Important Causes of Indigestion
It has been learned by observations on animals, that the emptying of the stomach is not accomplished at once, but gradually. Constrictions begin about the middle of the stomach, and move toward the outlet, forcing the food that way. The outlet remains tightly closed, opening at somewhat regular intervals, on the passage of food which has become softened; but the presence of any hard lumps delays the opening of the outlet, so the stomach keeps churning and rechurning the entire contents in order to break up that lump, which should have been broken up before it entered the stomach. Finally the stomach contents are emptied into the intestine, lumps and all, but much later than if there had been no lumps. The lumps now proceed with their mischief by irritating the intestinal mucous membrane, and also by furnishing a place for the growth of germs, protected from the digestive juices, so that decomposition is favored. These are some of the reasons why foods should be thoroughly masticated. It is an old story, but those who know it best are just as likely to violate it as the ignorant. We live too fast, we eat too fast, and consequently we die too fast. The man who has no time to masticate his food, will take time to die whether he wants to or not. In order to insure thorough mastication of the food, liquids should be discarded at mealtime; and soft, pasty foods, if eaten at all, should be eaten in connection with zwieback, crackers, or some other food which will compel mastication. If breaking up of the lumps were the only object attained by mastication, it might be proper to have all food in a pulpy state; but as the presence of saliva in close contact with all parts of the food is an important factor in digestion, it is better to have some of the food in such a condition that it cannot well be swallowed until well insalivated. When such food, zwieback for instance, is eaten with pulpy food, the whole mass is insalivated. For those having slow starch digestion, it is better to eat all, or nearly all, food in a state requiring insalivation in order to be swallowed. This will insure a larger amount of saliva in contact with the food. The best foods for the purpose are zwieback, granose biscuit, granose flakes, and health crackers. Many people have difficulty with green corn or canned corn. The trouble is with the hulls, which should be removed by means of a colander, as no amount of mastication will make them fit for entrance into a delicate stomach. Those who have difficulty with apples and watermelon can usually avoid it by swallowing only the juice. It is the pulp which, as a rule, causes the mischief. The digestive disturbance sometimes caused by eating raw banana, may usually be avoided by baking the banana. Often the disturbance supposed to be due to the eating of some fruit or vegetable, is caused by a wrong combination. It is not well for those having feeble digestive powers to eat fruit and vegetables at the same time.—Pacific Health Journal.