Maintaining Healthy Digestion

Your digestive health is more important than you may realize. It is at the center of your wellness because it is how your cells get the nutrition they need. It is also plays an important role in controlling your mood and protecting your body against harmful bacteria and toxins. If your digestive health is compromised, it can result in acid reflux, indigestion and inflammation. If your digestive health is not optimal for a long period of time, it can result in more serious health conditions. Here are some tips for maintaining healthy digestion.

Stomach Acid

You start the process of digestion as soon as you think about, or smell, food. Your mouth begins secreting saliva that helps break down your food. And your stomach starts producing stomach acid that plays a role in digestion. It's not uncommon for some people to have low stomach acid. Low stomach acid can cause food to sit in your stomach longer until it begins to ferment, and can result in heartburn. To determine if you have enough stomach acid, you can see a functional medicine doctor or try a simple home baking soda test. Mix ¼ tablespoon of baking soda with 4 – 6 oz of cold water and drink it first thing in the morning before drinking or eating anything. It should make you burp or belch within 3 minutes. If it takes longer than 5 minutes, your body likely produces insufficient stomach acid. If that is the case, you can take a HCL supplement.

Enzymes

Your pancreas releases enzymes that are used in your small intestine to break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Pay attention to how you feel after eating certain foods to see if you would benefit from digestive enzymes. For example, how do you feel after you eat a meal high in fat or raw vegetables. You are probably very aware that some people have problems breaking down beans that results in gas. If you notice that you're having problems breaking down a type of food, you can take a food specific enyzme supplment (like Beano) or a general digestive supplement. As always, the quality of the digestive enzyme supplement is key to whether or not you will notice results.

Healthy Liver

Your liver works closely with your digestive tract to help remove toxins from your body. There are three categories of toxins. A) Environmental, like polution. B) Lifestyle, like household and personal care products. C) Internal which includes excess hormones and metabolic byproducts. If your liver is not functioning properly and your body can not eliminate theses toxins, they are stored in the fat cells in your body. You can help your body remove toxins by eating plenty of fiber, drinking lots of water, and by moving your body regularly.

Gut Barrier

Your gut barrier is a thin layer of cells that allows healthy nutrients to enter your blood stream while keeping toxins and undigested foods out. This thin layer of cells can be damaged by stress, toxins, allergens, and unhealthy bacteria. The damage causes what is known as leaky gut or intestinal permeability. Over time, the damage done by the unhealthy substances entering your blood stream can cause inflammation and lead to health conditions. A good functional medicine doctor can help you determine if leaky gut is an issue for you and what the cause/s are.

Gut Microbiome

Your body is comprised of a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria known as a microbiome. This balance of bacteria exists in places like your skin, mouth, and gut. Your gut microbiome, located in your large intestine, is responsible for the production of important vitamins and the final breakdown of your food. If your gut microbiome becomes out of balance, it can lead to an overgrowth of bad bacteria which can have serious negative health consequences over time. One of the simplest ways to make sure you are getting plenty of healthy bacteria is by taking a high quality probiotic supplement or consuming fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt, pickles, miso, tempeh and sauerkraut.

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