Indigestion, although a disorder in itself, can often signal a disorder of the stomach or the intestines. If food is not fully digested it can ferment producing hydrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases. Foods high in complex carbohydrates (e.g. grains, legumes) are more difficult to digest and are more likely to produce undigested particles, which can release toxins that make the gut leaky. If particles leak out of the gut, they can produce systemic effects on the body and cause digestive distress.
Causes: talking while chewing or gulping food down, drinking liquids with meals, alcohol, caffeine, greasy or spicy foods, intestinal obstruction, malabsorption, peptic ulcers, pancreatic dysfunction and food allergy.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, belching, bloated feeling, burning sensation after eating, chronic bowel irritation, constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence, nausea, skin disorders and vomiting.
Who to consult: Dentist, dietician, gastroenterologist, GP, herbalist, homoeopath, naturopath, pharmacist.
