3 Tips for Better Digestion
There's nothing worse than improper digestion. No one likes bloating, discomfort, or any of the other symptoms that come along with digestive distress. Today, I'm sharing my top 3 tips to help ease your digestive problems!
1. Chew Your Food
Chewing is what sets the stomach up for proper digestion. It sends the signal to the stomach that food is on the way, and that the digestive process is about to begin. Plus, when we thoroughly chew our food, we place less stress on our digestive system to do the work for us, thereby easing our digestion. Aim to chew each bite of food 20 times. It will take time and practice, but chewing is the best thing you can do to better digest your food!
2. Eat Real, Not Fake, Food
Our bodies know how to digest real, whole food. These foods have nutrients that help our bodies grow and thrive. However, if we have improper digestion, or aren't eating enough real food, these nutrients don't have a chance of nourishing our bodies.
Aim to eat 6 or more servings of vegetables per day, along with tons of healthy fat (avocados, butter, coconut oil, nuts) and meat, eggs, and seafood. These foods are properly assimilated by the body, and, unlike processed foods, are actually healing to the body! Processed foods are actually nutrient depleters and are often full of chemicals and additives that our bodies don't recognize (hello fake fiber!). Avoid processed, refined, and packaged foods as much as possible for the best digestion.
3. Use a Digestive Enzyme
A digestive enzyme is a capsule containing helpful enzymes that assist your stomach in breaking down proteins, fats, and carbs. Usually the capsule is taken before each meal as an aid for digestion. The brand I recommend is Source Naturals, and can be found in stores and online. This is one of my top tips for my health coaching clients who are struggling to digest their foods properly or are switching to a real food diet after years of eating only processed foods. Sometimes, your stomach just needs a little love and support!
When it comes to your digestion, it is a topic that shouldn't be taken lightly. If you suspect you have more serious digestive problems than these tips can help, I highly suggest seeking the help of a holistic doctor or keeping a journal of your symptoms and what you are eating. This can provide amazing insight into what foods may be problematic for you! Other options would be to complete a 21 Day Sugar Detox (more information at 21dsd.com) or a Whole30 (more information at whole30.com). Both of these "challenges" would help you reset your digestion, health, and get back on track!
xoxo Olivia
