Tips for Good Digestion

Thu, April 18, 2013

It is important that we choose a balanced diet that supplies all the required nutrients and eliminates all that is harmful; it is equally important that what we eat is assimilated and absorbed. 

Here are some tips to aid good digestion:

¨     Be sure to exercise and drink plenty of water every day.

¨     Eat only when genuinely hungry, and then eat slowly, chewing your food well; the act of chewing will help you to relax while eating. Take time to enjoy the tastes, textures and aromas of the food.

¨     Salivation at the thought or sight of food is a good indication that the digestive system is ready for action.

¨     Don’t stuff yourself; eat only enough to feel comfortable. There is no need to count calories, but make every calorie count.

¨     Don’t eat when angry, anxious, upset, hurried, stressed or overly tired.

¨     Enjoy pleasant conversation over meals, or if alone, listen to quiet music.

¨     Avoid reading, watching TV, or arguing while eating; take the time to taste and enjoy your food.

¨     Consume sufficient dietary fiber, found in fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.

¨     Learn to prepare certain foods to make them more digestible. Whole grains, legumes, and nuts are better digested if they are given a long soak before cooking. This will break down phytates and enzymes to make their nutrients more available. Bread is better digested if the flour has been fermented first and it is allowed to rise naturally, without yeast; sourdough bread is the healthiest choice.

¨     Avoid ice cold beverages with meals, the chemical processes of digestion need warmth to be activated.

¨     Avoid caffeine (tea, coffee, soft drinks, chocolate) and nicotine; they will stimulate an emptying of the stomach before enzymes can act upon the food. Sipping warm water or herbal tea with a meal is preferable. Caffeine is acidic and the body will utilize the minerals in your food and tissues, (e.g., calcium) to neutralize the acids, depleting the body of the nutrients required for a healthy heart and bones and other body functions.

Remember, it’s not “You are what you eat,” but

“You are what you digest and absorb!”

 Cheers

Heather, now that we are enjoying our Wondrous Life lets look after the body that is housing our SOUL!  To Great Digestion and Health

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