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Know, love, and protect your Digestive System

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Category: Region 9

Digestive Health WeekOn March 18, 2020, the Chief Executive of the Philippines, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed the Proclamation No. 930, declaring the 2nd week of March of every year as the “Philippine Digestive Health Week” or simply, (PDHW). This week-long celebration aims to bring together our medical professionals and promote greater public awareness on digestive health among Filipinos as colorectal cancer, liver cancer, peptic ulcer disease, diarrhea, and stomach cancer are among the leading causes of sickness and death in the country.

Many of us nowadays are labeled as foodies because of our varied interests in food but even to those who are not foodies, this week of celebration is still vital as food is an essential part of our life. This makes the digestive system the favorite system. It begins from working right when we take in food, swallow it, then digest the food, and lastly eliminate unwanted waste.

The Digestive System is where the food you eat takes a magnificent journey through your body, from the top (mouth) to bottom (anus). Along the way the beneficial properties of the food are absorbed, giving you energy and nutrients. The main organs that make up the digestive system are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. As food traverse the digestive tract, digestion occurs. It is the complex process of turning the food into nutrients where food is converted into absorbable and utilizable forms for energy, growth, and cell repair needed for humans to survive.

But if you have an unhealthy digestive system due to nutritional deficiency, unhealthy lifestyles like smoking, food sensitivity, or even infections, this will lead to problems and more complications. Thus, in observance with the PDHW from March 7-13, 2022, this awareness would help decline the increasing cases of related digestive diseases through the following information on how to keep your digestive system healthy.

Here are many ways to help the digestive system runs smoothly:

  • Eat Real Food – eating a diet low in food additives, trans fats, and artificial sweeteners.
  • Get Plenty of Fiber – fiber is very beneficial for good digestion because it is the giant toothbrush in our digestive tract that helps keep every waste moving along.
  • Add Healthy Fats to Your Diet – adequate fat intake improves the absorption of some fat-soluble nutrients.
  • Stay Hydrated – insufficient fluid intake is a common cause of constipation. So, increase your water intake by drinking non-caffeinated beverages and eating fruits and vegetables that is high in water content.
  • Manage Stress – stress can wreak havoc on your digestive system that has been linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), ulcers, constipation, and diarrhea. Reduce stress to improve digestive functions.
  • Chew your Food – chewing the food thoroughly and breaking it down helps the food to be digested more easily.
  • Try Healthier Cooking Options – other than frying, you can also try other means of cooking like steaming, poaching, boiling, etc. for healthier choices.
  • Exercise regularly – this is one of the best ways to improve your digestion.
  • Ditch Bad Habits – bad habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating late at night before bedtime can cause digestive issues. To improve your digestion, avoid these damaging habits.
  • Incorporate Gut-Supporting Nutrients – certain nutrients are necessary for a healthy digestive tract. Ensure that your body gets enough probiotics, glutamine, and zinc that may help improve your digestion.

For a digestive system to work effectively, it is reasonable that we get to know more about it. As we celebrate Philippine Digestive Health Week, it is best for us to get acquainted with how our digestive system works in order for us to be more affectionate to it and in turn safeguard its integrity to improve its performance.

AA VI Angelyn P. Intal, RND

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