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Symptoms of not digesting food. How does improper digestion of food affect muscle growth and a person’s well-being? We increase the efficiency of digestion

If the stomach does not digest food, then this process stops, and discomfort. This article will discuss why food is not digested in the stomach and how to solve the problem.

There is only one reason - the antrum of the stomach is its Bottom part where food always resides. It is in this section that its accumulation occurs, as well as the maximum accumulation of enzymes. The food itself is digested much worse, which leads to weakening of the body.

And now I’m over forty, food is no longer digested as before. IN in good condition feces should not contain any inclusions, lumps or pieces of undigested food, mucus, blood, etc. Such fiber is found in the feces of an adult constantly, depending on the diet. In this case, the inclusion of such food is accompanied by diarrhea. Poor chewing of food can impair digestion and reduce the efficiency of other digestive processes.

Inefficiently digested food is poorly absorbed, so much of it remains in the intestines and is not transported in the blood to the body's cells for energy production. Vitamins and minerals, which are vital for us, must be supplied with food, therefore, if digestion and absorption are impaired, there is a high probability of developing a deficiency of these substances. There is an insufficient amount of the enzyme pepsin in the stomach (hence the name dyspepsia).

Why doesn't the stomach digest food and what to do about it?

This is the place for digestion of food, which is located on the left side of the abdomen. This one begins difficult process still in the mouth, when the teeth are crushed and saliva dissolves the food. Then in the stomach it is affected by gastric juices and acid. You should start eating only in a good mood.

But when a person starts eating and after a while everything comes back, this is a more serious situation. Now, as in our last article about the causes of burning, let's look at each item listed. Also, this is due to the fact that the secretory gland, which is responsible for the production of juice, is disrupted.

Therefore, self-medication is also contraindicated, since it is quite difficult, although possible, to establish why food is not digested as it should. This leads to serious disorders not only of the mucous membrane, but also throws the entire gastrointestinal tract out of balance. intestinal tract and digestion. It is this department that is quite often exposed to damage and disease. And, very often, it is in the antrum that ulcers, tumors, erosions, etc. begin to form.

At the same time, the entire mucous membrane begins to weaken, which gives rise to the development of bacteria and damage in it. There are reasons listed here for digestion to stop, but I have a question about one of them. The reasons for these reasons... In short, which of these reasons is caused by taking amphetamine (meth-). What you wrote here is all la-la! Without you, we know that we should go to the doctors so that they can poke around in my stomach until the dust comes out from under their hooves! Your story didn’t give me anything useful. Blah blah blah!

Poor digestion

Hello! I have such a problem, after I eat I feel dizzy, have terrible weakness, and a lump in the stomach, and a constant feeling as if my stomach is full of air. But before, I ate as much as I wanted and didn’t feel anything bad. But they should also be abandoned in the future. For those who want to get rid of gastritis and ulcers, there is only one way - separate meals. If a person feels well, then undigested particles in the stool of an adult should not cause any alarm and do not require specific treatment.

Heaviness in the stomach after eating

There are two types of fiber that can be found in the stool of an adult - digestible and indigestible. It should be noted that both species can be found in the stool of an adult. U healthy person Digestible fiber is not detected in feces. Indigestible fiber is precisely those particles of grains, legumes, skins of vegetables and fruits, hairs and vessels of plants that are often found in the feces of adults.

Undigested food in the stool of an adult is a consequence low acidity gastric juice, pancreatic diseases, as well as accelerated evacuation of food from the intestines. In all other cases, temporary inclusions of undigested food are considered normal. Not chewing food thoroughly enough, which occurs when we eat too quickly.

Too much food. The digestive system is designed to handle a certain amount of food. The more you eat, the less able your digestive system is to process everything properly. Stress. It is well known that stress impairs the digestion process.

What to do ■ Chew your food thoroughly. For each portion of food in the mouth there should be 20-30 chewing movements. Eat little and often. Because eating a lot of food overloads digestive system, you should avoid eating too much food at one time. ■ Make your dishes appetizing.

Don't drink while eating. Quench your thirst between meals, and drink no more than one small glass of liquid during meals. Do not take over-the-counter indigestion medications unless your doctor tells you to. Antacids (acid reducers) can reduce the efficiency of digestion. Make mealtimes stress-free by not being distracted by reading or watching TV while eating. ■ Don't eat in a hurry.

If the stomach does not digest food, separate nutrition will help normalize the condition. But undigested food in an adult’s stool can cause real panic for some. If the stomach does not digest food, you can use proven folk recipes to normalize the condition.

What types of dyspepsia are there, how is diagnosis made and how exactly to treat this disease for adults and children? These questions will be answered in this article.

Digestion in the stomach

The stomach is a kind of tool for processing food. The stomach capacity is about 2.5-3 liters. Food enters it through the esophagus. At the very beginning, food is broken down into fats, proteins and carbohydrates, and what is not digested is sent to the initial section small intestine(duodenum). When a person eats food, special acids are produced in the stomach, which help it to be divided into organic substances and digested. The stomach has walls that reliably protect it from the effects of acids. Food can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours to digest. The indicator depends on the composition, calorie content, and heat treatment of food products.

