Bye Bye Bloating! Farewell Flatulence!

You might have heard the phrase “rest and digest.” It turns out that eating on the go has a negative effect on digestion! Proper digestion involves our parasympathetic nervous system, which is fired up when we’re relaxed.

Two ways of promoting a relaxed state at mealtime include finding a calm location where you can be still and focusing on gratitude. It turns out that expressing gratitude before a meal may actually improve your digestion by activating your parasympathetic nervous system.

Take a break from inflammatory foods

Sugar, refined grains, and alcohol are all too prevalent in the Western diet and can promote inflammation and wreak havoc on digestion. While an obvious reaction to these foods may be unknown, many people will see improvements in their digestion and overall health if they reduce or eliminate them from their diet. Often, even a temporary break can reduce inflammation and promote healing of digestive tissues, which reduces digestive symptoms and seemingly non-related symptoms such as pain and fatigue.

Drink plenty of water— just not with your meal

We’ve all heard that we should drink more water. For the most part, drinking water throughout the day can improve your digestion, as it helps promote regular and complete bowel movements. However, when it comes to mealtime, put the water away and let that stomach acid do its job.

Drinking fluids with meals can dilute stomach acid, increasing its pH and decreasing its ability to break down our food. Chronically low stomach acid is thought to lead to malabsorption of nutrients, including calcium and iron. Furthermore, disruption in stomach acidity levels can feed pathogenic bacteria, aggravating digestive symptoms.

Embrace fermented foods

An adequate quantity and diversity of healthy bacteria in our intestines is vital for keeping pathogenic bacteria in check and promoting normal digestion. Probiotic supplements can help restore a healthy balance, but they often contain only a few strains out of hundreds of species of bacteria.

Fermented foods, including sauerkraut and kimchi, deliver a broad variety of bacteria to help diversify the microbiome. Including them in the diet helps promote healthy digestion and provides numerous other health benefits.

Get a proper evaluation

If you have digestive complaints that are not easily managed with the steps listed here, or if your symptoms have persisted for years, it might be time to see a health professional and have a proper evaluation.

Potential underlying causes of chronic digestive symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, and reflux include sluggish thyroid; structural problems (including a hiatal hernia); food sensitivities; autoimmune disease; or an overgrowth of yeast, parasites, or bacteria. Proper diagnosis and treatment may resolve the issue for good.