Most of us don't think much about digestion until its not working well. Unfortunately it seems that more and more people suffer from digestive problems, and statistics from developed countries show that between 35 - 50% of adults have some type of digestive illness. It's no surprise that year after year, medications for digestive illnesses top the pharmaceutical best-seller lists!
Over a lifetime no less than 100 tons of food passes along the digestive tract and 300,000 litres of digestive juices are produced by the body to breakdown food into basic components so that our cells can use them for energy & building material. Obviously it's very important that we eat a healthy diet that provides us with all the nutrients that our bodies need, but even the best diet in the world won't help if you're not digesting it properly! So the old saying of "You are what you eat" is only partially true. More correctly, "You are what you digest, absorb and assimilate".
Not only does poor digestion produce discomfort (gas, heartburn, stomach tenderness), if left unchecked it can lead to low energy, poor skin, foggy thinking, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, candidiasis, colitis, diverticulitis and chronic fatigue. The sad truth is that most of us are digging our own graves with a knife and fork.
But don't worry, there is plenty you can do to help transform your digestive system and health!
Top 5 Tips on how to improve your digestion:
1. Chew your food! Chew, Chew, Chew! Many people eat so fast, they barely chew their food at all and then wash it down with liquids. Chewing ensures that digestive enzymes in your saliva start the process of digestion. Also, the act of chewing releases serotonin (one of your "happy chemicals") in your brain.
2. Eat lots of Fibre, found in vegetables, fruit, pulses and wholegrains. The fibre makes sure that you remain regular, going to the loo at least once per day. If you're constipated try sprinkling ground linseeds on your food, they work wonders and don't harm your colon like laxatives do.
3. If you've taken antibiotics recently, then make sure that you supplement with a good course of probiotics (L. acidophillus and B. bifidum ) in order to restore the friendly bacteria essential for digestive health (and your immune system).
4. Identify any food sensitivities, as these lie behind many digestive problems. The most common culprits are milk and wheat. If you frequently get bloated, try avoiding these for two weeks and see how you feel, then reintroduce the products and see if your body reacts.
5. Finally, eat less. Overeating is the #1 digestive offence we commit, and eating smaller portions can solve a lot of problems. Your body can only produce a certain volume of digestive juices at any one time, and if you exceed your capacity then it doesn't matter that the food was tip-top organic health food, it won't get digested properly!
The Lowdown Vol.13, No.9 2007
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