10% of Vietnamese people have digestive diseases, nutritionists point out the culprits of the disease

That is the sharing of Prof. Dr. Le Danh Tuyen, Director of the National Institute of Nutrition at the seminar on Digestive health, getting stronger every day organized by the Life Health newspaper and the National Institute of Nutrition on the occasion of Digestive Health Day. World May 29.

According to Prof. Dr. Le Danh Tuyen, the digestive tract, specifically the intestinal tract, concentrates more than 70% of the immune system components. A healthy digestive system will support a strong immune system, protecting the body against constant attacks from pathogens in food.

In Vietnam, up to 10% of the population suffers from diseases related to the digestive tract and this number is increasing alarmingly. Common gastrointestinal diseases include constipation, diarrhea, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hemorrhoids… these diseases seem simple, but if not treated in time, it will affect health for a long time. and daily life of the patient.

According to Mr. Tuyen, most of the eating problems such as high blood pressure, blood sugar risk… are related to improper diet. Diseases related to the stomach, liver, esophagus, nasopharynx… stem from a lack of fiber in fruits and vegetables, alcohol abuse, and high salt intake.

“A healthy gut is the key to a healthy immune system. A diet with excess protein compared to the recommended amount, low in vegetables and fruits, eating unhealthy foods such as fried foods with too much fat, soft drinks, confectionery, fast food, etc. also affect the balance of the microflora. intestinal bacteria”, emphasized the Director of the National Institute of Nutrition.

Assoc. Prof. TS.BS Nguyen Thi Van Hong, Senior Lecturer at Hanoi Medical University, Former Deputy Head of Gastroenterology Department, Bach Mai Hospital, added that 10% of digestive diseases is still very small compared to the data. present. Often people with digestive diseases are higher than the statistics.

Part of the reason is due to the diet too much fast food, the habit of eating while working, not eating enough meals, stress, not drinking enough water, not having time to exercise. In particular, Vietnamese people often use alcohol too much, smoking is also the cause of digestive disorders.

Regarding people’s awareness of the importance of gastrointestinal health, Assoc. Prof. TS.BS Nguyen Thi Van Hong said: “Experts recommend that after 40 years of age, gastrointestinal endoscopy must be performed, but the number of people actually Currently this is only a small percentage. Therefore, many cases of cancer are detected at a late stage. If the recommendations are followed, the disease can be detected at an earlier stage.”

Also according to Assoc. Prof. TS.BS Van Hong, the common mistake people make about digestive diseases is to detect the disease, which is required by the doctor for periodic health check-ups, but not to make the complication worse. “Due to the lack of regular health check-ups, gastrointestinal endoscopy after the age of 40, there are cases of late-stage gastric and colon cancer detection. There are also cases where they were discovered but did not seek treatment at a medical facility but used prescriptions from other people to treat them, making the disease worse,” this expert said.

Since then, PGS.TS.BS Van Hong has come up with solutions to take care of a healthy digestive system. People need to be fully vaccinated to prevent diseases; periodic medical examination. Clean diet and living activities avoid foods that are at risk of bacterial and viral infections. People also have to develop a balanced diet and nutrition suitable for their age according to their living regimen; increase physical training; drink enough water. In particular, you need to listen to your body if there is an abnormality that requires early medical examination.

Prof. Dr. Le Danh Tuyen also recommends, a scientific and healthy diet “Eat right and eat enough” according to a reasonable nutritional pyramid. In addition to providing enough energy, protein also provides enough vitamins and minerals involved in the immune system such as vitamins A, D, K, E, iron, zinc, selenium, flavonoids and probiotics. Besides, people need to exercise regularly to improve health.

Ngoc Trang