Is there a “weak stomach”? Are some people more resilient than others? – 07/22/2023

Do you know or are you that person who gets sick whenever you eat on the street? The term “stomach upset” is used informally to describe someone who is likely to experience gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, reflux, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal discomfort after eating certain foods or eating out.

Although it is very common to use this term, experts are consulted before live well Emphasize that having a “stronger” or “weaker” stomach does not depend on one factor. Also, this wouldn’t be the best class to use.

“There are people who are more sensitive. This is associated with food sensitivity and causes unpleasant symptoms. There are people who, for example, can eat foods like wheat, even though they don’t have celiac disease, and have flatulence,” says Bruno Sander, MD, a gastroenterologist and endoscopist, who specializes in weight loss and holds a PhD from UFMG.

Often another determining factor is the frequency and exposure a person eats of a particular food or spice throughout their life. “A typical example is children who, from an early age, have a greater contact with this type of food, this type of spice, so they develop, in fact, much greater tolerance throughout life,” says the expert.

Why do some suffer less?

It is true that some people seem to be more tolerant of street foods, while others may experience digestive upsets after eating them. This difference in tolerance can be attributed to a number of individual factors, such as:

Previous eating habits: People who are used to a varied diet rich in different types of food may have more diverse gut microbes and thus have a better ability to handle different foods, including street foods.

Exhibition date: Repeated exposure to street foods over time can help the body adapt and develop greater resistance to potential pathogens or irritants, and the same goes for strong spices or seasonings.

The immune system and general health: A strong immune system and good general health can contribute to a better body response to the foods consumed.

Allergy to certain components: Some people may be more sensitive to certain ingredients, such as fats, spices, or food additives. This individual sensitivity can lead to discomfort or gastrointestinal symptoms.

GERD is one of the main causes

What looks like a “weak stomach” often has something to do with reflux. According to data from the Brazilian College of Gastroenterology, GERD affects approximately 25.2 million Brazilians, which is approximately 12% of the population.

“Some will have a slightly more sensitive stomach, from a layman’s perspective, because they will have more reflux when they eat a type of food that is heavier or more spicy, or certain types of foods that generate more reflux,” says Felipe Matz, gastroenterologist and medical director of the Endodiagnostic Foundation in Rio de Janeiro.

People who are more sensitive to certain foods and foods have a greater burning sensation and end up suffering from flatulence. In general, they suffer more from bouts of acidity in the stomach.

“They’ll have what we call heartburn, which is the back-up of stomach acid into the esophagus, which causes this discomfort that appears to be gastritis, but in reality it will be esophagitis, which is more characteristic of reflux disease,” notes Matz.

To reduce this discomfort, it is advised to change eating habits and avoid the triggers that cause the problem. “The ideal solution is to suspend coffee, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, and milk, if the person is lactose intolerant,” highlights Rogerio Pinheiro Alves, gastroenterologist at BP – A Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo.

In some cases, treatment with medication or even surgery is necessary. Another recommendation is to do more physical exercises, which helps the rapid emptying and proper functioning of the digestive system as a whole. Finally, avoid clothes that are too tight, and wait at least one and a half to two hours before going to bed after eating something.

Does stomach sensitivity get worse with age?

The problem tends to get worse as we get older. In practice, the older a person gets, the more sensitive the intestines become to many foods that are considered “stronger” and slower to digest, which are heavier, greasy, and require more attention.

There is a tendency for these symptoms to get worse, because the whole problem of reflux control in the upper digestive tract has to do with the muscular valves that prevent this problem from occurring. In old age, these valves may show a kind of looseness.