symptoms<br />
that cause discomfort in the<br />
abdomen. This might include<br />
pain, a burning feeling, feeling<br />
full too soon while eating and<br />
feeling uncomfortably full after<br />
eating. You could have more<br />
than one symptom at the same<br />
time. Lifestyle, medicines, health<br />
problems, and digestive tract<br />
illnesses can cause<br />
indigestion. Your<br />
doctor will check<br />
your medical history, conduct a<br />
physical exam, and might suggest<br />
other tests like blood test, stool<br />
test and urea breath test.<br />
The treatment will depend<br />
on the cause and may include<br />
medicines, diet changes and<br />
stress-relief measures. You may<br />
need to avoid certain foods and<br />
drinks that may cause indigestion,<br />
like alcohol, carbonated drinks,<br />
coffee, foods that contain<br />
a lot of acid, and<br />
spicy, fatty,<br />
or greasy<br />
foods.<br />
<strong>August</strong> <strong>2018</strong> • Issue III • Volume VII • yourwellness.com