Reasons why the stomach cannot digest food

Common causes of dyspepsia are considered to be poor eating habits and insufficient knowledge of nutritional rules. Eating dry food and snacking on the run will sooner or later have a bad effect on your health. There are some foods that the body simply does not accept and thus rejects, which is why the stomach “stands”. Inconvenience and heaviness in the stomach can appear due to overly fatty, spicy, or sour foods. Alcoholic drinks can cause a number of inconveniences, since they can stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid, and burden the walls of the stomach with this.

Here are some other causes of dyspepsia:

  • slow metabolism when the digestive organs work poorly;
  • the presence of microbes in the gastric mucosa;
  • poor stimulation of gastric juice secretion;
  • alcohol abuse in large quantities(applies to adults);
  • the presence of a disease - gastritis (can affect both adults and children).

There are cases where the normal functioning of the stomach is disrupted due to hormonal imbalance (mostly in pregnant women). If a person feels unwell in the morning, experiences heaviness in the stomach long before breakfast, this indicates that he likes to eat heavily at night, which is strictly forbidden to do, since the stomach should rest at night just like the rest human organs. Knowing the reason why the stomach does not process food in any way allows you to start treatment on time, force you to follow a diet, and develop a certain eating routine.

Types of disease

Dyspepsia is divided into two groups: organic and functional. In the organic process, serious damage to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is not detected, only disruptions occur in their functioning. In functional cases, pathologies of the stomach and intestines are detected. These are much more serious violations. Dyspepsia is also divided by type of disease and depends on the reasons that provoked these diseases. For example, an intestinal infection can become a provoking factor. Dyspepsia caused by it is divided into several types:

  1. Salmonellosis. Accompanied by elevated body temperature, upset stomach, general weakness, vomiting.
  2. Dysentery. Causes damage to the large intestine, manifested by diarrhea mixed with blood.
  3. Intoxication. Formed as a consequence of poisoning by some harmful substances, with previous infections.

Dyspepsia with a lack of digestive enzymes is divided into types: gastrogenic, hepatogenic, pancreatogenic, enterogenic. In addition to these types of disease, there are others:

  • nutritional - a consequence of an incorrect lifestyle;
  • putrefactive - the result of eating too much meat and fish, perhaps not always fresh;
  • fatty - provoked by an excessive amount of fat in the daily menu;
  • fermentable form - occurs when products such as beans are used as food, bakery products, sweets, as well as drinks in the form of kvass and beer.

Diagnostics

If the stomach does not digest food, with characteristic manifestations and symptoms of the disease, you should immediately resort to medical care to diagnose and confirm the presence of the disease. Firstly, you need to clearly and clearly, point by point, describe your symptoms and complaints to the specialist. Secondly, the doctor will determine what is better to prescribe - a laboratory test or a computer test. Computer includes ultrasonography, tomography. Laboratory testing involves collecting blood for analysis and checking stool. Additionally, tests are carried out for Helicobacter pylori infection, stomach analysis using an endoscope, and, if necessary, using X-rays.

What to do?

In the event that a disturbance in the functioning of the stomach has caused the presence of another disease (viral type, peptic ulcer, acute or chronic gastritis etc.), it is necessary to treat the second disease, and at the same time get rid of the symptoms of the first. Treatment of a stomach in which food is poorly digested is prescribed by taking medicines different actions. Diarrhea can be treated with anti-diarrhea medications, and constipation can be treated with laxatives. Fever knocked down by antipyretics.

Medicines

The doctor prescribes medications to eliminate the symptoms of the disease, these include:

  • enzyme enzymes that promote better functioning of the stomach - “Creon”, “Gastenorm Forte”;
  • painkillers to help relieve stomach pain and normal functioning, - “Drotaverine”, “Spazmalgon”;
  • Antihistamines that help reduce high stomach acidity - Clemaxin, Ranitidine.

If therapy is needed for a child, other, more gentle drugs are prescribed.

Treatment with folk remedies

Dyspepsia can be successfully treated for children and adults using folk remedies and recipes. Examples of popular recipes:

  1. Celery. Take 1 tsp. ground celery root, pour 1 liter hot water and leave for 8 hours. Next, filter and drink 2 tbsp. l. during the day. If there is no root, then you can use and make an infusion from celery seeds and juice, the effect will be the same. A child will like celery juice as a medicine.
  2. Dill. The plant is endowed with diversity useful properties, which are long to list. The most significant ones are the ability to improve digestion in children and adults, eliminate bloating and constipation, and have a diuretic effect. To prepare the decoction, take 1 tsp. dill seeds and pour boiling water over it, then strain it and drink a sip throughout the day.
  3. Collecting medicinal herbs can help normalize metabolism in the body in both children and adults. Take honey, aloe and red wine. Honey and wine 600 grams each, aloe - 300 grams. Grind aloe, add honey and wine. Mix the ingredients and take 1 tsp. on an empty stomach.

