Mind and body involved in digestion
Stress, diet affect people's ability to function properly
Lyssa Beyer
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Money/Health
"If I eat too much I'll get sick and feel really uneasy," she said.
A person's diet is also an influential factor in his or her digestive health, Derfus said, and unfortunately students don't always get the best nutrition.
"I don't know that there's any study that you can look at and say what diet is the best, but I think you can certainly start by eating fresh fruits, veggies, lower fat diet and avoiding preservatives," he said. "It's probably a good healthy thing to do, certainly from a lifelong standpoint."
But some people need to be careful about including dairy products in their diet because of a problem associated with lactose intolerance. Derfus said it is common for people to begin to demonstrate symptoms and develop the disorder throughout their lifetime.
Lactose intolerance leaves people feeling cramped and bloated several hours after consuming dairy products, he said.
Another thing Derfus cautioned was using aspirin or any anti-inflammatory drugs. He said these can offset the digestive tract, and create a higher risk for ulcers.
People should seek medical attention for digestive pains when they experience extreme, non-intended weight loss or their symptoms are very frequent, meaning several times a week, he said.
Derfus said the basic steps are important in digestive health.
"What your mother told you, 'eat your vegetables,'" he said, stressing the importance of a balanced diet.
Also, if a person is stressed or feeling down, giving his or her mood a boost with a little laughter may also help your digestion, Schmitt said.
"Laughter stimulates digestion, just the exercise of it," she said. "Internal organs are massaged when you laugh really hard, resulting in increased peristalsis, (or) improved digestion."
A person's diet is also an influential factor in his or her digestive health, Derfus said, and unfortunately students don't always get the best nutrition.
"I don't know that there's any study that you can look at and say what diet is the best, but I think you can certainly start by eating fresh fruits, veggies, lower fat diet and avoiding preservatives," he said. "It's probably a good healthy thing to do, certainly from a lifelong standpoint."
But some people need to be careful about including dairy products in their diet because of a problem associated with lactose intolerance. Derfus said it is common for people to begin to demonstrate symptoms and develop the disorder throughout their lifetime.
Lactose intolerance leaves people feeling cramped and bloated several hours after consuming dairy products, he said.
Another thing Derfus cautioned was using aspirin or any anti-inflammatory drugs. He said these can offset the digestive tract, and create a higher risk for ulcers.
People should seek medical attention for digestive pains when they experience extreme, non-intended weight loss or their symptoms are very frequent, meaning several times a week, he said.
Derfus said the basic steps are important in digestive health.
"What your mother told you, 'eat your vegetables,'" he said, stressing the importance of a balanced diet.
Also, if a person is stressed or feeling down, giving his or her mood a boost with a little laughter may also help your digestion, Schmitt said.
"Laughter stimulates digestion, just the exercise of it," she said. "Internal organs are massaged when you laugh really hard, resulting in increased peristalsis, (or) improved digestion."
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