Just chew it !

One of the very first steps to eating healthier food is getting digestion on track. Did you know that the health of your digestive system is crucial to your overall health and wellbeing? To get started, first take a good look at how you feel after you eat. This will give you some idea about how well you are digesting your food.

In our modern day world, almost everyone suffers from compromised gut flora. This provides the ideal environment for bad bacteria, parasites, viruses and other organisms to flourish, affecting your natural digestive abilities. When your digestive system is off, it is likely that you will suffer from some type of digestive disorder such as irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn or reflux, gas. If left unaddressed, these can even manifest into chronic health conditions.

Here are 7 tips that bring balance to your digestive system.

Reduce stress: There is a strong link between stress and digestion. Stress has the ability to interfere with your digestive system and your digestive process. It also inhibits salivation and leads to low stomach acid and a lack of the digestive juices required to properly break down your food. It is really important to make sure you are calm before, during and after your meal. To reduce stress try meditation, breathing, gentle yoga, walking, sleeping, dancing or relaxing.

Chew your food properly: The more you chew the easier it will be for your body to digest food and absorb its nutrients. Your saliva helps to liquefy and lubricate the food but it also contains enzymes that actually begin chemically digesting carbohydrates in your mouth. Before meals, take a deep breath and eat slowly, eat consciously.

Love your liver: You can heal your digestive system by rejuvenating and supporting your liver to work efficiently and effectively. There are many different types of ways you can do this. One of my favourite ways is to supplement with the herb called Dandelion (also known as Milk Thistle or Silybum Marianum). Eat nourishing soups, soup broths, salads and freshly squeezed juices.

Avoid fake foods: This includes any branded, processed and fast foods, as these kinds of foods are made in a laboratory and sold with huge marketing budgets. Fake foods are extremely toxic to your digestive system as they are high in refined salt, sugar and oils.

Drink Your Water… But Not During Meals: Water is one of those essential elements for your overall health and digestive system. It is important to drink plenty of water throughout the day for optimum digestive health. Also remember that It’s best for digestion to drink water about 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after eating a meal. This is because water can dilute the digestive juices and slow down the process. Hydrating in between meals will prevent thirst during meals and will allow the digestive enzymes to do their job of breaking down the food you eat. If you struggle to drink plain water during the day, try incorporating fresh fruit or lemon slices into your water to boost your intake.

Eat fermented foods: The greater the variety of fermented and cultured foods you can include in your diet, the better. Fermentation allows probiotics, enzymes and nutrients to flourish and multiply. Fruits and vegetables that have been fermented are so potent that only a few tablespoons each day will provide the body with a hefty digestive punch that can make a world of difference in gastrointestinal health. Try including the common fermented foods in your diet such as yoghurt, kanji, fermented vegetables soy, kim chi.

Probiotics are your friends: Probiotics are micro organisms such as healthy bacteria and yeast that have been shown to dramatically improve gut health.

Probiotics are easily available as dietary supplements which can be found in your local health food shop.

Supplement with digestive enzymes: Enzymes are proteins that facilitate chemical reactions in living organisms. In fact, they are required for every single chemical action that takes place in your body.

If you are experiencing digestive problems or a chronic health condition, it is your body speaking to you. Listen to your body and use these ideas to bring balance back to your digestive system.

Remember when your gut is healthy, you will look and feel healthy from the inside out.

(The writer is a homeopath at Cosmetic skin and Homeo Clinic)

Just chew it !