One of the most common complaints among people today is poor digestion.
This becomes even more distressing when personal issues like poor
digestion develop into social issues like bad breath. The signs and
symptoms of digestive imbalance are important as we learn to listen to
our body.
Learning to listen
Imagine you had to write a book describing in detail how the ecology of
our earth functions – how the rain cycle works, photosynthesis,
biodiversity, seasons, and so on. Now imagine you could use only 100
words. Would that be a challenge? Absolutely!
Your body has only a few words in its vocabulary. See how many you can name:
- Fatigue
- Pain – sharp or dull
- Bleeding
- Constipation or diarrhea
You get the picture. Your body must communicate an infinitely complex
system with just a few “words” in the form of symptoms. So, we need to
listen carefully when our body speaks to us.
The heartbreak of halitosis
Digestion begins when we feel the sense of hunger and anticipate
satisfying our needs with certain foods we crave. When we see and smell
those foods our anticipation is heightened and we begin to secrete
digestive juices in preparation for eating. Our mouth may water; this
is because digestion begins in our mouth when we chew food and mix it
with saliva.
It is important to thoroughly chew our food in order to neutralize the
carbohydrates found in absolutely everything we eat. One reason why
some people have bad breath (halitosis) is because they just don’t chew
their food well enough to neutralize the carbs. It may also be the sign
of a more serious health condition.
Slow down when you eat. You will enjoy your meal more, have sweeter breath and digest your food better.
Vitamins and digestion
Our intestines are teeming with trillions of bacteria – most of them
friendly! These bacteria are needed to help us utilize our vitamins and
minerals. The vitamins and minerals from our food are often not in the
form we need them. They must be converted through several steps in
order for us to get the benefit from them.
A good example of this is B-12.
- Vitamin
B-12 must first bind with protein and be digested in the stomach with
pepsin, which is a combination of enzymes and acids.
- B-12 must be “tagged” for identification by another
stomach protein called intrinsic factor. When B-12 reaches the small
intestines, certain friendly bacteria begin to convert this complex. So
now we have B-12, intrinsic factor, protein and bacteria all combining
to prepare our vitamin for transport into the liver.
- When B-12 reaches the liver it is bound to fiber and
secreted through the bile back into the small intestines. More bacteria
break down the vitamin into even smaller fractions.
- This is repeated several times throughout our digestive
cycle until the bacteria and fiber ferment the B-12; once the B-12 is
fermented it can be absorbed by the liver. This may take up to three
weeks.
Any imbalance in this system will result in
indigestion of B-12. Any sign of indigestion or imbalance is a major
red flag, warning that you are not digesting your vitamins, especially
Vitamin B-12. These signs can include: - Excess acid
- Bloating
- Gas
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Bad breath
Take care of your digestion by eating nutritiously. Be sure to include:
- Water
- Fiber
- Probiotics
- Vitamin B-12
- Proteins
- Healthy carbohydrates
- Healthy fats
Remember, your digestion can also be impaired by stress. So consider
ways to reduce your stress, and supplement your diet with adaptogens
to protect digestive health from stress. And don’t forget the joy of
eating. Joy is really a sign of acceptance. Acceptance is essential for
emotional health as we learn to listen to the subtle language of our
body.
Take Control of Your Health
- Eat slowly
- Chew your foods to liquid
- Combine your foods correctly
- Eat high-fiber, high water-content fruit and vegetables:
- 5 servings for children
- 7 servings for women
- 9 servings for men
- Supplement with probiotics like Digestive Complex
- Add fiber to your diet to reach 35 grams minimum
- Help reduce stress and increase acceptance!
|
Learn More...
This site is prepared and presented by member #13122467 Larry Sayer |
|
