How the heat affects your gut health – and what to do about it (2024)

FAQs

How the heat affects your gut health – and what to do about it? ›

Studies show heat can change the bacterial composition of the gastrointestinal tract and may explain stomach pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea and other issues in hot weather. Too much bad bacteria can wreck your immune system too.

Understanding summer GI issues

Rising temps can influence GI immunity and digestive capabilities. This might include loss of appetite during very warm days, dehydration symptoms, or a heat-related illness (including heat stroke and heat exhaustion).

Acidity: Frequent belching, sour taste in the mouth, and discomfort after eating. Nausea: Persistent feelings of queasiness and an urge to vomit. Abdominal Pain: Intense or cramp-like pain in the upper abdomen, often accompanied by a sensation of fullness. Diarrhoea: Loose and watery stools, sometimes with urgency.

The increase in temperatures causes our blood flow to divert in order to help regulate body temps. Our GI system is impacted the most when this happens. Thus, we may endure gastrointestinal flare-ups that cause stomach pain and diarrhea.

When applying heat in the abdomen, it has the following effects: The effect of hot compresses on the abdomen on: stimulating the digestive system for the stomach, small intestine; increase the process of absorbing food into the body; Symptoms of flatulence and indigestion are improved.

Home Remedies for Heat Cramps

Heat cramps usually go away on their own, but you can try one of these home remedies: Rest in a cool place and drink a sports drink, which has electrolytes and salt, or drink cool water. Make your own salt solution by mixing 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon table salt dissolved in a quart of water.

Dehydration – When exposed to rising temperatures, your body's natural cooling method is perspiration. Excessive sweating causes you to gradually lose your body's water content, leading to dehydration. This condition can impede the digestive system's ability to supply fluids and transport food.

Bananas, melons, broccoli, asparagus, and green beans are low in acid and known to reduce stomach acid levels. Whole grains — High fiber, whole-grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and whole-grain breads help stop symptoms. They are a good source of fiber and may help absorb stomach acid, reducing the risk of symtoms.

Some of the best cooling foods for body include foods like cucumber, watermelon, coconut water, mint, buttermilk, etc. These foods have cooling properties that help our body regulate body temperature better during summers.

Eat plenty of foods high in water content. Fruits such as cantaloupe, watermelon, and strawberries are good options. Try eating lots of vegetables such as celery, cucumber, and cauliflower. You can eat these foods raw in a salad.

How to get rid of a stomach ache in 5 minutes? ›

You can also try applying a warm compress to your stomach, such as a heating pad or warm water bottle wrapped in a towel. This can help alleviate pain and cramping. Moreover, drinking a cup of warm water with a teaspoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon juice can help to soothe an upset stomach.

Heat intolerance is a feeling of being overheated when the temperature around you rises. It can often cause heavy sweating. Heat intolerance usually comes on slowly and lasts for a long time, but it may also occur quickly and be due to a serious illness.

Heatstroke requires emergency treatment. Untreated heatstroke can quickly damage your brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. The damage worsens the longer treatment is delayed, increasing your risk of serious complications or death.

Cucumber juice

Cucumber is a coolant, easy on the stomach and has an exceptionally high water content that keeps the body hydrated.

Singhal says it's commonly believed that the tiny air bubbles in carbonated drinks may help promote digestion and ease an upset stomach.

Patients with IBS could also be affected by the heat, as they per- spire more, get more dehydrated and, possibly, find the weather af- fecting their sleep negatively. This heat-related discomfort causes a stress response in the body that affects organ systems, including the gut, he says.

'High temperatures can actually cause the bad bacteria in our guts to expand resulting in an increased likelihood of gastrointestinal infections and can trigger or worsen symptoms such as diarrhoea and bloating.

Higher air temperatures can increase cases of Salmonella and other bacteria-related food poisoning because bacteria grow more rapidly in warm environments. These diseases can cause gastrointestinal distress and, in severe cases, death.