(Newswire.net — October 3, 2020) — There is no denying it. Our modern way of eating wreaks havoc on our digestive system. Processed, fatty, salty foods build up in our system and make us feel tired and bloated. Since the digestive system is the source of all of our nutrients, if your digestion is out of whack, your whole body is going to feel off.
The good news is there are several ways you can naturally take control of your digestion and improve your overall sense of well being.
1. Modify your eating times.
Your digestive system works best when you are upright. When you lie down, food and digestive fluids can settle in your esophagus, causing heartburn.
When you sleep, your levels of many hormones drop, causing your intestines to work less effectively. This may cause you to store more of what you eat as fat, but can also lead to gassiness and other types of indigestion.
Eating earlier in the day, and fasting for several hours before bedtime may help your digestion and your sleep.
2. Find out if you have any food sensitivities and avoid them.
It seems like common sense to avoid foods you may be sensitive to, but many people have sensitivities they aren’t even aware of. If you continually have digestive issues like bloating, cramping, or gas, you may have an undiagnosed food sensitivity. The easiest way to figure it out is to do an elimination diet.
To complete an elimination diet, strip your diet down to a few low impact foods- things that have a very low incidence of sensitivities, like grilled chicken breast. Eat nothing but those few foods and drink nothing but water for several days.
When you know your gut has leveled off on the diet you are on and you don’t have symptoms of digestive irritation, add a few items back into your diet. If you have any reaction, you are likely sensitive to one of those foods. Rewind to the prior level of foods you know are okay and add just one item, of the few. If no reaction, add the next.
Do this until you figure out which foods cause a reaction, and which ones are safe.
3. Drink plenty of water.
Water is key to properly flush your digestive system. Without adequate water, your stool will be too compact, your kidneys slow down, and your general feeling of well being is impacted.
It also reduces the room in your stomach for other things, so drinking plenty can help with overeating and heartburn.
4. Take supplements to aid in gut health.
Depending on your diet, you may have a deficit of certain vitamins and minerals that aid in digestion.
Analyze your eating patterns or get a blood test from your doctor to determine if you need to take a vitamin D, a B vitamin complex, or vitamin E supplement. It is always helpful to eat yogurt or consume a probiotic to help maintain a healthy gut biome. Those good bacteria in your gut are vital to breaking food down efficiently.
You can also consider an herbal supplement like gut check. Herbal combinations can help stimulate your intestines to work and help your whole digestive system to work more efficiently. This will help you get more nutrients without a lot of the bloating, cramping, and gassiness. Since these supplements are plant-based and natural, your body is already adapted to utilize them.
Digestive health is something that most of us could stand to improve. Luckily, the steps to make your digestion more comfortable and efficient are not difficult for most of us to do.