Chewing your food 100 times…seriously? – Week 22 of 52 Weeks of Wellness

/in

Continuing our journey down the digestive tract, here are a few more tips to assist with digestion. One of my downfalls is that I’m a fast eater. Remember, our stomach doesn’t have teeth so you need to chew thoroughly. The old rule that your grandparents or parents may have instilled to chew 100 times before you swallow is EXTREMELY important to assimilating nutrients. A few more rules of proper digestion is to not read or watch television while you eat. Focus on your food and the amazing wealth of nutrients it is providing (assuming it is!) and enjoy.

One of the reasons I LOVE my Vitamix is that it breaks the foods down for me to release the nutrients to ensure I am receiving everything that I can. If you are not juicing today or making smoothies, I encourage you to try it. Check out my video (can be viewed here) for this super simple starter smoothie.

To assist with proper digestion:

• Eat raw vegetables with every meal preferably organic
• Consider juicing or green smoothies
• Relax, eat slowly, chew well and appreciate your food.
• Consider using a digestive enzyme
• 6-8 glasses of purified water daily (flush toxins)
• Consuming a little lemon juice or apple cider vinegar may help
• Pineapple and papaya are rich in digestive enzymes.
• Consider a fast, juicing or elimination diet.
• Consider liver, colon or gallbladder cleanses.
• Teas of the following can be beneficial: peppermint, ginger, anise, fennel, and chamomile.
• Take a plant-based digestive enzyme specific to your needs. Urinalysis Testing can help you determine which specific enzyme you need to best support your body. We provide healthcare professional grade products (vegan and gluten-free) which are much more powerful and usually safer than conventional retail products.

P.S. Hidden food allergies or sensitivities can trigger issues that often snowball so please, please stop masking and ignoring the body’s cries for help. Common problem foods are dairy, wheat, corn, eggs, preservatives and additives. Symptoms vary from person to person ranging from minor stomach discomfort, skin problems, etc. to more severe bloating, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea.

Let me know what changes you made this week. Are you taking time to chew your food? Or did you make a green or fruit smoothie? Tell us in the comments below!

Week 22 Action Step:

Reduce digestive stress by slowing down to chew your food (yes, 100 times), by putting real thought in to what you are preparing and serving and by avoiding problematic foods. Easing the digestive stress is as simple as taking it one suggestion at a time and implementing one thing at a time. Just start now and continue to make those positive changes.