8 ways to improve your digestion.
You may already be following a clean eating regime, but you're probably not absorbing all the nutrients from your food unless your digestive system is in order.
About 70% of our immune system lives in our digestive tract, and a healthy digestive system also means a healthy metabolism and more stable weight. Here are a few simple and effective tips to keep your digestion flowing and your body glowing
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- Drink plenty of water (but not with meals).
It's best to drink water 15 minutes or more before you eat and 30 minutes or more after you eat. Drinking water before and after meals will help reduce excess gas and bloating (add Herbalife concentrated Aloe drink for cleansing, increased hydration and aid digestion).
- Eat veggies anytime, but fruit on an empty stomach.
Enjoy eating vegetables anytime as their high fibre content will help support your digestion. However, try enjoying your fruit on its own because the sugar in fruit can disrupt the digestive process.
- Add warm lemon water to your morning routine and tea to your night-time routine.
Begin your day with warm water and juice from half a lemon to balance acid levels in the stomach and stimulate gastric juices (add Herbalife instant herbal beverage with tea extracts for an extra antioxidant and energy boost). End the day with a steaming Cup of tea: chamomile to soothe your bowel; peppermint and fennel to help relieve gas; and dandelion, burdock, and milk thistle to help liver detox.
- Eat slowly in a relaxed environment.
Take time to enjoy your food, try to chew each bite 20 to 40 times. Digestion begins in the mouth, and saliva contains enzymes that helps breakdown food before it enters your digestive system. The longer you chew your food which is exposed to your saliva, the easier it is for your body to absorb its vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
- Cut back on inflammatory foods.
These add to intestinal inflammation that can disrupt healthy got balance and slow your digestion. The main culprits are gluten, dairy, and highly processed foods.
- Eat bitter fibrous foods.
Bitter foods like dandelion greens, Kale, and artichokes enhance digestion by stimulating the release of stomach acid. High fibre foods such as whole grains, beans, and legumes also support digestive health by increasing stool bulk and softness (add Herbalife Oat Apple fibre powder mix. Delicious, sugar free with 5gms fibre/serving). Some forms of fibre also ferment in the intestine and provide a food source for gut bacteria. These include Jerusalem artichokes, chicory, garlic, onion, leak, shallots, asparagus, snow and green peas, and beetroot.
- Manage your stress.
Stress has a direct effect on digestive health. When you are under stress digestive muscles may exert less effort, resulting in less digestive enzymes being produced. Your body and mind need time to rejuvenate and reboot. Make time for relaxation in your daily routine and aim to eat your last meal at least three hours before bedtime.
- Keep moving.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day supports the lymph system and moves stagnant energy through your body. If you can't fit half an hour in everyday, do whatever you can, when you can. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk or bike to work, take a walk during your lunch break. The mixture of movement and gravity helps food travel through the digestive system, and frequent low-level activity like walking can encourage healthy digestion.