Change is the only thing constant in the world, everybody ages, and that is a fact. No matter what kind of life you live, or how healthy you think you are right now, all of us eventually age, and what we do at this moment could determine how we live the rest of our lives. However, the aging process can be different for all of us. How we take the aging process largely depends on us.

The changes that come with the aging process affect a person’s body differently. Age is not the only factor which determines how well our body organs work; a large part of it is how we care for our bodies. How our body systems work as we age also depends on how well we understand the effects of aging on our body, and how we cope with these changes.

The Process of Digestion

Digestion is the mechanical and chemical process of breaking down food into smaller components that can be absorbed by the body.  This task is performed by the digestive system.  The digestive system is composed of the organs such as the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and the anus.  It also includes the liver and the pancreas.

The breakdown of food starts at the mouth with chewing.  Food is then swallowed and settles in the stomach for a while before final absorption in the intestines. The process of digestion is very important because without it, your body cannot get the nourishment it needs from what we drink and the foods we eat.

What happens to the digestive system as we age?

The digestive system is not spared from the aging process.  It eventually loses its efficiency as we get older.  When this happens, the body can experience both major and minor health problems.

The loss of teeth is very common to elderly people.  It can be the result of neglect more than anything else. However, the incidence of teeth loss and oral diseases increases with age.  Although much of  the water we use today are treated with fluoride, tooth degeneration or loss of teeth will still be experienced as the body looses the ability to utilize calcium for the bones or teeth. A poor appetite is a result of tooth loss as people find it much more difficult to chew and enjoy their food. If this is not addressed, a person might experience weight loss and poor nutrition.

The esophagus wears down with time, making the swallowing process difficult for older people.  This could be the result of muscular or neurological disorders. The sphincter muscles in the stomach also weaken and can result in acid reflux and heartburn.

The stomach also decreases the production of hydrochloric acid and other digestive enzymes which are very important in the digestion process. This could lead to poor absorption of Vitamin B₁₂, a deficiency which could result in anemia and nerve damage. This could also lead to increased levels of bacteria in the stomach, making the person susceptible to infections.

The movement of waste becomes more difficult as we age. It can be the result of poor muscular functioning in the digestive tract. Digestive muscle also loses some of its flexibility with age, which leads to diarrhea, constipation and hemorrhoids. Incidents of colon cancer and polyps also increase when the intestine slows down.  This is why doctors recommend people over 50 to a have a regular colonoscopy to detect polyps early in order to prevent colon cancer.

Aging and the digestive system

Nutrition is definitely affected by the aging process. Having a healthy diet and regular exercise can help cope with the changes brought about by time. Diets could easily be supplemented by taking vitamins and minerals to replace those which are lost through age. But time is not only the major culprit why people experience poor health with aging. It is also important to remember that unhealthy lifestyles caused by poor-eating habits and lack of exercise affect our digestive system regardless of age.

by Ronald Uy, RN

© 2009 Hemorrhoid Information Center

Sources:

Your Digestive System – How Aging Affects Your Digestion Process and What To Do About It. Retrieved November 1, 2009 from Longevity and anti-aging secrets.com: http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com

The Surprising Reason You May Be Aging Prematurely: Improper Protein Digestion. Retrieved November 2, 2009 from Body Ecology: http://www.bodyecology.com

Anti-Aging & Digestion – Maintaining Optimal Health Through Enzymes. Retrieved November 2, 2009 from Shapefit.com: http://www.shapefit.com

Whoever said that you can’t have your cake and eat it too? Having a proper diet doesn’t mean starving yourself, but instead, it means eating the right types of food. The body needs its daily supply of nutrients, and going without proper nourishment can only make matters worse. A healthy lifestyle does not only consist of a healthy diet, but also keeping an active lifestyle. Exercise and brisk walks in the park could prove to be a better alternative to taking medications. Always remember that the best way to health is to keep everything natural.

The Food Pyramid

This famous food pyramid gives a good visual presentation of the amount and type of food that should be eaten daily. It is shaped like a pyramid and divided into compartments representing a specific food type. This serves as a basic guide on what type of food is good, and what recommended amount should be taken for better health.

MyPyramid

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The US Department of Agriculture has released the latest food pyramid, depicting a more accurate and clearer description of how much and what type of food should be taken daily. This is different from traditional food pyramids, which only showed approximate recommended daily consumption amounts. Food types are divided into 6 different colors contained in 6 triangles of varying sizes making up the food pyramid. The new pyramid represents the recommended proportion of food-type intake. Unlike the old pyramids, the new pyramid is not based on a 2,000 calorie daily intake. The new pyramid is represented in this format to allow more flexibility in planning individual diets.

