Dairy. If you get constipatedoften, do yourself a favor and take a look at your diet. Among the foods that may block you up: too much cheese and milk. But you may not have to give up dairy -- just eat less of it and change your choices.
Though dairy products do not negatively affect everyone, many experience digestive issues such as bloating, cramping, and gas from milk, cheese, and other dairy products, as they can be hard to digest, particularly for those who are lactose intolerant.
How long does cheese stay in your digestive system?
Dairy digestion
On average, skimmed milk and low-fat cheese (such as low-fat cottage cheese or ricotta) take 1.5 hours to digest, whereas whole-milk cottage cheese and soft cheeses will leave your stomach in 2 hours. Whole-milk hard cheeses can take up to 5 hours to properly digest.
1. Dairy Products. Cheese, ice cream, and other dairy products have high calcium content, which carries high-binding properties and may lead to constipation in some people, says Christine Lee, MD, a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic. “Dairy also lacks fiber, which potentiates its constipating power,” she says.
What is the hardest food for your stomach to digest?
Fatty foods, such as chips, burgers and fried foods, are harder to digest and can cause stomach pain and heartburn. Cut back on greasy fried foods to ease your stomach's workload. Try to eat more lean meat and fish, drink skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, and grill rather than fry foods.
So those with particularly sensitive stomachs will want to avoid creamier varieties such as ricotta or cottage cheese at all costs. Sugar is the primary component of lactose that makes it difficult to digest, which means that aged, hard cheeses—which have a lower sugar content—are easier on the stomach.
Probiotics, good bacteria that can contribute to gut and overall health, can be found in some types of cheese as well as in dietary supplements, fermented foods, and yogurt. Typically, probiotics are in cheeses that have been aged but not heated afterward.
Hard, aged cheeses like Swiss, parmesan, and cheddars are lower in lactose. Other low-lactose cheese options include cottage cheese or feta cheese made from goat or sheep's milk. Certain types of cheeses -- especially soft or creamy ones like ricottta and cream cheese -- are higher in lactose.
Thus, although the solid food matrix of cheese and protein composition may slow the digestion and absorption of protein and, subsequently, amino acid release into the circulation, when matched for protein, cheese and milk have similar total plasma amino acid availability.
How can I clean my stomach and intestines naturally?
Increase fiber intake through whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other fluids. Use natural laxatives like herbal teas, aloe vera, and fermented foods. Try a saltwater flush or colonic irrigation under the guidance of a medical professional.
An anti-inflammatory diet, regular exercise, good quality sleep, and probiotics are all strategies to put in place before trying antimicrobials or antibiotics to get rid of bad bacteria.
“This makes food pass more quickly through the GI tract, thus promoting regular bowel movements,” Romano says. Both types of fiber help with gut health by assisting with digestion and preventing constipation.
