At Gut Smart, we’re all about digestion and we love to learn. We realised that people use the phrase your digestion support to describe so many different sensations of discomfort after eating. But do we really know what it is we’re talking about?

Gut Smart herbalist Pamela Spence works with people experiencing digestive discomfort in many forms every week, so we asked her to explain what we actually mean when we talk about your digestion support.

Pamela says:

Great question. Some people use the phrase your digestion support when they experience an uncomfortable burning sensation above their stomach. Others use it when they notice belching or the repeated taste of a food they’ve eaten. For others, the phrase describes feelings of bloating, cramping, or gassiness.

Let’s pick apart those scenarios. The first, with the burning sensation, is often caused when the contents of the stomach move upward into areas that aren’t designed to handle them. This can happen when there’s an imbalance in stomach acid levels or when the muscle that closes off the stomach isn’t functioning properly, leading to discomfort, typically when bending forward or lying down after eating. Stomach acid itself is crucial, as it’s a key element in digesting our food and helping to keep unwanted bugs out of the lower digestive tract.

The next scenario, with the repeated taste of food and belching, can sometimes be caused by inefficient stomach acid. There might be too little, or it’s not strong enough. In this case, the food isn’t being broken down properly, which can lead to lingering sensations after eating. This needs a different approach to those who experience discomfort from too much acid.

The other complaints of bloating, cramping and gas usually happen further down the digestive tract and can have many causes. All of these may be linked to imbalances in our gut flora. Science is only just beginning to understand the powerful role our gut flora plays in overall health. We now know it influences not just digestion, but also mental wellbeing, immunity, and much more.

So the next time someone says they need your digestion support, you’ll know that not everyone means the same thing. This might be why one solution works brilliantly for you, but not for your friend. Understanding what your digestion support means for you can help you support your digestive health naturally.