Why do so many people nowadays suffer from stomach problems? One reason is unhealthy lifestyle habits, and the other is related to diet. Nowadays, basically everyone can get enough to eat, and some even have large amounts of meat and fish every day. The quality of your diet determines the health of your stomach; some foods are good for it, while others are not.
1. Acidic Drinks
Acidic drinks can irritate the esophagus, stimulating sensory nerves and causing the affected area to become red and swollen. Especially in the morning, when the stomach is weak, you should definitely not drink acidic drinks, as they will increase the acidity in the gastrointestinal tract and cause stomach discomfort.
2. Chocolate
Eating large amounts of chocolate not only brings excess calories, but for those who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), they have experienced the unpleasant irritation that comes after eating chocolate. This is because chocolate can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, allowing stomach acid to flow back and irritate the esophagus and throat.
3. Ice Cream
Eating too much ice cream, popsicles, or cold drinks can affect the normal function of the digestive system, making food difficult to digest and potentially damaging the spleen and stomach. Although it's delicious at the time, it can lead to a loss of appetite afterward and can also irritate the spleen and stomach, creating a vicious cycle of bloating and abdominal pain.
4. Legumes
Legumes have always been considered healthy foods, but few people realize that eating too many can cause indigestion. The oligosaccharides in legumes, such as stachyose and raffinose, are fermented by intestinal bacteria, which can produce gas, leading to symptoms like burping, rumbling stomach, bloating, and abdominal pain.
Therefore, experts recommend that patients with severe peptic ulcers should not eat soy products, as they are high in purines and can promote gastric acid secretion. Patients with acute gastritis and chronic superficial gastritis should also avoid soy products to prevent stimulation of gastric acid secretion and gastrointestinal bloating.
5. Spicy Foods
While eating chili peppers has certain health benefits, you should still eat them in moderation when considering stomach health. Spicy foods can irritate the inner lining of the esophagus, causing a distressing heartburn after eating and increasing the burden on the stomach.