Nutrition Are cigarettes or schnapps good for digestion?

What's up to known digestive myths?
After an extensive rich meal first smoke a cigarette, should help to get our digestion going? That's at least a widespread idea. But does a cigarette really help digest our stomach and intestines faster? What are just digestive myths and what are serious advices that can help us relieve our stomach?
On holidays is usually greasy and eaten a lot. These days of gluttony can be very stressful for our digestive tract. Many people believe that in such cases, a cigarette can quickly remedy. But is that true? Does a cigarette really help our digestion? The German press agency dpa asked now on this topic some experts.

Does dirt clean the stomach and can cigarettes stimulate digestion? What's wrong with the myths? Image: ALDECAstudio - fotolia

Food on Christmas days Challenge for our stomach
Over the Christmas holidays, there are usually many opportunities to attend opulent dinners. During the day, we eat Christmas goose with a number of side dishes, in the afternoon there are cakes or homemade cookies and in the evening we sit together with the whole family at the Raclette. Such eating orgies are of course a real challenge for our stomach and intestines. The smoker likes to grab a cigarette after an extended meal to support his digestive tract. But does a cigarette really boost human digestion? It's time to test some of these widespread digestive myths for their truth.

Dirt cleanses the stomach
Surely everyone has experienced this situation once in his childhood, just as we want to push a piece of chocolate in the mouth, this falls down on the sandy soil. What are we doing at the moment? Can you still eat such a dirty piece of chocolate? There is this clever saying that probably every human has already heard: "Muck cleans the stomach." But is this statement really true? The human stomach cleans itself, the gastric acid contained is so strong that it is able to kill almost all occurring bacteria, said Sebastian Haag of the Gastro-Liga in a press release by the German press agency dpa. The stomach acid has a natural protective function. However, it is possible for us to further strengthen this protective function.

The human defense system is trained especially in the first years of life. Thus, the body has the chance to get used to many bacteria in childhood, added Haag. For this reason, parents should never use disinfectants in small children too often. The body then misses the opportunity to get used to some bacteria early. Thus, in later life, the person's immune system may be weakened. Dirt can really help the stomach. There would be special so-called healing earths that really help with various stomach problems, such as heartburn, Haag explained to the dpa. Such healing earth consists of ingredients such as aluminum and magnesium. These substances help our stomach to protect itself from bacteria.

Rain cigarettes really affect human digestion?
If smokers have eaten too much, they often grab a cigarette after eating. Most people are convinced that the cigarette after eating stimulates our digestion. Is that true, or is it just a myth? Smoking a cigarette can definitely help human digestion. In our brain, the parasympathetic nervous system is stimulated, this process leads to increased gastric juice production, said Katharina Stapel of the German Nutrition Society. As a result, of course, the intestinal activity and digestion is stimulated. Thus, one can of course say that cigarettes really support digestion. But despite this fact, cigarettes should never be used as a kind of digestive aid after an opulent meal, added Stapel.

Natural ways to aid digestion
Are there any natural ways to support our intestines? For example, can we encourage our digestion by choosing our foods? Fresh foods contain a lot of fiber and auxiliaries. These can help our colon improve its productivity. It is therefore advisable to consume many whole grains, fruits and vegetables in support of our intestinal activity. In addition, we should drink at least 1.5 liters of water every day. Also, compared to a cigarette, regular exercise is a digestive aid that is even good for our lungs, rather than harming them, Stapel added in a dpa press release.