HEALTHY EATING HABITS

Once in a while, we all have digestive problems, whether
it’s bloating, flatulence, belching, nausea or indigestion. However, if these
problems occur regularly, it’s a message from your body that needs to make some
changes. What one need to understand is that what we eat is not us and we are
only what we can digest and absorb. If you are not absorbing the goodness from
your food, you simply don’t have the raw materials needed to make the rest of
your body work. Initially, this can mean low energy, poor skin, headaches,
clouded thinking and food allergies, and you can end up with various ailments,
ranging from rashes and arthritis to ulcers and colitis.

Here are easy to implement suggestion to improve your digestion;

Take time to eat.
Wolfing down your food does not do you good. It is very important to chew
it because, as you chew, messages are sent to the digestive tract to
prepare itself for the food that’s on the way. In fact, just taking the
time to look at and smell what the enzyme process is on your plate gets
started. Without this enzyme action, you can begin to feel quite heavy
after a quickly- eaten meal.
When stressed
don’t eat. Your digestion is the first thing to shut down when you’re
stressed or worried. When we’re stressed, our bodies expect areal physical
danger and utilize the energy that’s earmarked for digestion to get our muscles
ready for action. So again, take time to eat and enjoy. Walking, talking
or even just standing also diverts this digesting energy, so sit down.
Don’t overeat.
It’s very easy to eat too much when you are eating for the sake of it.
Over eating can lead to fermentation, gas and digestion. So enjoy your
food and you’ll realize that you start eating the amount you need.
Don’t drink too
much at meals. For people with digestive problems, anything more than a
few sips of water with their meal can dilute their stomach acid and
compromise digestion. Drink your daily two liters between meals instead.
Avoid refined
carbohydrates. You don’t need to be told that things like sugar, white
bread, pasta, cakes etc, aren’t good for you, but if you have digestive
problems, they can be twice as bad. Because refining takes away beneficial
fibre, these foods cause a surge of acid in the stomach, giving you that nasty
feeling. Go for high- fibre foods like vegetables, beans and whole grains
instead.
Avoid antacids.
Antacids can provide temporary relief by neutralizing the acid in the
stomach, but this acid is one of the things needed to break down food in
the first place. It is better to deal with the cause of any burning
sensation, especially since some antacids can make the stomach produce
even more acid once the effects have worn off, creating a nasty vicious
circle.
Exercise.
Exercise not only improves nutrient absorption, but also stimulates the muscles
that keep the movement of food and waste matter through the gut in good
working order. A more efficient gut means less constipation, diarrhea and
bloating.
Consider food
intolerance. Sometimes the foods we crave are the very ones that make us
ill. While dairy produce and wheat are known “allergens”, others include
tomatoes, citrus fruits, eggs, coffee and gluten. The best way to identify
your problem food is to eliminate the suspected item from your diet for
two weeks, re-introduce it, and note any changes.

Nutrition