How to avoid common daily habits that potentially damage digestive health
Dr Saurabh Sethi highlights that mild dehydration slows down stool transit times
Maintaining good health does not require extreme efforts, but rather the consistent following of simple habits. However, certain seemingly harmless behaviours can negate positive progress.
Dr Saurabh Sethi, a California-based gastroenterologist, recently highlighted seven habits to avoid for optimal digestion.
In a post shared on Thursday, he explained that internal health is about more than just vegetable intake. "Stress alters gut motility and the microbiome," he noted, adding that one cannot simply out-eat a dysregulated gut-brain axis.
Identifying the symptoms
Many people unknowingly disrupt their digestive processes through improper timing or choices. Dr Sethi identified several common pitfalls that interfere with the body's natural rhythms:
- Treating every symptom with probiotics that often lack clinical evidence.
- Drinking water only when thirsty, which is a late signal of dehydration.
- Consuming high-FODMAP raw vegetables that the gut.
- Constant snacking shuts down the gut's "cleaning waves" or motor complex.
- Eating too fast leads to swallowed air and bypassed saliva digestion.
- Ignoring the morning urge to go, which trains the gut to delay.
The restorative pathway
To improve gut function, the expert recommends allowing three to four hours of fasting between meals to activate the migrating motor complex.
Additionally, paying attention to the gut-brain axis is vital, as the gut produces approximately 90 percent of the body's serotonin.
By listening to the body’s natural gastrocolic reflex in the morning and staying hydrated at regular intervals, individuals can prevent chronic constipation and reflux.
Consistency in these small adjustments ensures that the digestive system remains balanced and efficient over the long term.
Please Note: This information is for educational purposes only and does not count as professional advice. Readers should always consult a qualified doctor regarding any questions about their health or a medical condition.