Indigestion can have several causes, from overindulging in food and drink to eating too quickly. Generally, indigestion is a temporary condition that can be easily treated by changes to your diet and lifestyle.

This article explores some of the common causes of indigestion and ways to prevent it.

On This Page

• Eating Too Much and Too Fast
• Eating High-Fat Foods
• Drinking Too Much Alcohol
• Smoking Tobacco Products
• Stress and Anxiety

Eating Too Much and Too Fast

Eating too much in one sitting can strain the digestive system.

Secondly, eating quickly causes indigestion because it gives your body less time to process and digest the food.

To reduce your chances of indigestion, try to eat smaller amounts of food and take your time while eating.

Chew each bite thoroughly before swallowing and pause occasionally during the meal. Strive to enjoy the taste and texture of your food instead of rushing through it.

Eating High-Fat Foods

High-fat foods can also cause indigestion.

Too much fat in your diet taxes the digestive system, causing it to produce more acids as it breaks down the fats.

This excessive acidity can lead to heartburn, discomfort, and indigestion.

To reduce your risk of indigestion, avoid eating too much fat at once and focus on eating lower-fat options like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Drinking Too Much Alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol is another common cause of indigestion.

Alcohol irritates the stomach lining and can prompt your digestive system to produce more acid than necessary.

To reduce your risk of indigestion from alcohol, reduce your intake or limit yourself to one alcoholic drink per day.

If that doesn’t help you avoid indigestion, consider avoiding drinking altogether.

Smoking Tobacco Products

Smoking tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, and pipes can also lead to indigestion.

This is because the nicotine in the smoke can cause your digestive system to speed up and produce more acid, leading to an upset stomach, burning sensations in your chest, bloating, and nausea.

To minimize your risk of indigestion from smoking, try quitting completely or cutting down on the number of cigarettes you smoke each day.

For additional help when trying to quit smoking, contact a doctor or specialist for guidance.

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can also be a cause of indigestion.

Long-term stress or adverse life events can disrupt the functioning of your digestive system, leading to feelings of uneasiness in your stomach.

Try to practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or yoga to reduce the risk of developing indigestion due to stress or anxiety.

Regular breaks from work and relaxing can also help reduce stress and anxiety.

More Reading

• Dealing with Indigestion – which foods are OK for Heartburn?
• Revealing – Know How Much Of Your Immune System Is In Your Gut?
• Four Ways to Overcome Your Feelings of Anxiety
• Illness Anxiety – “Why am I ALWAYS ‘Worrying’ About My Health?”
• Dealing with HIGH risk of Heart Disease

Editing by AskAwayHealth Team

Disclaimer

All AskAwayHealth articles are written by practising  Medical Practitioners on a wide range of healthcare conditions to provide evidence-based guidance and to help promote quality healthcare. The advice in our material is not meant to replace a qualified healthcare practitioner’s management of your specific condition.
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