Time to digest

Ah, the dreaded food baby. Some of us think this is the inevitable result of gorging ourselves on delicious food, when in fact it can be easily avoided. Poor digestion is one of the main causes of post-feast belly bloating. On a more serious note, faulty digestion can also lead to deficiency and toxicity in the body – the main causes of most diseases.

The digestive system includes the entire path that food and nutrients take on their journey through the body, from the mouth and esophagus to the small and large intestines. It doesn’t matter if you have the best diet or the worst. If your digestive system is not functioning properly it won’t be able to deliver the required nutrition. Chronic fatigue, premature aging, arthritis, poor skin and hair quality, toxicity, allergies, cancer, and many other diseases can all result.

Foods that are not properly digested ferment and putrefy in the intestinal tract and produce toxic byproducts that are absorbed back into the body. Poor digestion is generally caused by insufficient diet, dehydration, eating too fast, not chewing your food and stress. Eating a lot of refined, high-sugar foods instead of fresh, enzyme-rich fruits and vegetables and eating meat and chicken that have been pumped with antibiotics are likely to cause digestive problems.

Food baby be gone! Here are some tips to help digestion:

• Sip on lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in warm water about half an hour before a meal. This can help to stimulate digestive juices and improve the breakdown of food.

• Eat in a relaxed environment and take the time to enjoy your meals. Chew your food properly!

• Reduce stress by practicing meditation and breathing exercises.

• Herbal teas such as peppermint, lemongrass and ginger can help provide relief from digestive discomfort.

• Swap cold salads for cooked veggies. These guys are easier to digest.

• Limit the amount of meat you eat. We humans were not given enough pancreatic enzymes to properly digest meat.

• Eat foods that are high in fibre such as wholegrains, organic vegetables, fruits and oats.

• Swap processed, refined sugar and salt-laden food for organic, fresh fruits and vegetables.

• If you’re experiencing bloating and poor digestion, source a beneficial bacteria supplement to help put the good bacteria back into your body.

Positive affirmation for the day: Today I look beyond the immediate moment of satisfaction and decide what is good for me in the larger picture of my life. Today I have faith and patience and can wait to make loving positive choices.

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Jess Ainscough