In old age, there is a need for enemas, since with age the metabolism becomes slow, not like in a child, so the digestive organs wear out, things happen frequent constipation, pain and cramps appear in the stomach, and intestinal clogging occurs. It is necessary to force an elderly patient to do an enema at least once a week. Before the procedure, drink a glass of infused wormwood herb, which will have a beneficial effect on the digestion process.

Nutrition correction

With the help of a diet, you can alleviate and improve the condition of an adult and a child, especially during the period of taking medications. It is important to avoid fatty, fried, smoked, spicy, and salty foods. This also includes dishes fast food(hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers, etc.), as they contain a large amount of unhealthy fats. If you relate to dietary nutrition with a positive attitude, your appetite will improve and, accordingly, the production of gastric juice. Why is it necessary to eat in a quiet, peaceful environment, so that no external stimuli did not distract you from such an important task.

It is important to pay attention to the daily menu. It is recommended to select products good quality, without harmful components such as dyes and preservatives, so as not to burden the stomach. The compatibility of products is important, that is, you should not eat meat and apples at the same time, since meat is digested poorly and takes a long time, and apples quickly. An online food compatibility table will help. If you follow the recommendations, things will soon improve.

Regarding hot drinks, such as coffee or tea, which people are used to drinking immediately after eating, doctors are categorical - this is not recommended. Drinking hot drinks is allowed only an hour after or before meals. These rules must be followed for get well soon to keep yourself and your child healthy.

Digestive problems - causes of difficulty digesting food

Do you have difficulty digesting food? Is digestion difficult and slow? We explore causes (diseases and bad habits), remedies and what to do to relieve symptoms when they arise.

First of all, calm down, digestive problems are a very common disorder: suffice it to say that in Russia,% of visits to the doctor are due to difficulties with digesting food!

In most cases, to eliminate digestive disorders, it is enough to follow simple tips, such as improving your lifestyle or limiting certain foods and drinks; but in other cases, digestive difficulties may mask gastrointestinal or even extraintestinal disease.

Main causes of slow and difficult digestion

Digestive disorders such as heartburn, acidity and heaviness are very common in the Western world these days, and are mainly a consequence of lifestyle and diseases such as food or drug intolerance.

Let's look at them in more detail.

Bad habits that slow down digestion

Analyzing the points listed above, it is obvious that the main reasons for slow digestion are derived from personal habits, roughly speaking, poor lifestyle. Let's look at what aspects negatively affect the digestive system.

When you skip meals or eat a large portion at once, it puts undue stress on the gastrointestinal tract, and given the fact that digestion is much slower and more labor-intensive than usual.

Also, fried foods significantly extend the digestion time, especially those that are 100% saturated with oil.

Alcohol is important factor, which delays gastric emptying (the effect depends on the dose: the more, the longer it takes to empty the stomach).

Cigarette smoke also slows down the secretion of acid in the stomach.

In addition, sedentary behavior may increase gastric emptying time and intestinal transit time.

Difficult to digest foods

Often those who follow healthy image life, may complain of digestive disorders associated with the consumption of certain foods or medications:

  • All starchy foods: You may have difficulty digesting pizza, bread, and cakes that are made using Saccharomyces Cerevisiae yeast or brewer's yeast. The cause may be yeast intolerance. Often, some sources of carbohydrates are high glycemic index Foods such as pasta or rice can also slow down digestion, especially if they are combined with foods containing a lot of fat: in these cases, it is recommended to eat whole grains and keep your blood sugar levels under control.
  • Milk: people who are lactose intolerant or milk protein, often experience bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea after consuming cow's milk. You may suspect intolerance when indigestion is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, or constipation. A solution may be to use vegetable drinks such as soy, rice or almond milk.
  • Meat: It is difficult for all people to digest, especially fatty meats (veal, lamb and pork). The fats contained in it make digestion difficult and increase the time it takes for the stomach to empty.
  • Fish: As with meat, some types of fish can cause poor digestion. Risk areas include eel, mackerel, salmon and tuna.
  • Onion and garlic: They weaken the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter, the valve that separates the esophagus and stomach. Their use should be avoided in case of reflux and dyspepsia.
  • Spices: In particular, mint and pepper, which increase the heat and acidity.
  • Cabbage and tomatoes: Vegetables in general, being rich in fiber, speed up the emptying of the stomach and hence do not cause digestive problems. Only some of them, in particular, cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and turnips) can cause gas and bloating. Some people also complain of intolerance to tomatoes, the consumption of which is accompanied by hives, nausea, and fluid retention.

Taking medications and digestive disorders

Some medications can cause digestive problems, but these tend to occur with long-term treatment:

  • Potassium salts, are suitable for the treatment of hypertension, dehydration and replenishment of potassium deficiency. High doses potassium salts can cause ulcers, stomach upset and nausea.
  • Alendronates, used to treat osteoporosis, can cause esophageal ulcers, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain.
  • Antibiotics cause fermentation in the intestines and bloating because they kill intestinal flora.
  • Digitalis, used for heart disease, often causes lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin - one of the most common causes of gastritis and peptic ulcer, because they reduce the protective power of the gastric mucosa and increase the secretion of acidic substances.

