Scientific nutrition to prevent digestive diseases

At the seminar “Digestive Health, Healthier Every Day”, experts shared basic nutrition principles for a healthy digestive system.

The talk: “Digestive health, healthier every day” is an activity in a series of communication programs in response to World Digestive Health Day 29/5 co-operated by the Health and Life Newspaper and the National Institute of Nutrition. with the companionship of media unit VTVDigital and sponsor Vinamilk to raise the community’s awareness of digestive health care. The talk will be broadcast live at 10 am on May 29, 2022 on Fanpage channel VTV24 News Center, Youtube VTV24 and VTV Go application.

10% of the population suffers from gastrointestinal diseases

According to Prof. Dr. Le Danh Tuyen, Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, in Vietnam, 10% of the population has diseases related to the digestive tract. Worryingly, the number of cases is increasing at an alarming rate.

The digestive tract, specifically the intestinal tract, is responsible for more than 70% of the immune system. A healthy digestive system is a digestive system that supports a strong immune system, protecting the body against constant attacks from pathogens in food.

If we consider the immune system as a stronghold, then nutrition is the building block. Nutrition also provides an indispensable source of energy for the immune system to function smoothly, ready to be activated effectively when harmful agents invade.

In humans, the gut microbiome has the largest number of bacteria and the largest number of species compared to other areas of the body. A healthy gut has 85% good bacteria and 15% harmful bacteria. The composition of the human gut microbiome changes over time, as diet changes, and as overall health changes. Therefore, diet plays a very important role in the balanced development of intestinal microflora.

Dietary fiber promotes a wide range of beneficial bacteria and deters potentially harmful species. Studies show that the type and amount of protein in the diet have significant and distinct effects on the gut microbiome. A high-fat diet can lead to dysbiosis in the gut. Eating a lot of protein in the diet reduces the abundance of bacteria in the intestinal tract. Disturbances in gut microbiota are increasingly recognized as a major factor in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2 DM), cardiovascular disease, childhood allergies/allergies, and many infectious and metabolic diseases other chemical.

According to Prof. Dr. Le Danh Tuyen, a scientific diet, in addition to providing enough energy, protein also provides enough energy, protein also provides enough vitamins and minerals to participate in the immune system such as: vitamins A, D, K, E, iron, zinc, selenium, flavonoids and probiotics.

Increase vegetables, reduce salt

So what is the right nutrition to keep the digestive system healthy? Prof. Dr. Le Danh Tuyen gave advice is to implement community guidance on proper nutrition, increase fruit and vegetable consumption, reduce salt consumption, reasonable fat nutrition, reduce refined sugar consumption, use Reasonable source of protein-rich foods. People need to be aware of the prevention of micronutrient deficiency, prevention of stunting, weight control, prevention of harmful effects of alcohol, adequate water intake and appropriate physical activity.

In addition, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam, former Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, said that the health of the digestive system also depends on nutrition, exercise, mental comfort and adequate rest. Healthy nutrition follows the 4-5-1 formula of the Ministry of Health, balanced and sufficient in the ratio of energy-producing substances, with enough vitamins and minerals. Every day must eat at least 15-20 different foods, eat a balance of meals during the day, which are 3 main meals and 1-2 snacks. Using foods suitable for different physiological and pathological stages, foods that support the prevention of nutrition-related diseases.

The principle of dietary change is to reduce fat, saturated fat, trans fatty acids, refined flour, refined sugar, salt and salty foods, cold meats. Increase green vegetables, ripe fruits, fiber, foods rich in vitamins and minerals, iron/iod/zinc/calcium, w-fatty acids, folate, vitamin D, enough beneficial bacteria. Sources of saturated fat should be limited are animal fats such as lard, butter, oils of tropical plants such as coconut oil, palm kernel, palm oil.

The diet should have enough fiber such as brown rice/flip, milled rice, rye bread, tubers, green vegetables, main fruit… have a lot of fiber. Limit the use of foods such as animal organs, which are quite high in cholesterol. Use double, single sugar without 10% of total calories, preferably less than 5%.

Assoc. Prof. TS.BS Nguyen Thi Van Hong, Senior Lecturer at Hanoi Medical University, former Deputy Head of Gastroenterology Department, Bach Mai Hospital, advises that in order to improve the health of the digestive tract, proper nutrition is important. Eat enough to meet your needs, eat a variety and combination of 15-20 foods, change foods regularly during the day. The diet is balanced between animal and plant protein sources (meat, fish, eggs, milk, shrimp and crab, seafood, beans, pulses…) as well as animal and vegetable fats. Use fats from fish, red beans, vegetable oils, limit fats from poultry such as chicken, duck, animal meat such as pigs, cows… Should eat fresh fruits, have a healthy diet. Balanced nutrition, drink enough water, exercise, reduce stress, supplement benefits

According to Dr. Van, digestive diseases caused by nutrition, fast food consumption, eating while working, stress at work, alcohol and tobacco use, etc. lead to movement disorders of the digestive tract. Gastrointestinal motility disorders are related to other diseases such as thyroid disease, diabetes, so if a gastrointestinal motility disorder is detected, it is necessary to see a doctor to see if there are any accompanying diseases.

Yogurt reduces digestive disorders, constipation

“Eating yogurt and drinking yogurt provide many beneficial bacteria and probiotics that bring health benefits, so it should be added to the daily diet,” said Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam, former Deputy Director of the Institute of Nutrition. National Nutrition emphasized.

For milk, there are appropriate adjustments for each age. Due to the lack of calcium in the diet, milk is the most easily absorbed source of calcium, especially for children. Children should use yogurt every day because it contains a good source of probiotics, strains of yeast that balance the beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract. People who use yogurt regularly have better absorption efficiency than people who don’t use yogurt. With a good probiotic strain along with fermented nutritional ingredients, yogurt is easy to digest, reduces the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, fights against apple disease, increases lactose digestibility and increases absorption. vitamin and mineral intake, promote gut health.

Protein in yogurt contains all 9 essential amino acids in the ratio required for protein synthesis. Yogurt is easier to digest than the protein in standard milk, because fermentation breaks down the structure into smaller units. The protein in yogurt also aids in the absorption of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, which helps lower blood pressure. The amount of fat in yogurt contributes to providing energy for the body, helping to transport fat-soluble vitamins to help build cell membranes, support the development of the brain, bones, vision and immune system.

Yogurt helps reduce digestive disorders and constipation: Yogurt contains millions of intestinal microorganisms, when entering the colon, it will create a favorable environment for beneficial intestinal bacteria to grow, inhibiting harmful bacteria that cause disease. Helps relieve digestive disorders, constipation. Yogurt helps absorb positive nutrients more efficiently, so people who eat yogurt regularly (at least 1 box/day) have higher nutrient absorption than others.

According to a document from the Yogurt in Nutrition Initiative (YINI) Council, people who regularly consume yogurt have a 20% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. People who regularly eat yogurt are also likely to reduce their risk of developing diabetes. heart-related diseaes. Because yogurt is rich in micronutrients and protein, some substances (calcium, potassium, magnesium) have been shown to reduce the risk of hypertension, reduce the risk of stroke. In areas where yogurt is consumed a lot, life expectancy is generally higher than in areas where yogurt is consumed less

Many mothers have the habit of using milk to brew their own yogurt, which is also quite delicious when eaten. Is this homemade yogurt full of nutrients? “Although the taste is still delicious, homemade yogurt does not have the same amount of probiotics as industrially produced yogurt,” emphasized Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam.

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