"Human bodies derive energy through consumption, hence the stomach encounters a variety of stimuli from different foods daily, leading to a high incidence of gastrointestinal diseases. Gastrointestinal health is one of the crucial indicators of overall health, influenced by various lifestyle habits," stated Dr. Hao Jianyu, Director of Gastroenterology at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University.
Dr. Hao highlighted that irregular lifestyles, high stress, and consumption of spicy foods among young individuals contribute to increased instances of stomach discomfort. However, it's essential to note that enduring discomfort long-term is unadvisable. Understanding the underlying causes of stomach discomfort and adopting a scientific approach to address them is imperative.
International Gastric Health Day falls on April 9th. The Life Times, in collaboration with the Global Times Public Opinion Center, released the "Public Digestive Health Survey Report" (hereinafter referred to as the Report). According to the findings, a staggering 93.1% of respondents face suboptimal health issues, with the top three being gastrointestinal problems, poor sleep, and weakened immunity. Over the past two years, 89.4% of participants reported experiencing discomfort in the stomach, with common symptoms including postprandial bloating and belching. Groups such as medical staff, civil servants, food delivery workers, retirees, and housewives have a higher incidence of gastric discomfort. Moreover, young people often tend to endure stomach discomfort, with the post-2000 generation exhibiting the highest tolerance.
"Digestion is essentially the proportional mixture of digestive enzymes in the small intestine with food. Insufficient digestive enzymes and low absorption efficiency can lead to digestive disorders such as bloating," stated Dr. Chen Shengliang, Chief Physician of Gastroenterology at Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Inadequate digestion can result in various problems in the distal intestines, such as inflammation, mucosal damage, and systemic health issues.
Digestive enzymes are proteins secreted by the body itself that facilitate digestion, serving as keys to unlock nutrients from food for absorption. Common digestive enzymes include pepsin, pancreatic amylase, pancreatic lipase, and trypsin. During digestion, they break down starch, fried foods, meats, etc., into easily absorbable nutrients such as maltose, glucose, glycerol, fatty acids, and short peptides.
Dr. Chen emphasized, "Digestive enzymes play a crucial role in the primary function of the digestive tract and are indispensable. Insufficient secretion or diminished function of digestive enzymes is one of the important causes of digestive disorders, which can occur at any age. Therefore, when the body's own secretion of digestive enzymes is insufficient, and there are signs of digestive discomfort, it is necessary to supplement with digestive enzyme preparations, preferably taken with food. There is not just one type of enzyme that the body needs to supplement; it is recommended to choose a compound digestive enzyme preparation for broader benefits."
So, how can we maintain gastric health in our daily lives? Hao Jianyu shared his "secret" to stomach protection: First, eat a moderate amount of food that makes you feel comfortable. Second, maintain regular eating habits and a regular schedule; for instance, since the body secretes fewer digestive enzymes at night, one should not consume excessive food, which could lead to lower digestion and absorption efficiency. Third, when experiencing stomach discomfort, use medication reasonably and do not reject it.
