We’ve all heard about the benefits of eating nutritiously, from boosting energy to preventing disease. But what you may not know is that without proper digestion, your body is unable to absorb essential nutrients from your food.
Here are some of the basic rules of digestion:
👉 RESET, REBUILD, REPAIR:
➢ Reset by removing irritating foods & stimulants (like coffee/tea, alcohol, dairy, gluten, refined sugars and processed foods) from your diet ➢ Rebuild by replacing nutrient-poor foods with whole, natural, nutrient-dense foods like leafy greens, berries, nuts/seeds, saturated fats (e.g. coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil), and Omega-3 foods (e.g. salmon, walnuts) ➢ Repair by considering a high-quality multivitamin, an Omega-3 Fish oil supplement, digestive enzymes and probiotics. Take steps to increase your exercise and improve your emotional health (stress shuts down the digestive system!).
👉 SLOW DOWN & CHEW YOUR FOOD
👉 BE MINDFUL WHEN YOU EAT: Pay attention to your food and note when you feel full. Avoid eating in front of the TV or computer.
👉 EAT SMALLER MEALS.
👉 INCREASE FIBER from food sources like flaxseeds and vegetables to promote proper elimination and detoxification of the body.
👉 AVOID EATING TWO HOURS BEFORE BED To allow your liver time to do its fabulous job of detoxifying your body.
👉 AVOID DRINKING WATER WITH MEALS. Water dilutes your stomach acids, preventing proper digestion.
👉 DRINK WARM LEMON WATER every morning 20 minutes before you eat breakfast (this is an important one!)
👉 CONSIDER FOOD COMBINING If you suffer from cramping, gas or bloating after meals (PM me for details on this, if needed).
✅ Taking small steps like these to improve your digestive health can have positive effects on your entire body, from your immune system to your mood and memory.