• Orange represents grains. Grains should provide 6 ounce-equivalents (1 ounce-equivalent means 1 serving), half of which should be whole grains.
• Green for vegetables. Vegetables should provide 5 servings or 2.5 cups.
• Red represents fruits. Fruit groups should provide 4 daily servings or 2 cups.
• Yellow represents oil. Oils should provide 24g or 6 teaspoons
• Blue for milk products. Milk should provide 3 cups/servings
• Purple represents meats and beans. Meat and Beans Group should provide 5.5 ounce-equivalents or servings.

The new food pyramid represents a new look in how a person chooses his diet. Additional calories may be taken if all guidelines have been met. An additional 267 calories of solid fats and sugars may be consumed once all requirements are met.

Fat Fighters

Another good way of eating your way to better health is by choosing better foods to eat. Eating considerable amounts of certain types of food could significantly lower undesirable fat in your body. Below is a list of fat fighters that could help you burn those unwanted curves:

• Oranges–these citrus fruits contain flavones, which help burn and drive away those fatty deposits in your body.

• Sweet potatoes–higher in fiber content compared to their white siblings, sweet potatoes keep insulin levels in check, keeping those unwanted curves at bay.

• Almonds–rich in alpha-linolenic acids which speeds up fat burning, almonds could prove to be a good substitute to chips in passing those idle hours.

• Soybeans–they are not only a good source of protein, but soybeans also save you from fat deposits. They contain choline, a compound that not only burns fat, but also stops fat absorption.

• Swiss cheese–not all cheese is created equal; cheese is a good source of calcium, which limits fat-producing enzymes. Some cheese, however, contains fat, so stick with low-fat cheese and milk products.

• Berries–eating berries could help you lose those flabby thighs by providing energy for those workouts. Not only are they a good source of vitamin C, berries will give you that extra boost  in the gym.

• Red wine–a glass of red wine after dinner does not only refresh, but is also a good way of burning those fats. Studies have shown that red wine helps lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The Good and the Bad

Modern living with all its amenities has certainly made life a little bit easier. But along with the good things that technology bring comes their negative effects on health. A short stroll to the grocery stroll is replaced with a quick ride in the car. Physical exertion does not only build a strong physique, but also helps burn those unwanted fats. Even traditional values such as home-cooked meals are being replaced by quick calls to the nearest Chinese or pizza store. The truth is that life is moving so fast today that everything seems to be a blur.

America is one of the richest and most technologically-advanced countries in the world today. One simple question is shouldn’t America be one of the healthiest places in the earth, too? Obesity is one of the growing health problems in the country today. A quick glimpse of the people in the streets or at the office could prove this undeniable truth. Prevention through information and education of simple healthy habits could spare future generations from suffering the same health problems we face today.

Written by, Ronald Uy, RN

© 2009 Hemorrhoid Information Center

Sources:

New Food Pyramid. Retrieved October 11, 2009 from Sampaguita Children’s Learning Center:  http://sclc.i.ph

8 Foods That Fight Fat. Retrieved October 11, 2009 from Yahoo! Health:  http://health.yahoo.com

Low Fat Cooking. Retrieved October 11, 2009 from About.com: http://lowfatcooking.about.com

We know that smoking is a leading cause of many dangerous diseases such as lung cancer, but do you know that smoking also has negative effects on the digestive system?  Smoking has always been associated with lung cancer because it is a general misconception that air from smoking only enters the lungs. Like the air we breathe, smoke also enters the digestive tract. It is important to remember that the mouth is part of the digestive system. Food enters the stomach along with small amounts of air; this is why people often feel bloated after smoking a couple of cigarettes.

What are the negative effects of smoking?

Efforts to raise consciousness about the negative effects of smoking on health have enjoyed some level of success in highly-industrialized countries. However, smoking in poor or developing countries seems to grow in scale with more and more incidents of smoking found in young people. Poor information and the government’s lack of resolve to stop the habit remains to be the culprit why smoking has enjoyed its popularity in less-developed nations.

• Cancer
• Lung diseases
• Heart Diseases
• Atherosclerosis

Anatomy of the Upper Digestive Tract

In order for us to better understand how and why smoking affects the digestive system, it is essential that we understand the basic mechanics of how it enters the system. Ever wonder why doctors slap the newborn baby? This is done not to punish the baby, but to induce breathing in the newborn. Newborns are mouth breathers; this means that they have not yet developed proper nose coordination for breathing.

The mouth not only serves as the main entry point of food but also as an entry point for air. The mouth is a vital part of both the respiratory and digestive system. This is the main entry point for food, and where air is introduced to the body from smoking.

