YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT, YOU ARE WHAT YOU ABSORB, AND THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS WHY DIGESTION IS KEY.
I used to struggle with bloating, belching and really bad fatigue post-meal. Rarely passing up an afternoon nap or an additional cup of coffee was the norm for me, sound familiar?
Did you know bloating, belching and fatigue can all be linked to a compromised digestive system? Here I’m going to discuss why digestion is key, how it works and some tips to get your digestion back on track.
The goal of digestion is to reduce food to molecules so small that the nutrients can be absorbed and used by the cells of the body.
Digestion only works when the body is in a PARASYMPATHETIC (relaxed) state.
This is why it is important to sit, relax and enjoy your meal. If you are eating on the go, standing up, looking at a screen (big or small), reading, or are upset, it is hard to properly digest your food.
Digestion is a north to south process. It starts in the brain where it is triggered by the sight, sound, and smell of food. This begins the production of saliva in the mouth which is the first place that food begins to be broken down, or digested.
This is why it is essential to really chew your food well. Chewing your food ensures better digestion. The enzymes in saliva break down the nutrients and help pre-digest them so that the stomach and small intestine don’t have to work so hard.
The stomach is designed to be the only highly acidic environment in the body. This allows proteins to be properly broken down. It also kills any pathogens that we may ingest.
Every cell that makes every tissue that makes every organ that forms your entire body depends on your digestive systems ability to properly digest and assimilate the nutrients you are consuming. It is absolutely vital the digestive system functions properly so as to support the rest of the body’s organ systems for optimal health. Digestion is directly related to immune function, mental health, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular health, hormone function, detoxification pathways, and so much more. Frequently, poor digestion is at the root of chronic health challenges.
How you can optimize your digestion:
+Take one minute to breathe before you eat so your body can create adequate stomach acid to properly digest your food.
+Eat sitting down, don’t multitask when you’re eating
+Reduce drinking water during your meal (this reduces stomach acid production)
+Take digestive enzymes before your meal (I love these)
+ Chew each bite for 30 seconds
