You are never too young or old to learn about your digestive system.
It controls so much.
Your digestive system really controls everything from how you feel (hormones/mood) to your weight, appetite, energy, brain health and growth. The cells lining your stomach and small intestine make and let out hormones that control your digestive system. The hormones are what tells your body to make the digestive juices and then they send a signal to the brain to let you know whether you are still hungry or full. Your pancreas is also an important part of making hormones that are important to your digestion, as well as enzymes that help break down your food.
Your body needs nutrients. It gets nutrients from the food and drink you consume, and it relies on them to stay healthy. Your digestive system is there to break down the nutrients into smaller bits so that your body can then absorb them. Your body needs to absorb them for energy, cell repair and cell growth. Along with enzymes and nutrients, having good gut bacteria is just as important. The bacteria is there to help prevent and treat diseases, keeping your immune system healthy.
I never thought at 20 I would end up with a digestive disorder that I would have to deal with for the rest of my life. Some days when I think about that it really gets me down. I don't want to have to constantly think about what I'm eating, how I feel, how my bowels are, what type of pain I'm in, etc., but I'm grateful it made me learn so much about digestion that I can help other people. Even if you do not have a digestive disorder, it doesn't mean that you are eating 100% good. Do you get bloated frequently? That is not normal. Does your stomach hurt from time to time and you aren't sure why? Do you have diarrhea/constipation, nausea or vomiting? Those are not normal, even if you have them for a short period.
Gastroparesis is still very new to doctors (which is why it takes months or years to get diagnosed). They do however know from dealing with GP patients that it never really goes away. Knowing that, any GP patient should and needs to understand how digestion works for their own health; though I also think that in general people really need to learn how their digestion affects their everyday life. I didn't make myself have gastroparesis, but when I got sick I didn't know what I should be eating, and kept eating salads, dairy, and rough foods. That made me worse off, because I was so uneducated over what I should be putting in my body.
You should care about your digestion because it can suddenly control every aspect of your life. Digestive disorders are hard. For me, gastroparesis makes me worried every single day on my way to work whether it will be a good day or a bad one. It makes me worried about my weight constantly, whether I'm maintaining it or losing more. I didn't have energy for 8 months, my memory was shot, I was in chronic pain, and I got anxiety that I am still dealing with. GP now controls the way I do everything:
The way I travel: I have to pack twice as many things to make me feel as comfortable as I can be while I sit on a plane or train for hours. I also have to make sure there's food I can eat wherever I'm going.
What I eat and when I eat, as well as when I'm able to drink (I can't drink until 30 minutes after eating, or 15 minutes before eating).
My exercise. It doesn't let me go on jogs or to the gym.
What I do on the weekends: I don't want to overdo myself before going back to work on Monday.
What fruits and vegetables I can eat, how much food I can eat at once, what dairy I can have; I can't have spicy foods, nuts, seeds, acidic foods, etc.
Where I go because if there isn't a bathroom, I get worried.
I'll pack things like protein bars or applesauce when I go shopping for a few hours because I need to eat 6 "meals" a day.
If I want to go out with people for dinner I have to make sure it's early because I can't eat solids past 5:30.
I've had troubles tolerating lactose.
Going to college classes became really difficult, which is why I am 100% online now.
The list goes on. Nothing about digestive disorders are fun or easy; that is why digestive health is important. I did not get gastroparesis because I ate fast food or because I had too much dairy, but I was so uneducated that once I did have an issue I had no idea what to do and I missed all the warning signs; such as bloating, fatigue and stomach pain until I was very sick. I thought eating vegetables was good and healthy, that they could never hurt my body. I thought ice cream was fine because it melted and went down smoothly. Now, I cringe when people show pictures of them eating raw vegetables/salads or a big bowl of ice cream.
In a later post, I will go into seasonal eating, why some vegetables aren't good, and how ice cream is one of the worst foods to digest. It's one of my favorite digestive topics because so many people don't pay attention to the seasons, know about seasonal eating, or care. So, to all of you eating salads in December, be on the look out for that post. I will also be doing a post on brain-gut health and how to keep your digestive track healthy.
Why is digestive health important to you? Comment and let me know :)
-Loreal
Comments