 | 10 Tips for Good Digestion |
The following is one in an ongoing series of columns entitled Staying Healthy Tips by Elson M. Haas M.D. .View all columns in series
- Eat in a relaxed way in a pleasant setting, and take your time. Chew your food until it is liquid. If you are under emotional pressure or in a hurry, take simple food – fresh juice, a fruit, yogurt, a few sunflower seeds, or a protein bar.
- Keep up your exercise regimen. Walking and yoga are both particularly good for digestion. If you want to do any type of strenuous exercise, wait at least two hours after eating any significant amount.
- Drink enough water (6 to 8 cups a day), but not with meals unless you're on a weight-loss diet trying to lower food intake. Minimize ice cold drinks and consume more soothing warm drinks such as hot lemon water or herb teas.
- Get enough fiber in your diet, whether from vegetables and fruits, bran or psyllium, and an adequate amount of whole grains and fresh sprouts (or cooked legumes if digested well).
Dealing with Digestive Problems:
- Remove food allergens from your diet. Learn which foods cause reactions and affect how you feel. See The False Fat Diet by Cameron Stauth and myself. You may need a blood test to check out your food sensitivities.
- Minimize toxins and irritants; eat organic foods whenever possible, and eat simply. People who have digestive disorders should avoid additives, such as fluoride often added to toothpaste) and carageenan (found in cottage cheese and other foods), both of which can act as irritants.
- If you have chronic indigestion, try supplementing your meals with enzymes and/or hydrochloric acid. If that doesn't help, ask your doctor to test you for these factors. Then, supplement as needed with enzymes (to aid digestion), bicarbonate soda (for excess acid), or betaine hydrochloride capsules (for deficient stomach acid). For more information, see the article: Causes and Remedies for Common Digestive Problems.
- Learn your best personal remedies for digestive upsets. You can learn to minimize constipation and diarrhea by using foods, herbs, and nutrients that help to prevent these common ailments and cope with them when they do occur.
- Occasional indigestion, heartburn, bloating after you eat, and flatulence are normal, or at least quite common, and they can be remedied. But, if you have ongoing symptoms of digestive upset, get tested to see if you have food allergies, low or high stomach acid, yeast overgrowth, or bad bugs. Your health care practitioner can order these tests from a specialty lab.
- Support and repair the digestive tract with the right nutrients, such as glutamine and other vitamins and minerals. Remember: Eat a low allergenic diet, find the best foods that feel right to you, and chew your food well.
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