Psychological Factors – How Anxiety and Depression Affect Digestion

Scientists have found a strong connection between digestive disorders and anxiety in people that trigger somatic emotions. Stress and emotional tension may cause difficulty digesting food, as in the case of hysterical dyspepsia, but the mechanisms are still poorly understood.

Hormonal changes: pregnancy, cycle and menopause

Hormonal changes underlying menstrual cycles can interfere with digestive processes: an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone causes excessive bowel movement, often leading to episodes of constipation, diarrhea and digestive difficulties.

Hormonal changes, along with intense levels of stress, are responsible for poor digestion during menopause and pregnancy.

In particular, during pregnancy, the level of progesterone increases, which has a relaxing effect on the muscles and, accordingly, loss of tone of the lower esophageal sphincter. This makes it easier for stomach contents to rise into the esophagus. In addition, the intestinal muscles do not contract strongly enough, the intestinal contents move slowly and constipation occurs.

Difficulties with digesting food appear at the beginning of pregnancy, but the situation worsens from the fourth month, when the stomach begins to grow and the fetus puts pressure on the stomach and intestines. There are very few remedies against digestive difficulties during pregnancy, since such medications, due to their high calcium content, cannot be used by pregnant women.

Diseases and symptoms associated with poor digestion

Digestive disorders occur more often after eating and are often associated with banal gluttony.

Causes of slow digestion.

But sometimes the same symptoms can be associated with problems of the esophagus, stomach, liver and biliary tract, for example, if in old age digestive disorders occur half an hour after a meal, “intestinal ischemia” can be suspected.

On the contrary, an ulcer duodenum gives symptoms directly during meals, and nausea before meals may indicate hepatobiliary dysfunction. Poor digestion is often associated with eating a large dinner after fasting all day.

Often discomfort occurs regardless of food intake, for example during sleep: in the case of people suffering from reflux disease. In this case, it may be useful to raise the head of the bed by 10 cm.

Below we explain which diseases can cause digestive problems and what symptoms they present.

Why food is poorly digested and how to avoid it

Due to the modern lifestyle, many people do not pay due attention to proper balanced diet. This factor provokes various pathologies digestive system. Also, such ailments are caused by constant stress and long-term use of medications.

The main signs of poor digestion are the following: constipation or diarrhea, flatulence, bloating after eating, excessive gas formation, heartburn. How to eliminate the symptoms of such a pathology and normalize the digestive process?

Causes of heavy and slow digestion

Poor digestion of food is considered a common disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, the treatment of which directly depends on the cause of the ailment. If there are disruptions in the digestive process, you need to contact a gastroenterologist to find out the root cause similar condition and determine the course of therapy. Poor digestion leads to the fact that vitamins, minerals, macro- and microelements are not absorbed properly. Adequate timely treatment will help correct the current situation.

Disturbances in the digestion of food are observed when increased acidity gastric juice. In this case, the symptoms are supplemented by heartburn, a feeling of heaviness in the epigastric region, and pain. To avoid complications that result from hypersecretion of gastric juice (the development of gastritis, ulcers and other diseases), it is necessary to take timely measures.

In most cases, the cause of slow digestion is poor diet. Also acts as a provocateur of this pathology sedentary lifestyle life. Long-term use antibiotics and other drugs cause intestinal dysbiosis and other pathologies that complicate the process of assimilation of food by the body.

Before prescribing treatment, the doctor carefully examines aspects that have a negative impact on the gastrointestinal tract.

To avoid disruptions in the process of digesting food, it is important to follow some rules:

  • Fight excess weight.
  • Eliminate consumption of alcohol and soda.
  • Chew food thoroughly.
  • To live an active lifestyle.
  • Eat a light, regular and balanced diet.
  • Stop smoking.
  • Avoid stressful situations.
  • Reduce your intake of anti-inflammatory medications.

Meals should be taken regularly and at the same time.

There should be at least 5-6 meals a day. Eat small portions. To avoid stress, reduce your consumption of fried, fatty foods, which can significantly lengthen the digestion process.

Alcoholic drinks inhibit gastric emptying. Cigarette smoke greatly inhibits the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which complicates the digestion of even light foods.

Medicines and junk food

Frustration from the outside digestive tract caused by some medications and food products. The following groups are recognized as the most difficult to digest foods:

Milk

If a person has intolerance to milk protein or lactose, then clinical picture when consuming products containing it, it manifests itself as follows: diarrhea, bloating, painful sensations. This symptomatology manifests itself against a background of nausea, dizziness, and difficulty defecating. The solution to this problem is to replace of this product almond, soy or rice milk.

Starchy products

Some people have problems digesting cakes, pizza, regular bread and other baked goods. In some cases, the cause is yeast intolerance. Products that are a source of carbohydrates with a high glycemic index can cause slow digestion. Mainly rice and pasta.

Meat products

Digesting meat is a long process. Especially if we're talking about about lamb, pork. This is due to the fact that meat contains a large amount of fat, which complicates the process of digestion and absorption.

Tomatoes, cabbage

Most vegetables contain a lot of fiber, which promotes rapid digestion and emptying of the gastric cavity. However, some vegetables cause excessive gas, which makes digestion difficult. These products include: turnips, broccoli, Brussels sprouts. Some people have an intolerance to tomatoes, resulting in hives, swelling and nausea.

