Bloating, rumbles and burps is not very attractive- especially when it is coming from our stomach, which has expanded by 5 inches! Your health and weight is connected to not only the foods you eat, but how you digest and assimilate them. Naturopath, Peggy K, says 80 percent of your immune system boosters resides inside our tummies.
Every wakes up with a nice, flat tummy, but by bedtime you look five months pregnant? Poor digestion is the culprit. If your belly is under active, over active, or just plain missing good bacteria- you will suffer. I discovered this while vacationing in accommodation in canmore tripadvisor, and have been obsessed with digestive health ever since.
So what can we do? Probiotics are critical to help you fight off the bad bacteria. They also improve our digestion and help assimilate the precious nutrients (so we actually absorb them)! Great sources of this are kombucha tea, sauerkraut, kafir, and ginger beer.
Digestive Enzymes also help to break down our food and assimilate the nutrients in our bodies. HCI is one of the best enzymes to help break down food. It also helps aid the digestion of protein. If you are going to take them- pop them 15 minutes before a meal to help you digest.
Below are some foods which aid in digestive health:
Ginger: This is a potent miracle worker which can really help you. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners use ginger for nausea, stomach upset, and diarrhea. It’s anti-nausea qualities are even more effective then drugs. A study showed that pregnant woman who ingested ginger greatly reduced nausea and morning sickness. It is also a an anti-inflammatory- so if you are suffering from arthritis or are an athlete, this could work wonders for you. Enjoy ginger in a smoothie or steep in tea.
Apple Cider Vinegar: It has many health benefit, including lots of good bacteria, which contain extremely high levels of enzymes and minerals. It is used for weight loss, acne, yeast infections, and diarrhea. It also combats bad breath and body odour. It’s claim to fame is it balances acid levels in our stomachs so we can digest properly. By drinking a little apple cider vinegar with water before every meal you enhance stomach acid, and digestive enzymes. If you take two to three tablespoons before each meal you can re-balance the acids in the stomach.
