Step aside, hot girl summer. Hot girl stomach issues are the latest trend encouraging women to embrace their bodies instead of ignoring symptoms. While you might think your stomach discomfort isn’t anything of concern, it could lead to more problems down the road. Here’s everything you need to know about common GI problems.
What Are Common GI Problems?
Gastrointestinal (GI) problems are symptoms causing discomfort from within your GI tract. It includes organs like the stomach and esophagus, plus others, such as:
- The colon
- The liver
- The small intestine
- The pancreas
- The anus
The extensive nature of the GI tract means you could experience more than one recurring problem in your lifetime. The symptoms may feel embarrassing, but more women are becoming comfortable discussing their digestive challenges to reduce the stigma and find solutions.
Do Women Have More GI Problems Than Men?
Research shows cisgender women are more likely to experience select GI symptoms than men. These frequent challenges include painful bloating and harder stools.
It’s crucial to take your body seriously and not brush it off as a hot girl issue. The trend is supposed to normalize discussing symptoms like these so women can find solutions, not accept that they exist as a long-term problem.
People who ignore their GI challenges can experience more complicated conditions down the road. Diarrhea could indicate a shigella infection, which requires bacteria-killing antibiotics. It’s always best to listen to your body and get help to potentially resolve bacterial infections, viruses or intestinal parasites. If your symptoms don’t fix themselves within 24-48 hours, your doctor could find an underlying issue and provide targeted solutions.
Ways To Resolve Stomach Problems
There are numerous ways to resolve your stomach problems or find relief while waiting to see your doctor. Consider trying these options to get more comfortable.
1. Drink Mint Tea
Grab a box of mint tea bags at the grocery store. The all-natural plant has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe irritated stomach linings. You could enjoy it in these ways with your preferred sweetener:
- A mug of warm tea
- A cup of iced tea
- An infused cup of your preferred beverage
This tea is so soothing that it even reduces the intensity of nausea for people who are pregnant or sick. Make it less or more minty by adjusting the steep time to find the perfect balance for your taste buds. You could start feeling gastrointestinal relief in minutes.
2. Try A Daily Probiotic
Gastrointestinal tracts function best when they have thriving microbiomes. Stomach conditions or a poor diet could prevent you from having a microbiome that efficiently digests your food. Drinking too much alcohol can also wipe out your gut bacteria and result in common GI problems.
Consider taking a daily probiotic to solve this issue. They contain various strains at different strengths to resupply your microbiome and make digestive issues a thing of the past. They’ll effectively break your food into digestible nutrients, reducing the odds of gas, cramping and uncomfortable bowel movements. The extra gut assistance even makes weight loss easier by helping your body get the nutrients it needs to burn fat while sustaining your bodily functions.
3. Use A Heating Pad
You’re not the only one who may feel more physically relaxed after sliding under an electric blanket. Warmth helps the body let go of muscle tension, which is helpful for those experiencing common GI problems.
Put a heating pad in the microwave or find one that plugs into an electrical outlet. Placing the warm compress on your stomach will help your muscles relax. It could resolve your painful bloating or cramping. Researchers found it’s even effective for painful menstruation cramps, so it’s an option to consider if your stomach issues result in uncomfortable tightness, cramping or muscle spasms.
4. Reflect On Your Diet
You can also find more probiotics in whole foods. Some foods gain probiotics after undergoing fermentation. Consider adding these options to your daily diet to see how they transform your GI health:
- Yogurt
- Kombucha
- Pickles
- Kefir
If you’re unsure where to start, talk with your doctor or a nutritionist. They’ll help you pinpoint the most effective foods to continue pursuing your health goals.
Find Relief Today
Common GI problems don’t have to deteriorate your quality of life. Embrace your symptoms with the hot girl stomach issue trend and find effective solutions. When people normalize things like cramping, bloating and bowel movement changes, everyone becomes more aware of solutions like probiotics and dietary changes.
