Today I want to talk about the connection between digestion and your overall health and how important it is to live a life full of vitality as well as what you can do to improve your digestive system. There’s a strong link between digestion and your overall health and happiness.
These days, a lot of people have digestive issues. Several factors can cause digestive issues, all of which contribute to the unwanted health symptoms you’re experiencing.
To describe the relationship between digestion and overall vitality, I’d like to use the term “vicious cycle.” Everything is connected in this life. The worse your digestion is, the lower your vitality is, and when you have low vitality, your digestion is not at an optimal level.
When indigestion occurs, you won’t be able to absorb all of the vitamins and minerals properly. An unhealthy digestive system can impair your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, store fat, and regulate blood sugar, as well as put a strain on your organs. The longer you suffer from indigestion, the more detrimental it is to your health and vitality.
You eventually develop vitamin and mineral deficiencies, resulting in various health issues. Indigestion also puts a lot of strain on your body, both physically and mentally. You will be unable to function well and will not look your best.
To improve your digestion, you must change your diet and lifestyle. Let’s go over all of the essential tips for better digestion.
Stay away from junk food.
Stop eating foods that are bad for your health, such as those containing preservatives, additives, hormones, and steroids. Too much junk food will increase the amount of toxins in your body, making it more difficult for your body and organs to filter and eliminate them.
The more you use your organs, the more energy you waste. Therefore, poor choices can lead to a decrease in overall energy.
Consume Organic Foods
Eat as much natural food as possible. Eating foods in their natural state is more nutritious and easier to digest. Natural foods do not require your body to work harder to digest.
Chew Carefully
Whatever you eat, make sure you chew it thoroughly so your body doesn’t have to work too hard to break it down. Chewing well requires less work on your digestive system.
To break down your food, you need adequate stomach acid. The less you chew and swallow solid food particles, the more stomach acid needs to be used by your body. In the long run, you may suffer from a lack of stomach acid, which will impair digestion.
Consume Fruits and Vegetables
Eating enough fruits and vegetables is important for your digestive health because you need vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that help you digest your food.
Eating enough fruits and veggies also prevents acidity and maintains a high alkaline state in your body, which will help you avoid illnesses and infections. As a result, always include a serving of fruits and vegetables in some of your meals.
I recommend including pineapple, papaya or apples. Pineapple contains fair amounts of digestive enzymes. Watermelon juice is the other favorite drink that I consume with my meals.
Drink enough Water
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and keep your bowel movements regular. If you don’t drink enough water, you won’t be able to get rid of the waste in your colon.
Drink plenty of water first thing in the morning before going to the bathroom. First, use the restroom, then eat breakfast if you can.
Drink a glass of water before each meal rather than during your meals. In the long run, you may suffer from a lack of stomach acid, which will impair digestion.
Drinking too much water right after a meal is also a bad idea. Just enough to jug the food down. It also depends on what you are eating. After a meal, I would wait at least 60–90 minutes before drinking any liquids.
Based on my research and experience, everyone reacts differently. Try to figure out what works best for you in terms of how you feel after meals.
Avoid or reduce fried or oily foods.
If you avoid fried and oily foods in particular, your gall bladder and liver will thank you. Consuming fried and high-fat foods puts a strain on your digestive system and organs. To break down the fat, you’ll need more enzymes and stomach acid.
The most common side effects of eating high-fat foods are fatigue, heartburn, and bloating.
The more high-fat food you consume, the worse your digestion will become. Although some people can tolerate fatty foods, you should listen to your body. Excessive fried foods can also cause constipation.
Consume Enough Fiber
One of the most common causes of digestive problems is toxicity and constant overload in the colon due to a continuous bad habit of eating unhealthy and unnatural foods.
As a result, eating fiber-rich foods daily to keep things moving and avoid constipation should be a priority. The digestive system suffers more if you are constipated. Vice versa.
On average, you need around 30 to 40 grams of fiber per day, depending on how many calories you consume daily, whether you’re a woman or a man, and your body weight. Furthermore, remember to drink enough water.
Get enough rest.
Your digestive system doesn’t function properly as your body becomes more tired. When you don’t get sufficient sleep, your digestion weakens, making food digestion more challenging. Sleep is so underrated. Sleep quality has a significant impact on digestion, energy levels, and mental well-being as it affects mood and cognitive thinking.
Sleep deprivation can result in a lose-lose situation. You may not feel great, and it could be challenging to make the best and right choices. Concentration, memory, and motivation are all impacted. As a result, strive to improve your sleep quality in order to improve your digestion and overall quality of life.
Avoid Cold Weather
The colder it is, the more your body uses energy to resist it. This can be damaging to your digestive system and weaken it. Remember to bundle up and stay warm. To put it another way, avoid thermal stress.
Reduce Stress
The main causes of your digestive problems are a combination of stress and eating the wrong foods. Avoid stress at all costs if you don’t want your stomach issues to worsen. Yoga and meditation can be beneficial for reducing stress and relaxing. When you’re stressed, try not to eat a large meal. Stress inhibits the digestive system’s ability to function properly, resulting in indigestion and suffering.
Matt M. Eccles is the founder of Vitality and Happiness Blog. He is a philosopher, psychology enthusiast, wellness and digestion expert, author, and world traveler who is passionate about helping others reach and experience optimum health, true happiness, and increased vitality. The purpose of this website is to motivate and inspire people to handle life’s challenges. Uplift and encourage you to succeed in life and be happy and healthy, increase life quality, and become the best version of yourself.