If you are someone trying to shed kilos, you must be aware that eating healthy and exercising are two important aspects of the weight loss process. But not all are aware of the fact that your digestive health also has a major role to play in it. You may do anything in order to get into good shape, but if your digestive health is out of whack, then it could affect the scale. Most digestive issues lead to poor absorption of food that can cause lead to weight loss. But there are a few situations in which our intestinal health can contribute to weight gain.
Here are 5 such intestine diseases that can sabotage your weight loss goal:
Acid reflux disease
Acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a painful, burning sensation in the lower chest, which is caused when stomach acid rises back into your esophagus. For people suffering from this problem, comfort foods help to reduce the pain. Eating food provides them relief temporarily as the food and saliva neutralize the acid for a while. But the real problem is after the digestion process is completed, the acid production increases again. This way people get stuck in the habit of overeating and in the end, gain weight.
Ulcers
The uncomfortable ulcers develop in the inner lining of the stomach or small intestine. It usually produces a lot of acids. Just like acid reflux, eating food can give comfort from ulcer for a while as it covers the lining and neutralizes the stomach acid. If you are eating more frequently, it can obviously lead to weight gain.
Bacteria overgrowth
Our bowel contains both good and bad bacteria. The good bacteria helps to reduce the inflammation and keeps your health in check. The problem arises when the amount of bacteria grows drastically, which can lead to weight gain. First, the bacteria increase the production of methane gas, which can slow down the functioning of the small intestine. Secondly, bacteria overgrowth can slow down your metabolism and can affect your insulin and leptin resistance, both of which can regulate hunger and satiety. You are likely to eat more and put on weight.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
It is the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal (GI) condition and can lead to other digestive problems like food sensitivities and imbalance of good bacteria. This can further cause bloating and chronic inflammation and can be a cause of weight gain.
Chronic disease
A person suffering from chronic disease is provided with steroid treatment, which is usually the first step. The steroid can increase the craving for carbs, as a result, you will eat more and put on weight.