How To Optimize Your Digestion
Did you know that nearly 74% of Americans experience digestive problems of some sort? Our digestive system has the task of extracting the necessary nutrients from food to fuel the body. It ais the bodies detoxification. It plays a large part in our immune defense team it what is known as gut immunity. Weak digestion equals weak immunity.
Digestion starts before the food enters your mouth. When you smell food, the scent triggers a release of digestive enzymes ready to break down the incoming food. This is why eating consciously is essential for optimal digestion.
There are actually numerous bacteria in the mouth which defend us from bad bacteria entering the mouth. This keeps bad bacteria at bay. Bacteria like S. mutans are linked to tooth decay, plaque and can eventually enter the bloodstream and cause other harm. Overexposure to pesticides can drastically reduce the number of beneficial bacteria in the mouth. This is why eating organic and rinsing your produce can maintain oral health. By consuming food with pesticide residue, you will knock out lots of good bacteria which defend you from these harmful bacteria. By consuming lots of sugar in your diet you are fueling the growth of bad bacteria. The result is cavities, plaque and other oral issues.
Farmers which were exposed to lots of pesticides had significantly lower beneficial mouth bacteria.
The same problem occurs when using alcohol mouthwashes. The alcohol kills both the good and bad bacteria in the mouth. Some of the beneficial bacteria in your mouth create nitric oxide, so alcohol mouthwash can have a bad effect on your stamina.
There are a few herbs that enhance digestion. Fennel, coriander, cumin, cardamom and ginger may help fire up your digestion. They will increase your bile flow and promote healthy bacteria and digestive enzymes.
Here is what you need to know about fiber. There is soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Fiber is nondigestible by the human body and therefore does not give you any nutritional value. However, they are healthful for other reasons. Soluble fiber is soluble in water. It slows absorption of fat and sugar in the gut. Oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, peas, physillium husk and some fruits and vegetables contain soluble fiber. Eating too much soluble fiber can pull out too much water from the gut and dehydrate it. Also, over consumption of soluble fiber can result in extra slow absorption of fats and sugars and cause constipation as well.
Insoluble fiber does not mix with water. Insoluble fiber is found in wheat bran, whole grains and many fruits and vegetables. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to the stool and speeds up the time spent in your gut. It also maintains a balanced pH of the gut. It helps remove toxins through the colon, it scrubs the villi in the intestines and prevents constipation.
Another important factor in digestion is probiotics. The bacteria in our guts are vital players in our digestion. Eating prebiotic soluble fiber can promote the growth of good bacteria. Slippery elm, marshmallow root, licorice root and baobab fruit are just a few examples of prebiotic fibers that promote the growth of healthy bacteria. Also, adding fermented foods to your diet will increase both your prebiotic and probiotic intake. Take a spoon or whatever you can handle, right before eating a meal.
If you have any digestion tips, feel free to let us know.
Digestion starts before the food enters your mouth. When you smell food, the scent triggers a release of digestive enzymes ready to break down the incoming food. This is why eating consciously is essential for optimal digestion.
There are actually numerous bacteria in the mouth which defend us from bad bacteria entering the mouth. This keeps bad bacteria at bay. Bacteria like S. mutans are linked to tooth decay, plaque and can eventually enter the bloodstream and cause other harm. Overexposure to pesticides can drastically reduce the number of beneficial bacteria in the mouth. This is why eating organic and rinsing your produce can maintain oral health. By consuming food with pesticide residue, you will knock out lots of good bacteria which defend you from these harmful bacteria. By consuming lots of sugar in your diet you are fueling the growth of bad bacteria. The result is cavities, plaque and other oral issues.
Farmers which were exposed to lots of pesticides had significantly lower beneficial mouth bacteria.
The same problem occurs when using alcohol mouthwashes. The alcohol kills both the good and bad bacteria in the mouth. Some of the beneficial bacteria in your mouth create nitric oxide, so alcohol mouthwash can have a bad effect on your stamina.
There are a few herbs that enhance digestion. Fennel, coriander, cumin, cardamom and ginger may help fire up your digestion. They will increase your bile flow and promote healthy bacteria and digestive enzymes.
Here is what you need to know about fiber. There is soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Fiber is nondigestible by the human body and therefore does not give you any nutritional value. However, they are healthful for other reasons. Soluble fiber is soluble in water. It slows absorption of fat and sugar in the gut. Oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, peas, physillium husk and some fruits and vegetables contain soluble fiber. Eating too much soluble fiber can pull out too much water from the gut and dehydrate it. Also, over consumption of soluble fiber can result in extra slow absorption of fats and sugars and cause constipation as well.
Insoluble fiber does not mix with water. Insoluble fiber is found in wheat bran, whole grains and many fruits and vegetables. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to the stool and speeds up the time spent in your gut. It also maintains a balanced pH of the gut. It helps remove toxins through the colon, it scrubs the villi in the intestines and prevents constipation.
Another important factor in digestion is probiotics. The bacteria in our guts are vital players in our digestion. Eating prebiotic soluble fiber can promote the growth of good bacteria. Slippery elm, marshmallow root, licorice root and baobab fruit are just a few examples of prebiotic fibers that promote the growth of healthy bacteria. Also, adding fermented foods to your diet will increase both your prebiotic and probiotic intake. Take a spoon or whatever you can handle, right before eating a meal.
If you have any digestion tips, feel free to let us know.
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