Since I firmly believe that good nutrition is the bedrock
to good health, it goes to follow that a healthy and
functioning digestive system is also crucial to optimal
health. One can be eating the "perfect" diet, yet if your
digestive system is compromised, than your health will
also be compromised. Here are some simple tips to
maintain an optimal digestion.
1. A healthy organic
diet is still very important to maintaining a healthy
digestion and assimilation. Also identification and
elimination of food allergens from your diet is crucial.
Testing for the delayed allergens (IgG antibodies) is
not offered by many allergists and is available from
naturopathic doctors and other health practitioners
familiar and well trained in integrative medicine.
2. Take a good probiotic. Not only do they support
your immune system, they help to support healthy
assimilation of nutrients. An imbalanced gut flora can
create endotoxins which may cause bloating and
diarrhea as well as acne, joint and muscle pain as
well as fatigue and other general feelings of malaise.
3. Don't eat after 7 PM! Not only is it unhealthy to
go to bed with a full stomach, it can interfere with
having a deep restful sleep as well as contribute to
weight gain.
4. Get a handle on your portion size.
Many people eat the right foods, yet they eat too much
of them. Overeating can put undo pressure on the
diaphragm and contribute to hiatal hernias and
esophageal reflux.
5. Get a handle on your
stress levels. Eating under stress, on the run or under
duress can also interfere with proper digestion and
assimilation of your foods.
6. Chew your food.
Slow down your eating. Mom was right! You need to
chew your food enough - optimally until it is almost
liquid. Amylase is secreted by your salivary glands
and is the first step in digestion. If you don't chew
enough, then you leave chunks of food for further on
down the GI tract and that is not what those areas are
great at doing! And you miss out on that first digestive
step. So no wolfing down your food!
7. Drink 64
oz of purified water per day. This will keep your
bowels regular (along with a high fiber diet) as well as
help to flush out toxins. Most people don't drink nearly
enough water per day.
8. This goes with stress
management - learn how to RELAX. Digestion is a
function of the parasympathetic nervous system. IT
works best when you can learn how to deeply relax.
Some of my favorite tools for this are yoga and
meditation.
Find out more....
