In daily life, weak stomach and intestines are often regarded as a common minor problem, which seems to be just the occasional indigestion, or the temporary bloating and discomfort after a meal, which is easily overlooked. However, have you ever thought deeply about the hidden health risks hidden behind these seemingly trivial gastrointestinal problems?

Most people experience gastrointestinal discomfort, and their first reaction is often to choose to take some medications to relieve symptoms, such as common stomach medicines, digestive enzymes, etc. It is undeniable that drugs can temporarily alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort to a certain extent, but gastrointestinal weakness is a complex health problem that can never be completely cured by relying on drugs alone. It requires long-term care and nutrient supplementation. Every meal we eat, every nutrient we consume, can unconsciously affect the digestive system, promote its normal functioning, or increase its burden.

As a doctor, I have come into contact with many patients with weak stomachs in my daily medical work. Through their observation and diagnosis, I found that the symptoms of these patients are not caused by a single specific disease, but more due to long-term improper eating habits, which leads to excessive burden on gastrointestinal function and gradually becomes weak.

When patients come to the clinic for help, they often rely too much on short-term medication to cope with gastrointestinal discomfort. However, I always emphasize to them that the effect of the drug is only temporary, and it can only relieve the symptoms for a while, and does not solve the problem at the root. The root cause of weak stomach and intestines lies in the body's nutritional imbalance, especially some common but often overlooked nutrient deficiencies.

People with weak stomach tend to overlook some key details. Certain nutrients play a vital role in the proper functioning of the digestive system, but are often left behind. For example, some people who have suffered from long-term weakness may be accustomed to a monolithic eating pattern that often lacks adequate dietary fiber, probiotics, and certain vitamins. The lack of these nutrients will gradually weaken the digestive function of the stomach and intestines, leading to indigestion and other problems, and even further aggravating the discomfort symptoms of the stomach and intestines.

In fact, supplementing with certain nutrients, such as vitamin D, prebiotics, and the right amount of protein, can have a positive effect on gastrointestinal health and help the digestive system regain its former vitality. The relationship between a weak stomach and other systems in the body is far more complex than we might think. When the digestive system is unable to perform its duties properly, the body's immune system, nutrient absorption system, and even the nervous system are implicated and affected. Therefore, for the treatment of gastrointestinal weakness, it is not only limited to solving the problems of the stomach itself, but also needs to start from the overall nutritional balance and the overall conditioning of the body, and formulate a reasonable treatment plan. Patients with weak stomach and intestines need to be aware that certain nutritional supplements are essential regardless of whether they are taking medication or not, which is an important part of improving their gastrointestinal condition.

Supplement dietary fiber to build a strong line of defense for gastrointestinal health

In the course of routine gastrointestinal disease treatment, many people know that they can take digestive enzymes or stomach medicine to relieve symptoms, but few people pay attention to the importance of dietary fiber for gastrointestinal health. In fact, dietary fiber, especially soluble fiber supplementation, is one of the key factors in the recovery of gastrointestinal health.

I once saw a middle-aged male patient who often complained to me about the constant discomfort in his stomach after meals. Knowing more about his eating habits, I found that he is a complete meat lover, with a preference for red meat and processed foods in particular, and almost no respect for vegetables. In the initial stage, he also tried to take some stomach medicine to relieve the discomfort, but the effect was not ideal, and the stomach discomfort symptoms still appeared frequently.

In order to find out the root of the problem, I examined him in detail. The results showed that the number of probiotics in his gut was severely imbalanced, and the barrier function of his stomach and intestines was also greatly reduced. Based on this, I advised him to increase his intake of dietary fiber, especially soluble fiber, and recommended that he consume fiber-rich foods such as oats, apples, and leafy greens every day.

For patients with long-term gastrointestinal weakness, dietary fiber supplementation is like laying a solid foundation for the repair of gastrointestinal function. Dietary fiber can increase the volume of stool, promote intestinal peristalsis, help food pass through the intestines more smoothly, and reduce the residence time of harmful substances in the intestines. At the same time, soluble fiber can also form a viscous substance in the intestines, which helps to protect the intestinal mucosa and strengthen the barrier function of the stomach and intestines, thereby improving digestion and improving the condition of gastrointestinal weakness.