Garlic and onion

Despite the useful and medicinal properties These root vegetables help reduce the tone of the lower esophageal valve. For this reason, garlic and onions are not recommended for use in cases of dyspeptic syndrome and reflux.

As for medications, prolonged or uncontrolled use of certain drugs leads to digestive disorders. Like by-effect possible with long-term therapy with the following medications:

  • Alendronates – they are used in the treatment of osteoporosis. In some cases, they provoke diarrhea, nausea, pain syndrome in the abdominal area, development of peptic ulcer of the esophagus;
  • Potassium salts - used in the treatment of hypertension blood pressure, as well as dehydration. An increased dosage provokes nausea, ulcers and intestinal upset;
  • Digitalis is indicated for the treatment of pathologies of the cardiovascular system. Provokes vomiting and nausea, disrupts appetite;
  • Antibiotics - capable of stimulating fermentation processes in the intestinal cavity, causing bloating and dysbacteriosis, as they disrupt healthy microflora;
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example Aspirin, provoke various disruptions in the digestive system, as they significantly reduce protective function mucous membrane.

May interfere with normal digestion hormonal changes happening in the background menstrual cycle. Such disorders are provoked by the fact that, against the background of an imbalance between progesterone and estrogen, excessive intestinal motility occurs. The result is difficulty digesting food, constipation or diarrhea.

Difficulties with digestion are also observed in the first weeks of pregnancy. In the second trimester, symptoms may intensify, since as the fetus grows, the pressure of the uterus on the gastrointestinal tract increases.

Features of therapy

Treatment of such ailments is carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor. Before taking medications, you should determine the real reason pathological condition. Based on the provoking factors, as well as the results of the examination, the doctor prescribes suitable therapy.

Best effect in normalization digestive process Ensures proper nutrition and an active lifestyle. It is important to eat regularly, chew food thoroughly, move more and avoid stressful situations. An excellent solution to the problem is herbal medicine, which helps to quickly relieve unpleasant symptoms and restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The following medications are prescribed for treatment: Mezim, Creon, Pancreatin, Festal and others. These drugs are excellent for treating such disorders of the digestive system.

If you are concerned about difficulty digesting food, consult a doctor to find out the cause of the pathology and begin proper therapy. Do not self-medicate. Otherwise, there is a risk of advanced pathology or improper treatment.

Why an adult’s stomach does not digest food and method of treatment

Poor nutrition, snacks on the run, or large meals at night - all this can lead to the stomach not digesting food. What to do when the stomach cannot digest food and how to restore the functioning of the organ worries many.

1 Basic information about the disease

The stomach is the place where food is digested. Its volume in an adult is approximately 2-3 liters. Food enters the stomach through the esophagus, where it is broken down into its components: proteins, carbohydrates and fats. When the body feels the need for food, it gives a signal and the amount of hydrochloric acid increases, which helps break down food. The speed of this process is different: carbohydrates are completely processed in 2 hours, while a similar process for fats takes up to 5 hours.

The deterioration of the stomach, in which it practically stops digesting food, is called dyspepsia and can be accompanied by unpleasant sensations: attacks of nausea, heaviness in the stomach and a feeling of fullness. If timely effective measures are not taken, the consequences will be very serious.

Symptoms of dyspepsia may include the following:

  • feeling of fullness in the stomach;
  • bloating, distension;
  • symptoms of peptic ulcer: vomiting, nausea, heartburn, “hunger” pain;
  • belching;
  • after eating, a burning sensation may occur in the chest area;
  • heaviness and pain in the upper abdomen not associated with eating;
  • pain in upper section spine;
  • sometimes vomiting occurs, causing relief for a short period;
  • loss of appetite, rapid satiety (associated with undigested food in the stomach).

The disease may develop different ways: according to the ulcerative, dyskinetic or nonspecific variant. The dyskinetic variant involves the appearance of a feeling of rapid satiety, overcrowding, and discomfort. With peptic ulcers, signs of peptic ulcer disease are observed, that is, belching, “hungry” or night pain, heartburn. The nonspecific variant combines signs of both ulcerative and dyskinetic course of the disease.

2 Causes of the disease

The most common causes of dyspepsia are poor nutrition and lack of food culture. Dry snacks in conditions of constant stress and haste will certainly affect your health. The selection of foods can affect the functioning of the stomach. There are a number of products that, depending on individual characteristics human, the stomach does not perceive.

Discomfort may arise from oily, heavy or too spicy food. Alcohol can also cause problems, as it stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid, thereby increasing the load on the walls of the stomach.

In some cases, disruption of the functioning of the stomach may be caused by hormonal imbalance- This phenomenon is often observed in pregnant women. Finally, the secretion of gastric juice may be a consequence of disorders of the secretory glands.

In some cases bad feeling may advance in morning time. This suggests that the person is abusing late meals. Like all human organs, the stomach must have time to rest.

There are other causes of dyspepsia:

  • decreased metabolism;
  • the appearance of bacterial colonies in the gastric mucosa;
  • insufficient concentration of gastric juice;
  • gastritis.

