Bringing Awareness to Digestion For Optimal Health
We’ve all heard the Expression.. “You are what you Eat!” You are also what you Absorb (or don’t absorb). This is absolutely true when it comes to your Digestion and the Digestive process. When your Digestion is processing symptom free, the better chances you have to properly absorbing all of those vital nutrients! Good digestion is as important as good food because our cells can’t use what our body can’t absorb.
Signs of Poor Digestion:
Constipation, Un-digested food in the stool, Bloating, Stomach aches, Heart Burn, Acne, Excessive Gas, Belching, Burping after meals, Feeling too full after eating, Tired after eating, Difficulty Losing Weight, Migraine Headaches, Constipation, Loose Bowel Movements, etc.
Poor digestion is one of the most common problems that I encounter as a Holistic Nutritionist!
So, What’s going on?
1. Man Made/ Added Ingredients into Our Food Supply:
2. Food Allergies/ Food Sensitivities
3. Lack of Movement/ Exercise on a daily basis
We’ve all heard the Expression.. “You are what you Eat!” You are also what you Absorb (or don’t absorb). This is absolutely true when it comes to your Digestion and the Digestive process. When your Digestion is processing symptom free, the better chances you have to properly absorbing all of those vital nutrients! Good digestion is as important as good food because our cells can’t use what our body can’t absorb.
Signs of Poor Digestion:
Constipation, Un-digested food in the stool, Bloating, Stomach aches, Heart Burn, Acne, Excessive Gas, Belching, Burping after meals, Feeling too full after eating, Tired after eating, Difficulty Losing Weight, Migraine Headaches, Constipation, Loose Bowel Movements, etc.
Poor digestion is one of the most common problems that I encounter as a Holistic Nutritionist!
So, What’s going on?
1. Man Made/ Added Ingredients into Our Food Supply:
- Processed and unnatural foods (including genetically modified foods)
- Foods containing chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chlorine, etc.)
- Foods containing chemicals, or that have undergone processes designed to preserve them (preservatives, oil, sugar and grain refining, hydrogenation, Nitrites, Nitrates)
- Alcohol, Caffeine
2. Food Allergies/ Food Sensitivities
3. Lack of Movement/ Exercise on a daily basis
Steps Towards Optimal Digestion:
Do you pay attention to what you eat and how you feel? What was in that meal that left you feeling bloated, tired, and with stomach cramps? Try to connect what you eat with how you feel.. this will help you to know your body and know which foods are helping or hindering your digestion.
- SLOW DOWN!! This is something I have perfected, In fact my entire family makes fun of how slow I eat.. and little did I know it is a great habit to have!! Chewing all food slowly and carefully into almost a liquid is the very first step towards optimal digestion.
- RELAX: Eating in a relaxed and comfortable environment and avoiding eating on the go, in the car, or in front of the television.
- Avoid drinking any liquids including water with meals (wait a half an hour before meals and half hour after) but drink lots of water in between meals. This is always a shock for some people because in our culture this is often the time that we drink the most!
- LEMON WATER: Drink luke warm lemon water (use a half of a lemon) 15 minutes before meals.This helps stimulate your digestive enzymes! Try adding ginger for extra benefits!
- SMART SNACKING: Eat smaller meals more often.This keeps your Digestive System working and helps with over eating at meal times.
- QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
- MINDFUL EATING: Try connecting what you are eating and how you feel after.
- MIDNIGHT MUNCHING: Avoid eating 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
- AVOID OR DECREASE FOODS THAT DON'T AGREE WITH YOU
Do you pay attention to what you eat and how you feel? What was in that meal that left you feeling bloated, tired, and with stomach cramps? Try to connect what you eat with how you feel.. this will help you to know your body and know which foods are helping or hindering your digestion.
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