Weak Digestion

The following symptoms can be seen when digestion becomes weak:

• Upset stomach (Gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and heartburn are symptoms of a malfunctioning digestive system)
• Sleep disturbances
• Feeling tired constantly
• Burning sensation on the skin

(Read more: Digestive disorders)

Digestion can become weak due to many reasons, such as:

• Digestion can be weak due to wrong eating habits. When a person adds junk food or an excessive amount of carbohydrates to their diet, it can affect the digestive system. Apart from this, consuming too much sugar, salt or a fatty diet can also weaken the digestive power. As such, one should stay away from junk food, excess salt/sugar, etc while including all the essential nutrients in their diet.
• Digestion can also be weak due to overeating. When we eat more food, it stays in our stomachs for a long time. In such a situation, this food can turn into fat and also hinder the proper breakdown and digestion of food, due to which one might have to face problems like acid reflux, vomiting and nausea. As such, overeating should be avoided.
• When a person does not drink enough water, they may suffer from dehydration, due to which the digestion can become weaker and the person may experience constipation, gastritis and acid reflux. To avoid this, one should drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.
• Due to a lack of physical activity, the digestion of a person can also become weak. In such cases, it is very important to add exercise to your daily routine. You can try walking, cycling, exercising, yoga, etc. Doing this not only gets rid of constipation but also strengthens the digestive system.
• Due to lack of sleep, the digestive system of a person can become weak. This is because not getting enough sleep can lead to irritability, tension or gastroesophageal reflux and all of these problems can hinder the work of digestion. It is important for a person to sleep for 7 to 8 hours daily so that digestion can remain healthy.
• A lack of vegetables and fruits in the diet can make the digestive system weak. Fiber and cellulose are found in high amounts in fruits and vegetables, which is useful in dealing with constipation. When you remove green vegetables or fruits from your diet, the digestion of the person can become weak.

(Read more: Six stages of digestion)

In case of weak digestion, a person should avoid consuming dairy products. The lactose present in such foods is not digested properly and can cause constipation and gas.

One should also avoid processed food while the digestion is weak as the amount of fiber in processed food is very little, due to which digestion can be further affected.

Fatty foods can cause contractions in the digestive system, due to which a person may experience problems like diarrhea or constipation.

When digestion is weak, one should also keep distance from fried foods. Less fiber is found in fried foods, due to which it takes more time for a person to digest it. If a person is already troubled by diarrhea and constipation or if the digestive system of a person is weak, then consumption of fried foods can make the cognition worse.

(Read more: Home remedies for indigestion)

If the digestion of the person is weak, then an unhealthy lifestyle and bad eating habits can be responsible for it. In such a situation, it is necessary to make changes in both diet and lifestyle to strengthen the digestive system.

(Read more: Home remedies for stomach gas)