The digestive tract starts from the mouth and terminates in the anus. The mouth and throat are both parts of the digestive and respiratory system. Both systems are interconnected by these parts. The epiglottis serves as a checkpoint for controlling the flow of food or air. But this structure is not entirely air tight; air also passes through to the stomach each time food is taken in.

The mouth, tongue and throat are parts of the digestive system particularly the upper digestive tract. The first stage of digestion happens in the mouth where food is physically broken down by the mouth’s chewing action. Food is also chemically broken down by the saliva and then passed to the stomach through the esophagus.

Smoking and the Digestive system

Tar is a chemical product produced by smoking; it enters the lung when smoke is inhaled, but is also left as a residue in the mouth. Together with smoke which enters the digestive system, tar enters the digestive system, and this is the cause for many serious medical conditions.

• Cancers in the Digestive System (Mouth, Stomach, Rectal Cancers). Smoking is one of the major causative factors for cancer. Tar is a chemical byproduct of smoking and when exposed to body tissues may cause abnormal cell growth.

• Liver Diseases. The liver functions as a filter removing waste products from the body. Cigarettes don’t contain any nutrients which contribute to normal growth and development. In fact, cigarettes produce harmful chemicals which are dangerous to the body. Smoking cigarettes only increases the strain on the liver to eliminate these harmful chemicals.

• Peptic Ulcer. Smoke not only enters the lungs, but also the stomach. Smoke irritates the stomach and causes increased production of gastric acids. Constant exposure to great amounts of acids damages the stomach linings. Prolonged or chronic exposure to increased gastric acids causes peptic ulcers

• Crohn’s Disease. Researchers have still to determine the exact relationship between smoking and Crohn’s disease. But studies have shown that cases of Crohn’s disease increase with smokers as compared to those who don’t. Chemicals found in cigarettes may irritate the intestines and cause inflammation. Smoking also lowers the body’s immune system leaving the intestines susceptible to infection.

Why do people smoke?

People smoke because of many different reasons. Some people smoke because of the pleasure or comfort they get from smoking. But whether it is for comfort or relief from stress the effects of smoking are psychological.

Cigarettes contain nicotine which is highly addictive. It is similar to other drugs which affect normal brain function. Some people have been accustomed to smoking that its absence affects their emotional and physical functioning. Nicotine affects levels of dopamine and noradreneline, chemicals, which affects a person’s moods or emotions.

The effects of smoking are faster compared to other drugs. Nicotine contained in cigarettes is directly introduced to the blood or rushes quickly to the brain. This is why people find immediate relief from smoking after long periods of absence.

Simple ways for kicking this unhealthy habit

The first thing that a person must to is to realize that this habit is a problem. There is no use in quitting smoking if a person does not honestly believe that smoking poses a danger in his health. There are numerous ways of quitting this habit, and finding the best one is a case to case basis. It is important that a health professional identifies what and what does not work for a patient.

Cold turkey is sometimes not the best option, kicking the habit takes time and a lot of adjustment. There are some complications related with quitting smoking. These conditions are referred to as withdrawal symptoms. Smoking for some people has been a part of their life and is needed for normal body functioning. This is due to the fact that they have been addicted to nicotine that their body cannot normally function in the absence of the drug.

There are two major ways of kicking this unhealthy habit. One way is to gradually reduce the number of cigarettes, and by using alternative ways of introducing nicotine in the body, such as nicotine patches. Studies have shown that a therapy using both methods is the best way for people to quit the habit. This could be done by using nicotine patches in conjunction with a conscious effort to reduce the number of cigarettes taken daily.

Smoking is not prohibited by law, but the law also respects the rights of non-smokers. That is why laws have been passed to reduce the exposure of those who wish not to smoke. Examples of these laws are those which prohibit smoking in public places. Second-hand smoke has been proven to be more dangerous than smoke directly introduced to the body. Smoking is a decision that is left to each and every individual, but after learning some of the negative effects that smoking does to the body, it is high time that smokers think seriously about what is best for them.

written by Ronald Uy, RN

© 2009 Hemorrhoid Information Center

Sources:

Nicotine Addiction. Retrieved October 16, 2009 from the American Heart Association: http://www.americanheart.org

How to Quit Smoking…. And Keep Quit For Keeps. Retrieved October 16, 2009 from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Institutes of Health:

http://www.hoptechno.com

Smoking and the Digestive System. Retrieved October 16, 2009 from National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse (NDDIC):  http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov

You are quietly sitting at the dinner table after a big meal, sipping your favorite soda when all of a sudden you feel this sudden rush of air flowing into your mouth. You pass out the air through your mouth and everyone hears that familiar sound, you just “burped.”

