Did you know that digestive diseases account for 100 million ambulatory care visits annually as per the US National Library of Medicine? What starts as an embarrassing gas release can develop into severe heartburn, affecting the entire digestive system and related organs. However, some easy ways to overcome this problem, and some top supplements like the ones available at online health stores like Simply Nutrients help keep your digestive system functioning correctly.
How the Digestive System Functions
Most of us may have imagined that the digestion takes place in the stomach, but it is an elaborate process involving the proper functioning of several organs. The digestive tract is long and starts with the mouth. We chew our food, which mixes with saliva, a digestive juice that breaks down the food before it is swallowed.
The food bolus or well-masticated food then enters the esophagus, a tube connecting your mouth and stomach. There’s a one-way valve that prevents the food from coming back up. However, when it does, it is known as regurgitation, when food mixed with gastric juices rises back up the food pipe into the mouth. Regurgitation is a symptom of acid reflux and GERD and can lead to complications if left untreated.
When the food reaches the stomach, the complex process of digestion continues, with the powerful juices in the stomach further breaking down the food before sending it to the small intestine. The pancreas and gallbladder get to work on the food mass, breaking it down further to enable absorption of nutrients into the system. When the organs in the digestive tract are affected and the system doesn’t function properly, it is known as gastrointestinal disease.
Here are some dietary supplements that help deal with gastrointestinal diseases (GI):
Probiotics
Probiotics are made up of living organisms like bacteria and a type of yeast, known as the “good bacteria” as they help with the digestion process. They effectively treat some GI disorders, mainly when you include a PreBiotic supplement that combines with the good gut bacteria to help fight GI disorders. As such, probiotics offer relief from diarrhea and are effective in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Omega Fatty Acids
Omega fatty acids are known to help control intestinal inflammation and are recommended for treating inflammatory bowel diseases. Any imbalance in the intestinal immune response to intestinal microbes causes intestinal inflammation. The Omega polyunsaturated fatty acids help control the inflammation. Simply nutrients offer fish oil in the form of softgels, which help support gut health.
Bioflavonoid
Flavonoids are secondary plant products promoting normal physiology in humans and animals. Flavonoids are emerging as the best vitamins of the future. Belonging to polyphenols, they have rich antioxidative properties, apart from being a natural anti-inflammatory. They also help fight cancer as they possess anticarcinogenic properties.
As per a report from the US National Library of Medicine, flavonoids help prevent gastrointestinal neoplasia, a form of gastrointestinal cancer or polyposis. The therapeutic efficacy of bioflavonoids has been established through several experimental studies with molecular and biological endpoints.
Flavonoids help inhibit inflammatory pathways and are effective in treating inflammatory bowel diseases. Citrus bioflavonoids are now presented in the form of chewable tablets, making it easier to ingest them.
Multivitamin Minerals
It has been clinically proven that Vitamin C helps reduce the risk of gallstones. Also, patients with aphthous stomatitis have been successfully treated with Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D and B1 are proven to be effective in treating inflammatory bowel syndrome. Multivitamin minerals have also been used to treat celiac disease, pancreatitis, cholestasis, and pancreatic cancer. Moreover, studies indicate that patients display a psychological acceptance of vitamin supplements as a natural compound, safe and available at low, affordable costs. Multivitamin supplements are presented as capsules that children and adults can easily swallow.
Nutritional research has been going on for the past four decades. The findings indicate that the efficacy of a complete diet and its role in disease prevention induced intense investment and research by pharmaceutical companies that developed vitamins and dietary supplements for fighting several medical conditions. It is also proven that consuming supplements helps decrease healthcare costs due to their preventive nature.
Today, the worldwide trend is to increase the consumption of such supplements to help fight gastrointestinal disorders and prevent their occurrence in the first place. As early as 1988 and up to 1994, over 40 percent of the adult population in the United States had started using vitamins and supplements.
Much later, as of 2011, a report from the CDC indicates that 50 percent of the current population use multivitamins/multi-minerals, which has evolved as the most commonly purchased category.
Summing it Up
Supplements have evolved as one of the best options to treat gastrointestinal disorders. They are priced affordably and conveniently available at online platforms like Simply Nutrients. And, the significant advantage is that they do not cause any side-effects and are safe.