Increase probiotics and reshape the balance of intestinal microecology

Symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort, in addition to the common indigestion and stomach pain, many times, intestinal dysbiosis is also the "culprit" hidden behind it. Probiotics in the gut, especially lactic acid bacteria, are an important part of maintaining the proper functioning of the digestive system. They act as "health guards" in the gut, helping to break down food and promote nutrient absorption, while also inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria and maintaining the balance of the intestinal microbiome.

I once met a patient who had been working in an office for a long time and had a poor daily diet and often consumed some convenient but lacked nutritious foods. He often feels bloated and indigestion, especially after eating, and his stomach makes a "gurgling" sound, which is uncomfortable.

After a detailed examination, I found that there was a serious lack of probiotics in his body, a large number of harmful bacteria in the intestines, and the self-repair ability of the intestines was also greatly affected. In response to this situation, I suggest that he supplement some foods or health products containing probiotics every day, and at the same time gradually adjust his eating habits to increase the intake of nutritious foods such as vegetables and fruits.

After a few weeks, he happily told me that his digestion had improved significantly, that his bloating had decreased a lot, and that his stomach discomfort had been relieved. This fully shows that increasing the intake of probiotics plays an important role in restoring the balance of intestinal microecology and improving gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms.

Vitamin D, the "guardian" behind the scenes of gastrointestinal health

I had a young woman who was under a lot of pressure at work, had an irregular routine, often had no fixed time to eat, and rarely had the opportunity to go out in the sun due to her busy schedule. She always complained to me about her stomach upset, slow digestion and frequent constipation.

In order to find out the root cause of her gastrointestinal problems, I did a thorough examination for her. The results showed that her vitamin D levels were extremely low and her stomach and intestines were not very well absorbed. After further analysis, I found that her gastrointestinal problems were not only related to irregular diet and poor lifestyle habits, but also vitamin D deficiency was also an important factor.

Vitamin D plays a vital role in the gut's immune system. It regulates the function of immune cells in the gut, strengthens the intestinal immunity, and helps defend against the invasion of harmful bacteria. When vitamin D is deficient in the body, the stomach and intestines become weak and digestion is affected.

A few months after she started supplementing with vitamin D, a welcome change was made. Her gastrointestinal function has improved significantly, digestion has become smoother, and constipation has been relieved. This case made me deeply realize that the problem of gastrointestinal weakness cannot be solved by medication alone, and the correct nutritional supplementation, especially vitamin D intake, is an important part of solving gastrointestinal problems.

A high-protein diet that helps the stomach wall repair and function recovery

In the case of gastrointestinal injury, increasing the intake of high-quality protein has a significant effect on promoting the healing and functional recovery of the stomach wall.

I once met a patient who had been suffering from stomach discomfort for a long time, she had been taking medication for treatment, and although the symptoms were relieved, the stomach still felt uncomfortable from time to time, and the problem of excessive stomach acid and indigestion persisted.

After a detailed dietary evaluation, I found that there was a serious problem with her diet, with very little protein intake, mainly carbohydrates and fats. In response to this situation, I advised her to adjust her diet and increase her intake of foods rich in high-quality protein, such as chicken, fish, beans, eggs, etc.

After a few months of dietary adjustments, her stomach discomfort symptoms were significantly reduced, and her digestive function was well restored. This case made me realize more deeply that a high-protein diet has a non-negligible role in the repair and overall rehabilitation of the stomach wall of patients with weak stomachs.

Increasing your intake of dietary fiber, probiotics, vitamin D, and high-quality protein can provide patients with weak stomachs with the key nutrients they need to repair their stomachs. These nutrients work together to promote the normal functioning of the digestive system, effectively improve digestion and improve the symptoms of gastrointestinal weakness. In daily life, we should pay attention to the intake of these nutrients, and escort gastrointestinal health through reasonable dietary combinations.

Proofread by Zhuang Wu