Regardless of the reasons why the stomach does not digest food, it is necessary to urgently begin treatment and seriously reconsider the diet and selection of foods.

3 Types and forms of the disease

There are two main groups of the disease: organic and functional. Organic dyspepsia is a syndrome in which there are no serious disturbances in the structure of the gastrointestinal tract, only functional ones, that is, related to the functioning of the organs. Functional dyspepsia is characterized by the appearance of structural pathological changes gastrointestinal organs. In this case, the symptoms will be observed more clearly and over a long period of time.

The main types of disease are determined depending on the reasons that provoked their occurrence.

Dyspepsia caused by intestinal infection can be of several types:

  • salmonellosis - characterized by an increase in temperature to 39°C, the appearance of vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and headache;
  • dysentery - usually affects the large intestine, the main manifestation is considered to be stool mixed with blood;
  • intoxication - develops as a result of poisoning due to influenza, acute infectious diseases, poisoning.

Dyspepsia associated with a lack of digestive enzymes can be of the following types:

Nutritional dyspepsia is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle and has 3 subtypes, characterized by an excess of any component.

Putrefactive disease develops when eating too many carbohydrate-containing foods, that is, meat, fish, and eggs predominate in the diet. The disease may develop due to eating stale meat products.

Fatty dyspepsia is caused by an excess of fats in the diet, especially refractory ones - lamb or pork fat.

The fermentation form is caused by an excess of carbohydrate-containing foods in the diet, such as bread, legumes, cabbage, sugar and some others, as well as fermented drinks (these include beer and kvass).

4 Diagnostic methods

Stopping digestion of food in the stomach may be a symptom of another, more serious disease, so if signs appear, you should consult a doctor.

First of all, the doctor collects an anamnesis. It is necessary to describe all complaints as accurately as possible: how long ago and how severe the pain has been, when it appears, whether there is heartburn, whether there are other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

After this, the doctor can prescribe both instrumental and laboratory tests.

Instrumental studies may include ultrasound and computed tomography. Using electrogastroenterography, disorders of gastric motility are detected, that is, its ability to move food mass. If you suspect more serious illnesses(tumors), the patient may undergo radiography. Analyzed inner surface stomach using an endoscope, often with simultaneous biopsy. Tests are carried out for the presence of the pathogen Helicobacter pylori.

TO laboratory research include biochemical analysis blood, stool analysis for the presence of dietary fiber and occult blood.

5 Treatments

If the disturbance of digestion in the stomach is caused by the development of another disease (influenza and other viral diseases, ulcers, gastritis, pancreatic diseases, duodenitis, etc.), it is this that is treated first.

To treat direct indigestion in the stomach, the patient is prescribed medications different directions. For constipation, the patient is prescribed a laxative, but not for continuous use - only until the stool returns to normal. If diarrhea occurs, the patient should take antidiarrheal medications.

The patient is prescribed some medications designed to eliminate the main symptoms of the disease:

  1. Enzymatic - improve digestion, the functioning of the stomach and duodenum.
  2. Blockers proton pump- prescribed for increased stomach acidity, manifested in the form of heartburn and sour belching.
  3. Histamine blockers are medications that reduce stomach acidity, but have a weaker effect than proton pump blockers.
  4. Painkillers - antispasmodics that reduce pain in the abdomen.

Non-drug treatment consists of simple measures. After eating, it is recommended to walk for at least 30 minutes. During treatment, the load on the abs is eliminated: twisting, lifting or bending the body.

Since one of the reasons that food is poorly digested is poor nutrition, it is reasonable to try to improve the condition with the help of diet. Therefore, at least for the duration of treatment, you need to give up fast food, fried, fatty, and semi-finished products, since all of these products contain a large amount of simple fats.

It is important to have a positive attitude - it helps improve the production of gastric juice. Therefore, while eating, you do not need to plunge into dark thoughts or be distracted by watching TV, reading a newspaper or watching news on the Internet.

The main rule is to seriously reconsider your diet. It is important to give preference to natural and quality food. If the stomach does not accept any food, then you can switch to separate meals, since a diet selected in accordance with the rules allows you to relieve the digestive system and identify a product that is not accepted by the gastrointestinal tract.

Separate nutrition requires following several rules. The main thing is that you should not mix carbohydrates and proteins in one meal, since their processing requires different concentrations of gastric juice. In this case, fats can be combined with both proteins and carbohydrates.

It is important not to mix foods that take different amounts of time to digest. For example, nuts take longer to digest, so you shouldn't eat them at the same time as an orange.

You also need to be more careful with liquids. It is not allowed to drink hot coffee or tea immediately after eating. To avoid problems, you need to drink water 15 minutes before meals and at least an hour after meals.

Digestion of food in the stomach

The process of digesting food occurs in the same way in both humans and animals. IN oral cavity the food is crushed and a food bolus is formed. In the stomach, food is stored and acid denaturation occurs. Hydrolysis of food occurs in small intestine, with the help of food enzymes and body enzymes.

In the small intestine, processed food is absorbed. Colon serves for further digestion of food, its absorption, formation and evacuation feces. If the stomach does not digest food, a person experiences painful symptoms and discomfort.

