We might consider revising the saying “you are what you eat” to “you are what you ABSORB”. Without a properly functioning digestive tract, we are unable to shuttle nutrients out of foods and beverages into the blood or lymph (for fatty acids) and every single cell for proper function.
Digestion is fundamental to nutrition therapy and is a North to South process that starts in the brain and ends in the anus. Functions are ingestion, secretion, mixing, digestion - both mechanical & chemical, absorption, defecation.
There are three macronutrients: fats, carbs, and protein! Each of these three categories has a whole squad of little soldiers (called enzymes) that help break them down into more digestible pieces.
Below are five ways to improve your digestive function! They are much easier said than done, but approaching one at a time or at one selected meal 3-5 times per week.
1. CHEW FOOD
Chew foods 15-30 times to ensure proper consistency for absorption; Slowdown while eating and chew mouth for thoroughly to prevent swallowing air most people eat too fast and swallow air with their food – this causes digestive stress leading to poor portion of nutrients, gas and bloating, and possible growth of harmful yeast and bacteria in the digestive tract (toxic bowel).
2. WARM LIQUID
Drink warm liquid before meals; drinking warm water with lemon, broth, misosoup, or soup before a meal will prepare the digestive tract for digestion
3. AVOID INSTIGATORS
Avoid smoking, alcohol, coffee, refined sugars/flowers; these can deplete the body of vitamins and minerals vital for enzyme activity and deplete stomach acid.
4. WHOLE, RAW FOODS
Increase consumption of fresh veggies; increasing intake of fruits andvegetables with high water content – especially raw – will help digestion and increase bowel transit time.
5. CALM DINING ENVIRONMENT
Create calm dining environment to avoid the body trickling into sympathetic dominance whilst eating (we always want to be in PARAsympathetic whilst dining). Put the phone away, turn off the game, take a few breaths before you eat.
