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Flatulence, belching and bloating are but three of the symptoms of
indigestion. Indigestion is the result of food not being properly digested,
which causes it to ferment in the intestines. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide
are produced by the fermentation, and are responsible for the discomfort
of indigestion.
Indigestion
is most frequently caused by the following:
- Food
allergies and intolerances (ex. lactose)
- Eating
foods which are high in complex carbohydrates making them
difficult to digest. Examples of such foods are grains
and legumes.
- Swallowing
air while you eat - either eating too fast or talking
or chewing with the mouth open
- Eating
foods or drinking beverarges which are irritating to the
digestive tract such as alcohol, caffeine, greasy, spicy
or refined foods, or vinegar.
In addition
to the factors noted above, indigestion can also be brought
on by psychological factors such as anxiety, stress or worry
which disturb the nervous mechanism that controls the contractions
of the stomach and intestinal muscles.
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