Before reading this article, I sincerely invite you to click "Follow", which is not only convenient for you to discuss and share, but also to share more professional health knowledge with you, so as to escort your health, thank you for your support.
In life, the stomach is not like us who lie, it always honestly reflects the state of the body. We may not be sick or in pain, but once the stomach and intestines start to "flare up", especially the recurrent discomfort in the left abdomen, it is time to be alert.
It's often the body telling us to stay away from certain foods, especially staple foods. Staple foods aren't always a healthy choice, especially when they make our gut "upset".
For the sake of understanding, we can analyze it in conjunction with a specific story, suppose there is a young woman who is particularly fond of eating bread and rice. Recently, however, she has been experiencing a dull pain in her left abdomen, and she also has bloating and indigestion from time to time. At first, she thought it was due to the stress of work or irregular meal times.
Until one day, she decided to go to the hospital for a check-up, and the doctor told her that her problem might be related to her eating habits, especially her over-reliance on staple foods.
From a medical point of view, pain and discomfort in the left abdomen are often closely related to gut health. Staple foods, such as rice, bread, and noodles, are mainly made up of carbohydrates.
Friendly Reminder:
[Below, there may be an "ad unlock mode" in the article, but in the platform's new policy - ad unlocking is free, you only need to read the 5-second ad, you can continue reading, thank you for watching the official and the platform. 】
When carbohydrates are indigested in the body, they can cause gas, abdominal pain, and other digestive problems. Studies have shown that certain populations have a weaker digestion of carbohydrates, especially gluten intolerance in wheat.
Data shows that about 1% of the population has celiac disease, a disease that is severely intolerant to gluten, and many more have varying degrees of non-celiac gluten intolerance.
Suppose there is a middle-aged uncle who can't eat without rice and noodles every day, and feels that this is how he feels full. However, he often felt distension in his left abdomen and even had diarrhea at times.
After a detailed physical exam, the doctor found that he was intolerant to gluten and certain carbohydrates and advised him to reduce his intake of these foods.
So, he began to try to change the diet structure, reduce the intake of staple foods, and increase the proportion of vegetables and protein. After a few weeks, his abdominal pain and indigestion symptoms improved significantly.
From a scientific point of view, carbohydrates are broken down into sugars during digestion, and these sugars ferment in the intestines, producing gases that cause gas and discomfort. This phenomenon is especially noticeable when we consume too many refined carbohydrates.
Studies have shown that low-carbohydrate diets are effective in reducing intestinal gas production and improving digestion.
Data shows that many patients with chronic bloating and abdominal pain experience significant relief in their symptoms after reducing their carbohydrate intake.
Suppose there is a male college student who likes to eat all kinds of desserts and bread and always finds these foods to bring happiness. However, long-term bloating and pain in his left abdomen forced him to see a doctor. Doctors told him that his symptoms could be related to excessive intake of sugars, especially refined sugar and wheat products.
To verify this, he decided to reduce his intake of these foods and try more vegetables, nuts, and low-sugar fruits. After a few weeks, he noticed that his symptoms were greatly reduced and he had more energy.
From a medical point of view, sugars, especially refined sugars, cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels and the consequent high secretion of insulin, which not only affects energy metabolism, but also interferes with the balance of intestinal flora.
Studies have shown that an imbalance in the gut microbiota has been linked to a variety of digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Data shows that controlling sugar intake, especially refined sugar, can help maintain a healthy gut flora and reduce the occurrence of abdominal pain and indigestion.
So, the question is: if the left side of the abdomen is always "flare-up", is it necessary to stay away from all staple foods? The answer is not absolute. From a holistic health perspective, we need to eat a balanced diet rather than exclude a certain food group entirely. For those who are carbohydrate intolerant, it is more beneficial to reduce the intake of staple foods appropriately and choose low-GI (glycemic index) and high-fiber alternatives, such as whole grains, brown rice, quinoa, etc.
In addition, we can also improve our gastrointestinal health by adjusting our eating habits. For example, chew slowly, reduce excessive carbohydrate intake at one time, increase dietary fiber intake, and maintain a good eating routine. These simple adjustments can often significantly improve digestion and reduce the occurrence of abdominal pain and bloating.
Data shows that a high-fiber diet not only helps improve digestion but also reduces the risk of several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
To help you better understand the importance of gastrointestinal health, let's take another example. Suppose there is an old grandmother who usually likes to eat noodles and steamed buns, and always feels that these traditional foods are more in line with her taste.
However, she has been suffering from pain in her left abdomen for a long time, which has even affected her daily life. At the suggestion of her family, she went to the doctor. The doctor told her that she might be intolerant to the gluten in wheat and advised her to try a gluten-free diet. As a result, she began to eat more grains, vegetables and fruits, and reduced her pasta intake. After a few months, her abdominal pain was significantly relieved and she was healthier.
Studies have shown that gluten-free diets have significant therapeutic effects in patients with gluten intolerance. Data shows that many patients experience significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life after following a gluten-free diet.
In summary, recurrent discomfort in the left abdomen is often a warning from the body to pay attention to the carbohydrate intake in the diet, especially the staple food. While staple foods play an important role in our diet, it doesn't mean we can't make adjustments and changes. Through a scientific and reasonable diet and a healthy lifestyle, we can improve gastrointestinal health and stay away from unnecessary diseases.
I hope that through the explanation of this article, you can better understand the importance of gastrointestinal health and put it into practice in your daily life. Let's work together from now on, eat scientifically, live a healthy life, and protect the stomach and intestines from diseases.
What are your thoughts on this? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!
Ancient Oasis
Note: The original debut, plagiarism must be investigated to the end!
bibliography
[1] Thoughts. The Ten Deadly Sins of Diet Crisis[J].Government Legal System,2011,(29):30.)