The digestive system it is a perfect and fundamental gear. Its mission is to extract from food the raw materials that will serve both to produce the energy we need in daily activity and to manufacture and generate the elements that make up the different organs and systems of our body.
Digestive system chemically breaks down nutrients in small enough parts so that the body can absorb popular nutrients such as fats, vitamins, minerals or water.
Sometimes, we mistreat him. Above all, as regards feeding. In the hectic day, we seek to satisfy immediate needs: we opt for processed foods, to the detriment of a healthy diet; or we eat inordinate amounts of products that are not kind to our system either.
Taking care of our digestive health should be a priority. For this purpose came the World Digestive Health Day (DMSD), an initiative promoted by the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO), which is the institution that watches over digestive health worldwide, and developed by 104 national societies of the Digestive System in their respective countries .
In our country, the Spanish Foundation of the Digestive System (FEAD) is in charge of leading the global public health campaign promoted by the WGO at the national level, which is celebrated every May 29.
Five tips to take care of our digestive health
From the Spanish Association of Gastroenterology (AEG), give some tips to help improve digestive health.
- choose one varied and healthy diet, avoiding copious meals. That is, include fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains. We have to be careful with fats and sugars. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends less than 10% of total caloric intake from free sugars and less than 30% of daily caloric intake from fat.
- Eat slow, chewing properly. And try to spend at least two hours before going to bed. Avoid overweight and obesity. On the contrary, regular physical activity is necessary: do moderate aerobic physical activity for at least 150 to 300 minutes; or vigorous aerobic physical activities for at least 75 to 150 minutes.
- Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and no smoking. Regarding the consumption of this type of beverage, specialists recall that there is no safe level of consumption.
- eat food with fibers and probiotics, which help regulate intestinal function. These live microorganisms are found naturally in some fermented foods, although they are also added to some food products and available as dietary supplements. Some examples: apple cider vinegar, cheese, kimchi, kombucha, miso, and sauerkraut (sauerkraut).
- Avoid taking anti-inflammatories without first consulting a specialist or doctor. These drugs, due to their mechanism of action, can produce undesirable effects on the body and, especially, on the digestive system. Among them, FEAD highlights lesions in the mucosa that covers the inner surface of the entire digestive tract.
If you feel digestive symptoms or alterations in the intestinal rhythm that last more than four weeks, the AEG recommends consulting your doctor.
This information does not replace in any case the diagnosis or prescription by a doctor. It is important to go to a specialist when symptoms appear in case of illness and never self-medicate.
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