Problems with Digestion

You may have heard that "You Are What You Eat ."  Amend that to "You are what you eat and absorb!"  Many people who eat a healthy diet experience diseases caused by their failure to absorb and utilize nutrients.  Whether you suffer from constipation, diarrhea, IBS, acid reflux, heartburn, ulcers, diverticulitis, colitis or Crohn's disease, consider the important basics below.

Key to Digesting with Ease

Eat Mindfully   
● Ask yourself before you eat, "Am I Hungry?"
● Sit down at a table and take the time to be slow your breathing, be grateful for what you have.
● Chew your food until solids are liquid in your mouth
● Savor the aroma, taste and texture of what you are eating.
● Stop when your stomach is comfortably full, not stuffed.

Check for Signs of Insufficient Enzymes or Stomach Acid
● Gas, bloating and burping after meals ● Indigestion ● Bad breath
● Upset stomach, diarrhea ● Iron deficiency anemia ● Weak, brittle or pealing nails, Osteoporosis ● Dry hair and skin ● Dilated capillaries in the checks or nose 
 
With all the advertising for antacids and proton pump inhibitors (those little purple pills), you'd be surprised to know that 10-15% of people suffer from Hypochlorhydria--not enough stomach acid to digest protein and absorb important minerals. Once in our mid-thirties, acid production begins to slow down to where perhaps half of people 50 and older are deficient in stomach acid.

◦  If you have some of the symptoms listed above, take a tsp. of apple cider vinegar in 4 oz. of water before you eat to observe whether your digestion improves .

◦  Having a salad with bitter greens of herbal bitters at the beginning of a meal can stimulate your body to produce more digestive juices and end your symptoms.

Identify Reactive Foods

If eating mindfully and correcting for imbalances in digestive enzymes and stomach acid haven't relieved your digestive symptoms, take a closer look at the relationship between the specific foods you are eating and the unpleasant reactions you get.

Here are 2 simple techniques to help you identify what's causing your distress:

1.  Keep a detailed food and beverage diary and note any physical or emotional reactions after eating.  Watch for patterns.

Common culprits include:  white flour, white sugar, sugar alcohols (manitol, xylitol), artificial sweeteners, soda, coffee, fried foods, deli meats, wheat, dairy, soy, tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate, peppers, peppermint.  Eliminate any other suspects.  Sensitivities can be quite individual.