Some basics of GI Health, by Dr. Kelley Barnes-Valdes
If you have ever seen a naturopath, you have probably
realized that much of your health has to do with how well you digest your
food. There are many components to this,
but the basic pillars of digestive health are balanced gut flora and the
production and excretion of your stomach acid and digestive enzymes.
In order to keep your
flora in check you can eat fermented foods like pickled vegetables, yogurt,
kimchee, kombucha, or kefir. If you
don’t have a palate for the sour side of things, then rotating through
different probiotic supplements is also a good way to support your digestive
health.
There are also several things you can do to get your
digestive juices flowing. Squeezing a
lemon into your water and drinking this before a meal will stimulate stomach
acid secretion. The same is accomplished
by drinking apple cider vinegar diluted with water before meals or adding
vinegar to your salad. The stomach acid
increases the secretion of all of the other digestive enzymes so that your food
will get broken down properly. If this
is not enough, your doctor can help you choose a digestive enzyme that is right
for you. Also remember that if you chew
your food thoroughly, your stomach and intestines don’t have to work quite as
hard to get your nutrients into your body.
These simple steps will lead to a healthier digestive system
and thus improved overall health.
