What are the most common digestive problems ?

Digestive problems? Decipher what your body is trying to tell you.

If you notice that you bloat easily, that certain foods make you feel like a burden, or that your bowel movements have become unpredictable, pay attention: your digestion is sending you a message. It is no coincidence.

The digestive system doesn't work alone; it's in constant communication with the rest of the body: microbiota, inflammation, metabolism, nervous system... Everything is interconnected. When something isn't in balance, the gut is responsible for letting you know.

And since everything is connected, digestive symptoms They don't appear just because. Instead of resigning yourself to living with discomfort, let's understand it and discover what it might be telling you about your health.

1. bloating and bloating: your gut’s warning signal.

If your belly feels like a balloon after eating, you feel abdominal pressure at the end of the day, or if certain foods cause gas when you previously tolerated them without a problem, something may be affecting your digestive balance.

Why does it happen?

Excessive fermentation: An unbalanced microbiota can cause certain foods to ferment excessively, generating gas and bloating.
Altered intestinal transit: If food moves too slowly, gas builds up. If it moves too quickly, digestion becomes inefficient.
Stress and nerves: The gut and brain are deeply connected. An overloaded nervous system can cause the gut to react, generating bloating as an answer.

The important thing: It's not normal to be bloated every day. It's not just about "how you eat," but “how is your digestion working.”

Did you know that...? Our intestine produces between 0.5 and 1.5 liters of gas per day. naturalThe key isn't to avoid gas, but to regulate its production and elimination so that it doesn't cause discomfort.

2. Slow digestion and heaviness: when food seems to get stuck.

If after eating, you feel like the food is heavy in your stomach, you experience reflux, heartburn, or even sudden fatigue, it's time to check what's happening with your digestion. This isn't normal, and your digestive system may need a boost.

What could be wrong?

Low production of hydrochloric acid: Without sufficient acidity, the stomach cannot break down food properly, slowing digestion.
Difficulties in bile production: If the liver and gallbladder do not release it correctly, fats are digested with difficulty and digestion becomes more difficult.
Chronic stress: The body prioritizes survival over digestion. If you live in a constant state of alert, your digestive system “it turns off”, digestion slows down and food stays there longer than it should.

The important thing: Your stomach isn't "weak." If digestion is slow, there's something blocking it. We have to find out what.

Did you know that...? A healthy stomach can digest a meal in about 4 hours, but if hydrochloric acid production is low, this time can double, causing fermentation and discomfort.

3. Constipation or diarrhea: when intestinal transit becomes uncontrolled.

Going to the bathroom every three days or going to the bathroom several times a day with urgency is not normal. An altered bowel movement is a sign that something is not working properly with your digestion or bowel movements.

If there is constipation:

Slowed intestinal motility: the food takes too long to advance.
Fiber, magnesium, or hydration deficiency: These factors affect intestinal mobility.
Stress and hyperactivated nervous system: Activation of the sympathetic system (the "alert" system) can slow intestinal transit.
Altered microbiota: a low production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) can reduce intestinal motility.

If there is diarrhea:

Intestinal defense reaction: may be trying to eliminate something quickly.
Excess bile acids or unbalanced microbiota: factors that accelerate transit.
Bacterial imbalance: Some bacteria can alter the secretion of water and electrolytes, causing excessively rapid transit and causing diarrhea.

The important thing: The intestine responds not only to what you eat, but also to your body's overall health. If there are problems, you have to find their source.

Did you know that...? Bowel movements are controlled by the enteric nervous system, known as the "second brain." This system functions autonomously and has more neurons than the spinal cord.

4. Discomfort after eating certain foods: beyond intolerances.

If certain foods suddenly make you feel unwell when you were previously able to tolerate them, your gut may be temporarily in a more reactive state.

What could be happening?

Exaggerated immune response: An altered intestinal barrier can cause certain compounds to activate unnecessary defenses.
Enzyme deficiency: Some people produce fewer enzymes to break down certain foods, causing heavy digestion.
Microbiota out of balance: If intestinal microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, protozoa, etc.) are not well regulated, some foods can ferment more than necessary and cause discomfort.

The important thing: It is not about simply eliminating foods, but rather about recovering digestive function and modulate the intestinal response.

Did you know that...? There are more than 500 bacterial species in the human gut, and their balance influences our response to food. Some can even "educate" our immune system to avoid inflammatory responses.

Microbiota and inflammation: the hidden root of digestive symptoms.

The intestine is much more than a digestive organ: it is a central hub of constant communication with the immune and nervous systems, and with the metabolism.

How does microbiota influence digestion?

Produces compounds that protect the intestinal barrier.
Modulates the production of essential fatty acids for digestive health.
Interacts with the nervous system and inflammation.

How does microbiota influence inflammation?

Some bacteria can trigger inflammatory responses.
Depending on its composition, the microbiota can Helpto regulate or uncontrol inflammation.

If the microbiota is not balanced, digestion will not be either.

Did you know that...? Seventy percent of the body's immune cells are found in the gut. This explains why the microbiota plays a key role in regulating inflammation.

Conclusion: Listen to what your digestion is trying to tell you.

Your digestive system doesn't work alone. If your body is showing symptoms, It is not by chance: It's their way of alerting you. They're talking to you because something needs adjusting.

Digestion depends on much more than just food: the nervous system, microbiota, motility and inflammation influence.
The intestine is in constant communication with the rest of the body. A digestive problem can have broader repercussions; what happens in the gut affects the rest of the body, and vice versa.
It's not about covering up symptoms, but of solve the problem at its root.