Burping or belching is a natural reaction of the body when gas builds up in the stomach. Everyone burps, and that’s a fact of life. Burping is as natural as sleeping or eating, and it begins as soon as babies take their first feeding.

What is a burp?

A burp is produced when gas that has built up in the stomach is expelled through the mouth. Gas build up in the stomach may be due to two major factors, eating and swallowing air. It might come as a surprise to some of us, but along with food, air enters the stomach. It is a common misconception that air is automatically passed on to the lungs. When food is swallowed, it passes through the throat and into the esophagus which exits to the stomach. The passageways for food are all hollow tubes, and this allows certain amounts of air to enter the stomach. When too much gas is contained in the stomach, air is released through the mouth (belching) or through the anus (flatulence).

Why do we burp?

Eating certain types of food can cause unusual gas buildups in the stomach. Gas is a natural byproduct of food digestion in the stomach. Certain types of food produce more than the usual gasses and give the stomach a sensation of fullness (bloating).

Some types of vegetables produce large amounts of gasses when being digested. Here are some examples of these vegetables–cabbage, beans, broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce. Fruits such as apples, pears and peaches are also known to cause gas.

Eating large amounts of fatty foods does not only predispose you to dangerous medical conditions but they also cause burping. Fats are the slowest nutritional component of food to be digested; fatty foods tend to stay longer in the stomach and cause gas to build up.

Lifestyle and Burping

Like some diseases a poor lifestyle can cause more frequent bouts of burping. Smoking and drinking cause gas buildups in the stomach. This is why we find ourselves burping more often after downing a few drinks or smoking. Lack of exercise and a sedimentary lifestyle also cause burping. When we do nothing for long periods of time our body adjusts, and it takes more than the usual time for normal body processes like digestion to happen. Living a stressful life also causes burping. Stress causes acid production, and this builds up the gasses in the stomach. In addition, wearing tight clothes, especially, those which put additional pressure on the stomach area can cause burping.

Beer goes hand in hand with burping

By just looking at your favorite carbonated soda, you can easily determine that it contains large amounts of air. These gasses cause the fizzle and hiss we find so amusing. Beer also contains fair amounts of gasses; this is why we find ourselves burping after drinking our favorite six pack. Drinking large amounts of liquid also causes burping. Water along with air passes to the stomach when we are drinking, the longer we have this tract open, the more air is introduced to the stomach.

Burping in infants

Babies are fed by breastfeeding or milk formulas. When liquids are taken in, large amounts of air are also passed to the infant’s stomach. It is not uncommon that babies sometimes cry after being fed. Babies cry because it is their only means of expressing hunger or discomfort. When babies cry after being fed, this may be due to the fact that they are feeling fullness in their stomach. Babies are then induced to burp to release the gas buildup in their stomachs.

Medical conditions associated with burping and belching

Burping or belching is also known as eructation. Burping signals more than the usual gas formation in the stomach. Burps are also symptoms of medical conditions of the digestive system. Some of the diseases associated with gas formation are gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD (acid reflux disease), lactose intolerance and ulcers.

Gas buildup may also be due to a blockage in the digestive tract. Polyps or inflamed tissues can block the normal passage of air to the lower digestive tract causing a bloated feeling and gas to be passed out through the mouth.

What can I do about it?

Belching or burping is the body’s natural response to gas buildup in the stomach. This is a natural process, and thus should not be prevented. It is best to let the process happen to relieve the symptoms produced by bloating.

Belching and burping is a natural process and what we can do is to minimize its occurrence. Totally eliminating the incidents of burping is impossible. It is best to understand what causes burping and how to best avoid them. Relief from stomach pains due to gas buildup is only done through flatulence or burping. Gas cannot be dissolved or eliminated by any type of medicine. When you feel that bloated feeling in your stomach and need to pass some air, the best thing to do is to excuse yourself and let the natural process happen in privacy. If you feel you are belching excessively, see your doctor for a further evaluation to rule out more serious digestive disorders.

Written by, Ronald Uy, RN

© Hemorrhoid Information Center 2009

Sources:

Belching, Bloating and Flatulence. Retrieved October 10, 2009 from The American College of Gastroenterology: http://www.gi.org

Intestinal Gas (Belching, Bloating, Flatulence). Retrieved October 10, 2009 from MedicineNet.com: http://www.medicinenet.com

Belching. Retrieved October 11, 2009 from Health Encyclopedia – Diseases and Conditions:  http://www.healthscout.com