Obviously, most people eat and digest their food each day without thinking about it. But many people also suffer from digestive issues: bloating, upset stomach, constipation, heartburn, and more. Thousands of dollars are spent each year on over-the-counter and prescription medication meant to combat problems that are often caused by busy lifestyles that lead to poor food choices and eating quickly. Rather than purchasing chemicals to help your body’s natural process of digestion, here are a few easy things to do to bump up the effectiveness of your body’s ability to extract nutrients from food and process waste.
First, you might want to consider the speed at which you ingest your meals. Do you eat fast, perhaps at a desk or in your car? Shoving food down causes two major problems. One, you’re not savoring the food, or “eating in the moment,” which usually means you eat more than your body needs. Slow down, add something pretty to the table, enjoy the flavors and textures of whatever you’re eating, and you’re more likely to stop when full.
The second problem with nearly inhaling food is that you don’t have time to chew properly. Digestion begins in the mouth as saliva starts to break down food. When you swallow barely chewed food, the rest of your system has to work harder to get the fuel it needs from that food, which can cause bloating or other intestinal issues, and you’re likely to lose out on some of the important nutritional assets. Try taking smaller bites, putting utensils down to rest between bites, or counting the number of times you chew each bite to ensure your food gets off on the right foot, so to speak, down your digestive tract.
Some other recommendations for improved digestive function include drinking plenty of water, a lack of which can cause constipation. Fiber is another nutrient you’ll want to make sure you get enough of to keep your digestive system working its best. Dark green vegetables, beans, lentils, dried and fresh fruits, and seeds such as flaxseed all provide good doses of healthful fiber.