The role of the stomach in digestion

The stomach serves for an important motor function, ensuring the conversion of food into chyme in its pyloric part and its evacuation into the duodenum.

  • carries out the excretory function of the following substances: urea, creatinine, uric acid and etc;
  • takes part in the synthesis of hemoglobin.

The volume of juice secreted in the stomach during digestion is directly proportional to the volume of food taken, and if it is consumed excessively, this proportion is violated. Fat inhibits the secretion of the gastric glands for several hours, depending on its amount in food. These points may cause the stomach to not digest food.

So, the process of digesting food is quite complex. Nutrients are digested using different substances and the duration of digestion periods varies. In this regard, it is advisable to eat homogeneous food. Animal products take longer to digest than plant foods.

Many organs take part in the digestion process, and if the functioning of at least one is disrupted, dyspeptic disorders occur.


The stomach does not digest food in the following cases:

  • weak juice secretion;
  • gastritis;
  • the presence of bacteria on the gastric mucosa;
  • impaired metabolism.

Weak secretion of gastric juice may occur due to disturbances in hormonal background, for example, in a pregnant woman, or in case of disruption of the secretory gland responsible for the production of gastric juice.

Metabolic disorders can occur:

  • at excessive consumption alcohol and smoking;
  • with uncontrolled consumption of food that is difficult to digest;
  • in case of non-compliance with the diet.

Most often, problems with food digestion occur in the atrium of the stomach, which is located in its lower part, so food remains there constantly and can accumulate. It is in this department that pathologies that affect digestive disorders often occur.

Due to gastric atrophy, the secretion of digestive enzymes and gastric juice slows down. At the same time, the process of digesting food deteriorates significantly, the mucous membrane weakens and becomes a breeding ground for the development of bacteria.

Measures to improve food digestion

Let's look at how to help the stomach digest food.

First of all, you should consult a doctor who will formulate a treatment strategy for diseases that have led to the stomach stopping digesting food.

You can take the following measures to solve this problem yourself.

The stomach is a tool for thoroughly processing food. At the same time, digestion takes from 20 minutes to several hours - depending on the composition and calorie content of the products. If the stomach does not digest food, dyspepsia is diagnosed. Let's look at the reasons why it manifests itself and what to do with such a diagnosis.

Causes of dyspepsia

It often happens that food remains in the organ for a long time and is not digested due to overeating, snacking on the go, eating the wrong foods, eating a bad combination of foods, or chronic diseases gastrointestinal tract. Digestion can also be affected by stress, depression, and daily worries for any reason.

One of the factors in the development of dyspepsia is a late, hearty dinner that includes fatty, high-calorie foods. Like the entire body, the stomach must rest at night and those foods that it did not have time to digest during the evening remain until the morning, which is why after waking up you may feel discomfort in the abdomen, bloating, heartburn or nausea.

The reason for food retention in the organ may also be a poor reaction of the sphincter, which connects the organ to the intestines. The reaction may be impaired due to the presence of an ulcer or injury, which is caused by too much acid in the stomach. Therefore, with such a disorder, the patient often has a history of complaints of nausea, belching and vomiting.

Also distinguished following reasons why food is poorly digested:

  • insufficient secretion of gastric juice;
  • presence of gastritis;
  • infection of the mucous membrane (presence of bacteria);
  • disrupted metabolic process.

Reason painful sensation there may be malnutrition in the stomach. Insufficient secretion of gastric juice may be due to hormonal imbalance (often in pregnant women) or due to impaired functionality of the secretory gland, which is responsible for the secretion of juice. Therefore, in any case, it is necessary to perform fibrogastroscopy for diagnostic purposes to identify the cause of the pathology.

Availability sour taste in the mouth indicates the presence of an ulcer or gastritis. This is accompanied primarily by a decrease in appetite.

Types and forms of the disease

The disease can be divided into the following groups: functional and organic. With functional dyspepsia, there is pathology of the intestines and stomach. In organic cases, there are disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. It can also be divided by type of disease and causes.

For example, dyspepsia caused by intestinal infection, can be differentiated into the following types:


With a lack of digestive enzymes, dyspepsia can be: hepatogenic, gastrogenic, enterogenic, pancreatogenic.

In addition to these types, there are others:

  • Nutritional, resulting from poor nutrition;
  • Putrefactive, resulting from eating large amounts of fish and meat, especially stale ones;
  • Fatty, which is caused by eating foods containing large amounts of fat;
  • Fermentation, which occurs when eaten following products: sweets, beans, kvass, beer, baked goods.

What to do if food is poorly digested

This disease can be treated in several ways - all of them are quite effective. Only during treatment folk remedies First you need to consult your doctor. So, treatment can be divided into non-drug and medicinal.

The first one only works on early stages development of the disease:

  • After eating, it is recommended to walk at a moderate pace for 30-40 minutes. This is necessary to activate intestinal motility;
  • do not tighten the belt on the skirt and trousers too much;
  • It is recommended to sleep on high pillows, as this prevents the release of substances from the stomach into the intestines;
  • watch your diet - avoid overeating, do not eat before bed, do not eat fatty foods.

