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Eater's Digest

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Reminders that the holiday season is approaching become more obvious each day. It is a time when we look forward to celebrating with family and friends, relaxing our routines and indulging our pleasures - sweets, huge holiday dinners, eggnog, wine and celebratory drinks. In order to fully enjoy the season and avoid the digestive distress that our indulgences cause, we have to work a little harder to keep our digestive system happy. Bloating, constipation, gas, diarrhoea, heartburn and reflux are unwanted guests that can ruin our enjoyment. Your digestive system determines what nutrients are absorbed and what toxins, allergens and microbes are kept out. Your digestive system is your body’s engine, turning food into energy by breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates into smaller forms your body can use. A well tuned digestive system can prevent not only digestive disorders but also illness such as allergies, arthritis, rashes, acne, chronic fatigue, cancer, dementia, autoimmune disease and many more. Directly linked to your overall health, a happy digestive system = a healthier you. Adding probiotics and digestive enzymes to your diet is a great way to improve your digestion.

The bacteria in your gut play a critical role in nutrition, development, metabolism, pathogen resistance (immunity) and modulation of your immune system. However, your intestinal flora can also produce carcinogenic, mutagenic and even toxic substances that can cause disease. Intestinal flora imbalances are linked to digestive diseases, heart disease, allergies, obesity, IBS, urinary tract infections, cancer and vaginal infections, to name but a few. A balance between the ‘good and bad’ bacteria in your intestines needs to be maintained at all times for optimal health. When this balance is disrupted by medication, diet, stress, age or disease, it often allows the harmful pathogenic bacteria population to grow.

Supplement your diet with digestive enzymes to get the highest possible benefit from your food. Your body can obtain enzymes both externally from fresh, unprocessed, raw food and internally from your digestive system (digestive enzymes). The big problem with food-based enzymes is that the typical North American diet consists mainly of cooked or heavily processed food, containing no active enzymes. Your body must use more of your valuable internal digestive enzymes to help you digest these cooked and processed foods. This stresses your body and uses more energy than digesting raw food would. You also cannot assume that your digestive system is in top shape 100 percent of the time. Lack of sleep, stress, alcohol and use of antibiotics can disrupt your digestive system and leave you feeling bloated, sluggish and uncomfortable. Enzyme supplementation is critical in the management of conditions such as poor digestion, lactose non-persistence (lactose intolerance), exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and cystic fibrosis. Digestive enzyme supplements can ease food digestion by efficiently breaking it down until it is small enough for absorption. However, don’t kid yourself! Just supplementing with digestive enzymes won’t make up for eating junk food or heavily processed food.

The healthier you live your life, the less stress there is on your digestive system. Try to resist overeating this year and include good food choices.

  • When you raid the buffet make sure that you pick some of the healthier options such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains (high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibers). A good rule is making sure at least one third of your plate is healthy.
  • Try to eat more soluble fiber. It promotes regularity by helping to move waste material through your digestive system. Providing many other health benefits (reduces your risk of digestive disorders, prevents constipation, lowers your cholesterol and aids in weight loss), creatively incorporating soluble fiber supplements into your favourite recipes makes your good food better for you.
  • Drink plenty of water to cleanse your body and prevent dehydration and constipation. Water can also make you feel fuller, preventing overeating.
  • Reduce the amount of saturated fat, salt and sugar (all types of sugar) that you consume.
  • Natural nutrients such as papain, cayenne pepper, lemon, marshmallow root, rosehips and slippery elm can help digestion.
  • Minimize the use of drugs and antibiotics by using natural remedies whenever possible.
  • Try to reduce the stress in your life. Some digestive disorders often arise from too much stress.
  • Take time to enjoy the company as well as the meal. Pausing for conversation and slowing down the meal allows you to digest what you have eaten and realize you are no longer hungry, in effect allowing you to eat less.
  • Make an effort to go for a nice walk after eating a big meal and set aside time for regular exercise - even during the holidays. It offers you a healthy outlet, releases endorphins and gets your blood circulating, all which help you feel good. Exercise also helps reduce stress.

Integrating small changes in your life can help you preserve good health and fight off any illness, allowing you to not simply survive the holidays but to enjoy them even more.

 

Joel Thuna & Claude Gallant
~ Joel Thuna MH, is a master herbalist with over 30 years of experience. Claude Gallant holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Calgary.


Comments (2)

Julie
Said this on 12-21-2009 At 11:55 am

Hi Joel,

Great article. Most people suffer from uncomfortable digestive problems like gas and bloating when they could simply take a digestive enzyme before they eat to alleviate these symptoms. A Canadian company called Digestive Wellness has a supplement called digest which breaks down gluten in addition to fat, sugar, starch, dairy and beans. As well, they have a product called heal, which restores good bacteria in the gut.  www.digestivewellness.ca

Reply to this Comment
Nevea
Said this on 11-24-2011 At 09:31 am
Hekucva good job. I sure appreciate it.
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