Got poor digestion? Here are simple ways you can make a difference today
Do you suffer from digestive issues? Does this affect your day-to-day life? Read the simple tips below and make a difference today!
Your digestive system is a complex process that involves a delicate interplay between nutrients, enzymes, and various digestive secretions. If this process goes awry, putrefaction takes place, producing bone-damaging toxins.
Chew your food - digestion begins in the mouth; this is where chemical and mechanical digestion begins, and in today’s fast-paced culture, it can be easily forgotten. In addition to the benefits noted above, chewing your food well also alkalises the food, due to the presence of digestive enzymes, like cellulose which breaks down fibre and bicarbonate ions present in saliva.
Eat enzyme-stimulating foods - the body can make enzymes from many substances in the body, but there are some foods that naturally contain enzymes. These include pineapples, papaya, avocado, ginger root, cucumbers, bananas, garlic, onion, flax seeds, chlorella, spirulina, raw honey, plain yoghurt and shiitake mushrooms.
Eat raw food - high temperature cooking like grilling, deep-frying and barbecuing can destroy nutrients and even produce harmful carcinogens. Steaming, boiling, and sautéing can actually make some nutrients absorbable. Eating raw foods eases the body’s need to manufacture enzymes.
Soak and sprout - soaking or sprouting plant-based foods can activate the nutrients locked and remove any anti-nutrients which block the absorption and also irritate the gut. Soaking nuts, seeds and legumes can reduce digestive symptoms and boost your nutritional intake.
Use acids - poor digestion is usually associated with low stomach acid caused by nutrient deficiencies, gut flora imbalance and genetics can leave you at risk of low stomach acid. Using lemon juice, vinegar or orange juice in your salad dressings and other condiments can support the digestive process.
Marinate your protein - many people find protein hard to digest. Marinate red meat, chicken and even fish for at least an hour before cooking. You can even marinate it overnight in the fridge and cook the next day.
Manage your stress - during periods of stress, your appetite can drop because your nervous system shuts down the digestive process so you can deal with the problem. If you are having a very stressful day, take a few minutes to just breathe before you eat your meal. Eating mindfully will help to digest it better. You’ll notice the aroma, texture and flavour, which your body responds to by producing more digestive enzymes.
A qualified nutritionist can soothe the symptoms of digestive problems by applying expert knowledge to dietary habits. With personalised meal plans tailored to individual requirements, consulting a nutritionist could greatly improve the day-to-day life of an individual suffering from a digestive problem.