IMPROVE DIGESTION TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH

Good digestion is important for health. Our body needs nutrients from the food we eat (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals) and the liquids we drink in order to stay healthy and function properly.

Your digestive system breaks down and absorbs these nutrients from the food and liquids you consume to use for important things like energy, growth and repairing cells.

The final step in digestion is the elimination of undigested food content and waste products. Waste products are formed during the functioning of our cells. These waste products are toxic and hence need to be removed from our body. If not removed, they mix with the blood and cause damage to the body’s cells.

“Your digestive system is working nonstop to fuel every cell in your body and efficiently remove the waste. Neglecting your digestive system can have adverse effects that influence every part of your life,” cautions holistic health expert Kristen Jakobitz.

Moreover 70% of our body’s immune system dwells in the digestive tract, so maintaining digestive health is crucial to the body’s overall well-being.

5  Easy Ways to Improve Digestion

1.  Reduce stress.Stress can affect digestion and nutrient absorption. When we’re stressed, our stomach is affected too. Stress can slow down digestion, leading to constipation, as the gut muscles may contract less efficiently. It can reduce digestive function, causing increased bowel movements.

Stress also rapidly uses up nutrients in stress responses and it can prevent nutrients from being absorbed.

2.  Chew food well.Chewing helps to reduce stress on the oesophagus and helps the stomach metabolise and break down your food. Saliva also contains digestive enzymes that are released when chewing which assists with digestion. Your mouth releases these enzymes that pass into the throat and stomach which further improves the digestive process.

3.  Hydrate your body – drink water.Water helps break down the food you eat, allowing its nutrients to be absorbed by your body. After you drink, both your small and large intestines absorb water, which moves into your bloodstream and is also used to break down nutrients.

4.  Eat fermented foods.Known as a source of “good” bacteria, eating fermented foods regularly gives your body a dose of healthful probiotics – live microorganisms crucial to good digestion. Our digestive tract is teeming with some 100 trillion bacteria and other microorganisms and fermented foods help to populate our gut with good microbes helpful in digestion. When eaten with healthy fats, fermented foods can help absorb nutrients from other foods and make them easier to digest.

5.  Go for a walk.Walking after eating improves digestion. Walking stimulates the stomach and intestines. This can help food move through the digestive system more rapidly. It can also help reduce bloating, especially for those with irritable bowel syndrome.