We’ve come to know over the years that the state of our digestive system and gut play a central role in our body’s overall health. Much of our quality of life, good or bad, emanates out of that region of our bodies. Any time any of us hits a snag in the functionality inside that region of our body, the symptoms can range from annoying to severely painful, or even worse.
This brings us to a condition that you might not have heard about but need to know about. That is gastroparesis, not to be confused with gastritis or gastroenteritis.
Gastroparesis is a state of health in which the normally spontaneous contractions of your stomach (motility) aren’t working correctly; they have slowed down or have stopped working altogether. This results in a condition where your stomach isn’t emptying correctly, leaving undigested food just sitting there in your stomach. This can interfere with your digestion, causing nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain while also having a negative effect on your blood-sugar levels and general nutrition.
Gastroparesis is translated to mean “stomach paralysis,” which involves your stomach’s nerves and muscles. When gastroparesis sets in, that food in your stomach doesn’t get passed on to your intestines, and it can then build up over time, bringing your digestive process to a screeching halt. Among the causes of this condition that have been identified by health experts are diabetes, gastrointestinal infections, or damage to the nerves (specifically, the vagus nerve) that stimulate your stomach muscles. Even stress can be a factor.
4 Natural Remedies to Alleviate the Effects of Gastroparesis
Before you start adding a dietary supplement to your daily regimen once you suspect you might have gastroparesis, your first priority should be making an appointment with your physician or other healthcare professional to discuss the condition and formulate a sound treatment plan suitable for you. This includes going over what prescription medicine you might already be using.
Ginger. This is a “natural prokinetic” that can bolster the emptying of your stomach to relieve or even eliminate nausea.
Chamomile. Like ginger, chamomile is an herbal prokinetic that stimulates the elimination of food that has settled in your stomach due to the breakdown in muscular motility in the stomach area.
Dietary fiber. This type of fiber, which is the indigestible part of plant foods, plays an important role in regulating your gut health, acting as a type of food to be consumed by the “good” bacteria in your gut. Such consumption of fiber serves to add bulk to your diet, thus promoting healthy bowel movements that can help thwart constipation while assisting in digestion.
Probiotics. These are live bacteria and yeasts best used for helping to regulate your digestive system. Not only can probiotics help balance gut flora, but they also have the bonus potential to strengthen the immune system and help treat mental health issues.
The symptoms of gastroparesis might mimic the symptoms of other digestive-related conditions such as constipation, so a visit with your physician or healthcare professional would be in order to get a proper diagnosis. Then you can get help in putting together a safe, sound, and effective treatment plan. And if a treatment regimen that includes dietary supplements seems in order, you obviously have some good options to consider.