Do you feel like your food is just sitting in your stomach for hours after you eat? Or is the opposite happening, and you are running to the bathroom before you have even finished your meal? You are not alone, and there are things you can do to improve the situation. Here are ten steps to take now to get things moving properly through your gut:
Food Combining – When foods are combined properly, they shouldn't sit in your stomach and make you feel bad. Food feeds the bacteria or microbiome that everyone has to reside in their digestive tract. To combine food, you need to balance proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats.
Fermented Foods – These are naturally fermented foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, pickles, etc., that, when eaten, will feed the good bacteria in your gut and balance your inner ecology.
Enzymes and Probiotics – help with the digestion of their food and build up their immunity.
Water – We all know we need to drink plenty of water. A little-known Ayurvedic trick is to drink a glass of water 15 minutes before your meal. This will get your digestive juices flowing and your food will get digested better.
80/20 – This rule is to eat until you are 80% full. That leaves 20% of the room left in your stomach for your digestion to work. No one likes that uncomfortable full feeling and your tummy will thank you if you stop just before you are full.
Eat Loads of Fiber – Your body needs fiber to carry out toxins, excess hormones, and junk. Eating lots of water-soluble fiber, found in veggies, will ensure that you get plenty of fiber. Just don’t forget step #4! Drink lots of water, too, so that you don’t end up with a bulky stool.
Short Fasting Period – Don’t worry, I am not suggesting that you don’t eat for a day. What I am suggesting is that you take some time between meals. Give your system about 2 to 3 hours to let the food get assimilated. When your gut is constantly bombarded by food all day long, it gets confused and doesn’t work properly. Give it some time to work on that last meal before you head to the kitchen for a snack.
Cut Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates – These foods will increase inflammation and could cause good bacteria in your gut to not flourish and remain healthy. Avoid them for less gas and bloating – and you don’t want the insulin spike that comes with them either.
Gluten – A large percentage of Americans are gluten intolerant and do not know it. Try going without and see if your digestion works any better.
Bone Broth – The #1 most soothing and healing drink that you could ever ingest. Homemade bone broth contains all of the nutrients you need to heal your gut if it is leaky and also provides the minerals you need for strong bones. It’s a win-win, must-consume food!
If you incorporate some or all of the tips, you will ease into better digestion and the tummy troubles should disappear unless there is another root cause that needs to be explored.