Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Care For The Digestive System

Your abdomen is taken up almost entirely by the organs of the digestive system, so it shouldn't be surprising to find that when it's not working well, you feel miserable. You might think that if you feel well you are well, but you need regular medical tests to make certain. Following are steps for caring for your digestive system.


Instructions


1. Eat right. Consume protein, carbohydrates and fat in the right amounts and make sure you get plenty of fiber. Eat on a regular schedule.


2. Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks or those that contain caffeine. Limit alcoholic drinks to 2 a day.


3. Exercise. Moving around helps things move along.








4. Be alert for problems that don't go away. Symptoms such as heartburn, constipation and stomach upset can be caused by things as minor as a bad chili dog or as serious as cancer. If you've been suffering for more than a couple of weeks, see your doctor.


5. Get scheduled tests. Your doctor will tell you when you need to have regular colonoscopies to find and remove precancerous polyps. If your doctor recommends other tests, get those as well.








6. Quit smoking. Among the many reasons to quit smoking, it contributes to digestive problems such as heartburn, ulcers and gallstones.

Tags: digestive system, such heartburn