ONE WAY TO HEAL YOUR STOMACH NATURALLY. By: Francis Owusu-Banahene (T/Dr)

 


What is the stomach? While some people mistake the stomach or the entire digestive system for the stomach, the stomach is actually a portion of the entire digestive system or gastrointestinal (GI) tract (i.e., the gut). As a muscular organ (sitting on the upper abdomen on the left side of the body), the stomach, through the secretion of gastric acid and digestive enzymes and contractions, breaks down food for further digestion in the small intestine.

Healthy Stomach and Your Health

According to Dr. Alberto Gonzalez, each portion of the digestive system and its related organs play one or more roles in the digestive process. Abusing any of these organs (such as the stomach) in any way impairs (decreases, increases, or distorts) their functions, paving the way for related disease symptoms such as heartburn, colic, esophagitis, diverticulitis, nausea, bloating, migraine headache, sensation of fullness, etc. These symptoms either localize (at the location of impairment) or are generalized throughout the entire body.

Factors that impair the stomach

Poor eating habits, especially distractive eating, are a notable factor among the various factors that impair the digestive system (and hence the stomach). Distracted eating is when one engages in other activities alongside eating a main meal or engages in practices that obstruct his or her full attention while eating. This includes:  

 

`

    Eating and watching screens simultaneously: e.g., watching TV, scrolling phones or tablets, and working on the computer.

2.      Walking/standing whilst eating

3.      Engaging in excessive talking whilst eating

4.      Intermittent eating: eating a particular meal at intervals due to interference by another activity. This is mostly common among market women and shop attendants, who always need to stop eating to attend to clients and return to eat, and the cycle continues until they are done with the food.

Prevalence of distracted eating and stomach health 

Proper digestion and absorption, and hence a healthy stomach, require mealtime to be just mealtime and nothing more. Unfortunately, the modern lifestyle has made it almost impossible to dedicate ample time to even main meals without engaging in other things as well. It has almost become a custom for most people (especially the youth) to eat while looking at screens at the same time. Others, due to their busy schedules, barely sit to eat and mostly prefer to stand, eat while walking, or eat while driving. In Ghana, it is normal to see peers enjoying their usual Sunday special, TZ or Emotuo (rice balls), amidst heated arguments over whether Messi or Ronaldo is the best player.


Distracted eating and stomach health

Proper digestion (and absorption) is a wholistic act, requiring perfect cooperation among the digestive system and the brain. Hence, any major activity that distracts the brain lessens its ability to provide the necessary assistance for proper digestion and absorption. Likewise, distracted eating, as implied in the name, impairs the digestive system, including the stomach, in the following ways:

1. Inadequate digestive juice secretion: distracted eating impairs the body’s vital powers to secrete adequate gastric juice for proper digestion. Adequate gastric juice secretion is a product of the perfect harmony between the brain and the digestive system. Distracted eating distorts this harmony, thereby affecting the amount of gastric juice produced.

2.  Undermines proper mastication: proper digestion begins in the mouth with the proper chewing of food, termed mastication. Proper mastication introduces adequate saliva to the food, which aids in proper digestion through the digestive tract. Failing to masticate food properly, as is mostly the case with distracted eating, deprives it of the necessary saliva and hence impairs the digestive process. Distracted eating.



3.   Leads to overeating: Various studies suggest that distracted eating causes one to overeat due to the likelihood of missing the sensation of fullness. Overeating, on the other hand, causes the stomach to work extra hard and overexpand. Overwork weakens the stomach, making it very susceptible to disease symptoms, and the expanded stomach pushes against other organs, creating a feeling of discomfort.

4.   Encourages frequent snacking and junk foods consumption: distracted eating is quite easier with snacks (mostly made up of junk foods) than with main meals. This is due to the inability to make time for eating. Excessive snacking disrupts the optimal function of the migrating motor complex (MMC), meaning that residual undigested food may be left behind, leading to fermentation. In the long run, this may lead to an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine and, hence, bloating and other IBS symptoms. Also, junk foods are mostly fatty, refined, and contain excessive condiments that together irritate the stomach.

 Conclusion

Proper care for the stomach means proper care for the entire digestive system, and one of the best ways to do this is to avoid distracted eating by giving ample time for meals. Evidence suggests that just avoiding distracted eating coupled with other proper eating habits can save one’s stomach from further deterioration, correct related complications, and restore total health as far as possible.

Francis Owusu-Banahene is a licensed doctor of traditional medicine, a public health advocate, and the CEO of East Eden Health Reform Center.

 




 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 Evidence-Based Natural Ways to Cleanse Your Liver & Improve Health; By Francis Owusu-Banahene, T/Dr

Image
Your liver is a remarkable organ — it filters over 1 liter of blood per minute , breaking down toxins, balancing hormones, and aiding digestion. But with frequent exposure to processed food, pollution, medications, and stress, the liver can become sluggish. Fortunately, nature offers simple, time-tested ways to support liver function — many of which are backed by modern science. Here are 10 evidence-based, natural practices you can adopt safely — whether for seasonal cleansing or long-term prevention. 1. Start Your Day with Warm Lemon Water Lemon juice activates bile flow and supports detoxification. How often: Drink daily on an empty stomach for general liver maintenance. Duration: Make it a long-term habit or use for 21-day seasonal cleanse (3x per year). 2. Use Bitter Herbs Regularly Bitter herbs such as Neem, Bitter Leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), and Dandelion root stimulate liver enzymes and bile production. How to use: Take as tea or powder (1 tsp per day). Cycle: ...
Read more

Scent Leaf Remedy for Catarrh – The Steam That Heals ; By Francis Owusu-Banahene, T/Dr

Image
  My people, before antibiotics and pharmacies, there was scent leaf. When catarrh blocks your nose, tightens your chest, and makes your nights restless, nature already gave us the answer: steam from the sacred scent leaf. Across villages and cities alike, scent leaf—known in science as Ocimum gratissimum—has been our grandmother’s go-to for anything that fills the head with mucus or the throat with slime. It’s more than a leaf; it’s a healer. Local Names of Scent Leaf: Twi (Akan – Ghana): Nunum Yorùbá (Nigeria): Efirin Hausa (Nigeria/Ghana): Daidoya Whether you call it nunum, efirin, or daidoya, the healing power is the same. Let me walk you through a remedy passed down, trusted, and now even confirmed by science. What’s So Special About Scent Leaf? This leaf carries powerful natural oils like eugenol and thymol—things that clear the nose, fight germs, reduce swelling, and calm your respiratory system. You can smell its power the moment it hits hot water. That’s the medicine risin...
Read more

BOOST MALE VITALITY NATURALLY WITH GINGER AND CLOVE TEA, By: Francis Owusu-Banahene, T/Dr.

Image
INTRODUCTION In today's fast-paced world, many men are seeking natural ways to boost their energy, stamina, and overall reproductive health. While supplements abound, one of the most effective and affordable remedies lies in your kitchen: ginger and clove tea. This simple herbal infusion has been used for centuries and is now gaining scientific backing for its positive effects on male vitality. WHY GINGER AND CLOVE ARE GOOD FOR MEN GINGER: The Circulation and Testosterone Booster Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is well-known for its warming, anti-inflammatory properties. It helps improve blood circulation, which is key to stamina, libido, and overall performance. Studies also suggest ginger may support testosterone production and improve sperm motility.   KEY BENEFITS OF GINGER: Enhances blood flow Reduces inflammation Boosts energy and vitality Supports testosterone and sperm quality (Banihani, 2018) CLOVE: THE ANTOOXIDANT AND LIBIDO ENHANCER Clove (Syzygium...
Read more