Indigestion also medically referred to as dyspepsia, is described as discomfort, pain and fullness in the upper abdominal area, which occurs shortly after eating or drinking. Although it is often associated with heartburn, indigestion is actually an umbrella term for a group of symptoms, one of which may be heartburn.
Indigestion is a common problem in Australia, affecting up to 10% of the population and is more prevalent in women.
Common symptoms include:
- Unpleasant prolonged feeling of fullness after a meal
- Stomach heaviness
- Early satiety – feeling very full after eating only a small amount of food
- Upper abdominal pain
- Gassiness, burping or belching
- Feeling sick, nauseous
- Burning pain in the upper abdomen
- Regurgitating bits of food
How people commonly describe indigestion:
- The food feels like it is just sitting there for hours after a meal
- Meat feels like a rock in the stomach
- I feel up quickly when eating
- I have so much bloating and gas
- I burp excessively
- I feel heartburn
I went through why a good digestive function is important in a recent blog HERE. In a nutshell, it is vital for proper nutrient digestion and absorption and is essential for the health of the rest of your digestive tract and the body in general as it relies on this essential nutrient supply.
There are many aspects of digestive function that need to work optimally for good digestion and absorption to occur.
- Chewing helps saliva to mix well with the food and start carbohydrate digestion.
- Good stomach acid is needed to start protein breakdown.
- Bile is needed to help emulsify fats.
- Pancreatic and small intestinal enzymes are needed to finalise carbohydrate, fat and protein digestion.
Within natural therapies, we have various ways to help stimulate digestive function and improve digestive symptoms. Some of these include:
- Lemon & ACV with water
- Bitter herbs
- Digestive enzymes
- Various dietary and lifestyle tips
If you need relief from indigestion, why not give these options a try?
For individualised support and to find out more, book a free discovery call.