Drug treatment of dyspepsia

Depending on the cause of indigestion, the following medications may be prescribed:


If dyspepsia occurs due to stress or depression, then the patient’s psycho-emotional state must also be brought back to normal. Naturally, you also need to get rid of the reasons why the stomach does not work well, causing indigestion.

Treatment of dyspepsia with folk remedies

Of course, in folk medicine There are a large number of recipes that can be used to combat dyspepsia, but first of all you need to consult a doctor and consult on the question of why the stomach does not digest food well. The doctor will clarify the diagnosis, give recommendations, and conduct allergy tests.

Now let's look at some traditional medicine recipes:

  • Marjoram or cumin. You need to prepare the following drink: mix crushed cumin (or marjoram) with 250 ml of boiling water, let it brew for 15-20 minutes. Take 100 ml once a day;
  • Fennel (berries, 1 g) pour 250 ml of boiling water and heat for 10 minutes. Then cool the resulting broth and strain. You should drink small amounts throughout the day;
  • Pour dill seeds boiled water and let it brew for 30 minutes (250 ml of water for 1 teaspoon of seeds). Take 30 ml after meals all day.

They will help you cope and herbal infusions. Here are the recipes for some of them:

Prevention

Prevention of such a disease is based on compliance with basic rules that ensure normal work stomach and intestines. You also need to avoid those factors that can affect the functioning of the digestive tract.

So, the following preventive measures should be noted:

Controlling your diet includes the following activities:

  • avoiding strict diets;
  • maintaining the proportions between fats, proteins and carbohydrates;
  • restriction in the use of semi-finished products;
  • eating vegetables and fruits in large quantities;
  • control of salt intake.

As for bad habits that are best abandoned, these include:

  • alcohol abuse;
  • frequent overeating;
  • dry snacks and on the run»;
  • consuming large amounts of caffeine;
  • food at night;
  • neglecting breakfast.

By using preventative measures, you will not experience indigestion. Be healthy!

Related materials

Digestion and metabolism depend on the quality of digestion. The problem is often talked about excess weight, which occurs due to impaired metabolism, but weight loss due to impaired absorption of nutrients from food is extremely rarely remembered. How to improve digestion so that absorption increases without taking medications?


1. Chew your food thoroughly. It only seems to us that we have no problems with this, but once you pay attention to this, you will realize that you are swallowing literally half-chewed pieces. To chew more thoroughly, you need to take very small portions on a spoon, on the edge. Otherwise large quantity It will be difficult to chew the food properly, and it will take a lot of time; your jaws will get tired from unaccustomed use. Ideally, after chewing, food should take the form of saliva and only then be swallowed. This will speed up digestion and increase absorption. In addition, a smaller portion, but chewed more thoroughly, fills you up faster and more than a larger portion, but swallowed in a couple of minutes. Remember: everything that is not chewed will not be digested!

Conclusion: the less food you take per spoon at a time and the longer you chew, the better. It’s not for nothing that a whole hour is allocated for lunch!

2. Drink water throughout the day, especially in the morning, and also before meals (half an hour to an hour before). This will gradually improve digestion. It is not recommended to drink water during meals, because... it reduces the effect of gastric juice. If during a meal or immediately after you are very thirsty, this is a signal that the food is chewed poorly (see point 1) and the gastric juice “does not have enough strength” to cope with such pieces. If you “want to help,” it is better not to “make it easier” for the gastric juice to work with water, but to chew the food thoroughly. Instead of water during meals, you can drink tea, juice, milk, etc.

3. Add “digestibility stimulants” to your diet. These are flax seeds, garlic. They will help you get the most out of your food useful substances. Grated or ground ginger can be added in small quantities to any dish or brewed ginger tea. The same can be done with flax seeds, in addition, you can simply eat them, for example, one teaspoon per day.

4. Do not eat cold or, conversely, too hot food.

5. Eat fiber. This alimentary fiber which improve absorption nutrients in the intestines. They are not absorbed in the stomach, but are processed in the intestinal microflora. It is better to give preference to soluble dietary fiber. Fiber is contained in bran, cereals, rye and grain bread, dried fruits, nuts and the already mentioned flax seeds. But you shouldn’t get carried away and eat all of the above at once: dietary fiber should be consumed in moderation; an excess of it can already have negative consequences.

6. Try to eat foods that are easier to digest. These are foods that contain more carbohydrates than proteins and fats. "Heavy" foods such as fatty, deep-fried foods and meats, even in healthy body It takes a very long time to digest, and if you have digestive problems, eating such food will only aggravate the situation.

7. Use choleretic. The bile-forming function of the stomach serves to increase the absorption of substances. For these purposes, they use, for example, olive, cedar and linseed oils.

8. Medicinal herbs. Look into home first aid kit. Most likely, there will be a long-forgotten package of chamomile, rose hips or calendula. Brew herbs as usual and supplement your diet with them.

9. Visit your doctor. A gastroenterologist - a digestive specialist - is the doctor whose visit it is better not to postpone if you notice problems with digestion and absorption of nutrients.