Digestive problems related to the stomach are events that, with varying frequencies and intensities, can range from simple discomfort to real problems, affecting a significant portion of the population.
There are several situations that can underlie these digestive problems, capable of causing symptoms ranging from simple gastric acidity to full-blown gastroesophageal reflux.
Certainly, pathological conditions such as Helicobacter pylori infection and hiatal hernia are often associated with more serious symptoms that require appropriate medical treatment. However, this also applies to the entire range of pre-pathological conditions where a therapeutic approach has not yet developed, as well as the entire range of occasional disorders that can be particularly common in individuals whose lifestyle and work commitments prevent them from always maintaining a healthy and regular diet.
In fact, it is very common for individuals who, due to a very busy and stressful lifestyle, find themselves forced to eat at irregular times, away from home, perhaps having to resort to whatever they can find on the spot at the last minute.
What are the symptoms that indicate digestive problems?
First of all, it is necessary to differentiate between simple heartburn or gastric acidity (more or less occasional) and a real gastroesophageal reflux, as each situation will have more suitable applications.
Acidity and heartburn
Regarding heartburn, the rational approach has two objectives: reducing acidity by buffering the hydrochloric acid contained in the gastric juice produced in the stomach and exerting a protective/soothing action on the gastric mucosa.
THE'stomach acidity It can be effectively buffered by calcium carbonate, which is able to react directly with hydrochloric acid leading to the formation of a calcium salt, water and carbon dioxide, with very rapid relief following intake.
Further help, functional to completing the picture, can be provided with magnesium hydroxide, an alkaline substance capable of acting by buffering the acidity of gastric juice for a time window of between 2 and 4 hours, thus promoting prolonged relief that complements the rapid action exerted by calcium carbonate.
The mucosa, on the other hand, could be protected by using a mallow extract, historically used for its high mucilage content, substances capable of exerting a good emollient and soothing function, reducing irritation related to excessive acidity and forming a sort of protective film capable of providing further protection to the tissues.
Gastric reflux
As for reflux itself, the situation can be addressed slightly differently. While calcium carbonate plays a key role in rapidly reducing gastric acidity, it is very important to provide greater mechanical protection, both directly and indirectly.
In this regard, licorice extract proves to be very interesting, capable of promoting indirect protection by stimulating the production of mucus by the gastric wall and reducing inflammatory phenomena of the mucosa thanks to the ability to prolong the duration of the natural mechanisms aimed at controlling inflammation in our tissues.
From the point of view of direct protection, alginic acid, contained for example in kelp, appears extremely interesting.
THE'alginic acid In fact, it is able to form a slowly dissolving viscous gel, which therefore acts as a "barrier" on the tissues it comes into contact with and acts as a real "plug" in the stomach, preventing the reflux of gastric juice and protecting the esophagus and related structures.
These nutraceutical solutions They can prove to be valuable tools for managing these problems, meeting the needs of those who, due to various physiological, work-related, or organizational situations, find themselves having to manage a gastric situation that is not always optimal.
