Yeah, sure...we eat, gulp, hiccup, burp, hear our tummies grumble, wince in abdominal pain every once in a while, fart, wee & poo...(sometimes in that exact order) but yet I have to say... I've not thought much about digestion beyond that. Is there really healthy digestion vs. non-healthy digestion? Could it really actually BE any different if I did things differently? I never thought so before now.
As I was listening to some information on digestive health, I realized a few things...it sounded mostly like "Ah-ha!", but the rest of it sounded like this:
Did you know???
- You should have 2-3 bowel movements/day if you are eating 2-3 regular meals/day? They should be effortless, odorless & you shouldn't feel icky after...you should feel healthy and clean.
- A high fiber diet has a transit time of approximately 30 hours (good), whereas a low fiber diet (only about 20 g) has a transit time of approximately 48 hours (BAD). Unfortunately, the typical diet is very low in fiber.
- When food sits too long in your system, it will begin to rot. What else is it suppose to do...plant a garden???
- Little tiny hairs in the intenstines work to absorb and transport nutrients. Or at least that's how they are SUPPOSED to work. When we eat processed foods & other foods that don't digest well, these hairs get covered up in "goo" and eventually can't absorb anything...even fruits and veggies and other foods that we know are super nutritious go to waste too literally in our system.
So, what can we do everyday to normalize our digestive tracts?
- Exercise everyday ...Duh, right? Seems to be the solution for everything, huh? But seriously...it affects your digestion regulation.
- Drink water ...I know, "tell me something I don't know". Yet ample water supply assists your digestion in ways that maybe you haven't thought about.
- Fish Oil/Omega 3's ...Include fish in your meals 3-5 times/week. ...I know you've heard of Omega 3's, but the excellent source of fat that Omega 3's provide help everything move at a steady pace so that food doesn't sit in your system for too long. And fish oil is good for SO many more things than that!
- Ingest Probiotics ...Foods that are considered "probiotic" are foods that contain microorganisms very similar to those already existing in our guts and especially similar to the bacteria found in breastfed infants (interesting immunity correlation, eh?). These excellent microorganisms, when received in a large enough amount, can create uber healthiness in the host that they work in. Not only that, but probiotics are being used to prevent and treat certain serious illnesses!
- Cleanse the system ...And not all cleanses are created equal. Cleansing is not all about losing a few pounds (although that typically happens)...Remember the goo that's blanketed your innocent little villa? A good herbal cleanse will begin to take care of that and will give the opportunity for your body to absorb the nutrients it needs to.
- Get Fiber ...Sometimes we think fiber is only for us after we turn 60. Not true! Why do you think health nuts push fruits and veggies so much?? That's right, they're naturally loaded in fiber. In fact, a good lot of foods that are natural and whole contain fiber...it's for a reason, people. God had this figured out long before we did.
- Maintain digestive balance with Aloe ...That's right, I said aloe. You know, the plant that mom would tear off and squeeze its guts onto our fresh topical burns? Although we thought our moms were awkward & must have taken on a bit too much of their hippie generation, Mom knew something we hadn't learned yet. It's becoming well known that the healing external properties of aloe are just as beneficial from the inside out. Aloe can soothe a disturbed digestive system and will maintain the peace when used regularly.
Finally,
- Begin to regularly eat healthy, nutritious food. Eat regularly and snack on healthy things often!!
So here's your to-do list for getting back on a healthy (digestive) track...
- Exercise.
- Drink lots of water.
- Eat fish 3-5x/wk or supplement with Herbalifeline Omega 3's.
- Take in probiotics. An adequate amount of fermented dairy (yogurts etc.) or supplement with Florafiber.
- Clean it up! Get back to square 1 in 21-Days.
- Eat fruits, veggies and supplement your fiber if you need to. Remember our goal...2-3 chill & easy stools/day.
- Begin using aloe. My favorite is the Mango. I'm not a fan of the original flavor.
- If you want to begin changing the nutrients that enter your body for meals, feel free to contact me about a 2-day sample pack of protein packed meal shakes, yummy bars and drinks that can aid your daily intake of what your body really needs.
I know it seems like a big list, but you could get everything started today & feel EXCELLENT in no time. Your insides deserve it.
