The function of the digestive system is to break food down and turn it into the right chemicals for the body to use. Although the process of food breakdown begins the moment food enters your mouth, the stomach is where the body's breakdown of food really gets serious. This is where an adequate secretion of acids and enzymes is very important. Without them, food particles can not be broken down sufficiently. They begin to ferment and putrefy, causing many health problems. But there is more to digestion than just acids and enzymes. For digestion to proceed in a smooth and timely manner there needs to not only be plenty of enzymes to dissolve food, but adequate fiber to stimulate good peristalsis in the intestines, and good intestinal flora to absorb the nutrients into the blood. A deficiency in any one of these important components:
digestive enzymes
intestinal flora
fiber
...can cause a great deal of distress.
As we age, our stomach produces less hydrochloric acid and fewer enzymes. Besides that, intestinal flora can easily be wiped out by a course of antibiotics, a difficult or prolonged illness, processed foods, even chlorinated water.
As we grow older, our pancreas produces fewer digestive enzymes, and we become less able to unlock the nutrient content, vitamins, and minerals from our food. Enzymes help digest toxic waste and gases from everyday metabolism. Enzymes are vital for breaking down proteins and processed foods, which might otherwise ferment and putrefy in the digestive system. Undigested foods tax our bodies, sap our energy, and encourage the overgrowth of yeast, fungi, and parasites. Ample quantity and quality of digestive enzymes are needed to break down, process, and deliver essential nutrients if we expect our body to maintain good health. However, we eat so many processed, fatty foods and maintain such high stress levels, that our body often can't make enough enzymes to keep our digestive and immune systems functioning efficiently. When our enzyme stores dip, we begin to experience digestive disorders and chronic and lifestyle diseases. Enzyme supplements can provide the digestive support needed to promote and maintain overall digestive health. Enzymes Explained
Friendly bacteria
Millions of good bacteria live within your body, helping you in a whole host of ways. Among the most important of these are those that dwell in your intestines, aiding the digestion of food, and even helping in the manufacture of some nutrients, including B vitamins. Some natural internal bacteria also help to control levels of other microorganisms in the body, such as those that cause thrush.
Unfortunately, when antibiotics are fighting bacteria they do not discriminate between bad infection-causing bacteria and the friendly bacteria that actually assist our well being. This often means that a course of antibiotics can severely deplete the body's natural populations of friendly bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis.
And if you've ever used antibiotics, you may be familiar with the gastrointestinal upset that can sometimes result, with symptoms such as diarrhoea among the most typical. A temporary inability to tolerate dairy products is another common side effect.
Antibiotics aren't the only things that can effect our internal balance, though. Alcohol consumption can take a toll, and even stress can be a factor. Whatever the cause, restoring our populations of friendly bacteria is something many of us can benefit from.
Flatulence and bloating
The digestive process always produces gases – primarily hydrogen and methane – and everyone experiences some level of flatulence. However, what you eat has a big impact on how much gas you release; increased intake of non-absorbable, fermentable carbohydrates like those found in fruits and vegetables can almost double your body's production of gas.
The mix of intestinal bacteria in your body can also influence the level of gas produced as you digest food. Different gut bacteria produce different levels of gas, with those that produce methane causing less trouble than those that produce hydrogen. An acidophilus supplement can aid your gut bacteria balance.
Aside from diet and gut bacteria, though, there are other factors that can cause excessive gas production, such as specific food intolerances. An intolerance for milk products is a particularly common example.
Salt & Spices
Salt plays an important part in the primary processes of digestion and absorption. Salt activates the first enzyme in the mouth, salivary amylase, and sodium chloride (salt) stimulates hydrochloric acid production, a secretion needed for digestion. It is also important in keeping the proper balance of salt to potassium in the body.
But salt has gotten a bad name just like the conspiracy against cholesterol and fat intake. But most salt consumed today is not good for health since it is highly-processed and is loaded with heavy metals and other harmful substances.
The best salt to consume is a good ocean sea salt that is hand-harvested, unprocessed, certified, and contains a natural balance of minerals. One such salt is Celtic Sea Salt, which is very similar to the chemical make-up of our own blood and also provides electrolytes along with over 80 minerals.
Adding Celtic Sea Salt to your diet is the best way to obtain trace minerals. An excellent electrolyte drink is simply pure water with about 1/4 teaspoon of Celtic Sea Salt for every 6 ounces.
Minerals – The best way to obtain minerals is:
By consuming a balanced diet
By taking calcium/magnesium supplements
By drinking good filtered water that contains plenty of minerals, along with at least 1-1/2 teaspoons of ocean sea salt, which contains over 84 minerals, i.e. Celtic Sea Salt, Himalayan, etc.
Electrolyte Drink : 1/4 teaspoon of ocean sea salt and the juice of 1/2 of a freshly squeezed lemon added to 6 ounces of filtered water - drink 6 times a day (drink 3 of those glasses with meals to aid digestion).
Mineral Dose: Take a minimum of 1-1/2 teaspoons of ocean sea salt per day in addition to good filtered water that contains minerals.
To improve digestion the following initial steps are recommended:
Some basic guidelines to improve digestion
Sit down and eat
Eat slowly
Chew well
Don't wash your food down
Don' t eat too much
Observe food combining principles
Eat whole, natural foods without additives, colorings and preservatives
Eat foods you aren't allergic to
Avoid raw vegetables until digestion has improved, except for lacto-fermented vegetables, which are actually pre-digested
Use spices liberally when cooking, and add ocean sea salt to foods after they are cooked
Drink about 3-4 ounces of the electrolyte drink (lemon juice and ocean sea salt in water) just before you begin to eat a meal, and sip the remainder of the 6 ounces throughout the meal
Eat at least 1 tablespoon of unheated sauerkraut or kimchi with each meal
Take digestive enzymes as needed
If the chyme (mixture of food, water and enzymes) coming out the stomach does not contain enough stomach acid, digestive enzymes and liquid it will not sufficiently trigger digestive enzymes in the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestines. Some foods stimulate stomach acid production, but sometimes it is necessary to also take digestive enzymes.
Electrolyte Drink
6 ounces pure water
the juice of 1/2 lemon (freshly squeezed)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt (Celtic or Himalayan)
Stevia sweetener to taste (optional)
Mix all ingredients together in a 6-ounce glass.
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