A good diet to start with, backed up by good digestion and absorption, as well as healthy gut microbiota, good gut-wall integrity, and good elimination.
Most digestive problems are consequences of one or more of the following issues:
Poor digestion
Poor absorption (increased gut permeability)
Poor protection (dysbiosis (disruption to the microbiota homeostasis caused by an imbalance in the microflora), inflammation, food intolerances)
Poor elimination (clogged up colon, liver toxification problems)
To a very real extent, digestive problems are a silent epidemic and a major cause of discomfort in our modern world. The consequences of having digestive problems are much more far-reaching than most of us realise. They can lead to:
Arthritis
Headaches and migraines
Sinus problems
Skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis
Infections
And many more common diseases not usually connected to digestion.
Restoring digestive health is, without doubt, one of the keys to a long, healthy and happy life.
So how can you achieve it?
Step 1: Improve your digestion
Eat the right foods, in the correct amounts and combinations. This means eating whole, unrefined, chemical free foods that your digestive system is designed to work with, digest and absorb.
The easiest way to test and correct and digestion is simply to take a digestive enzyme supplement with each meal for one week. Find one that provides the following:
Amylase (carbs)
Invertase (sugars)
Protease (protein)
Lipase (fats)
Alpha-galactosidase (pulses)
Glucoamylase/ amylo-glucosidase (greens)
Lactase (dairy)
If you find substantial relief, keep going for as long as you need to, or adjust as necessary to take with your main meals only when you eat foods you find hard to digest, such as beans or greens.
Step 2: Improve your absorption
Improve your gut integrity. The easiest and fastest way to do this is by taking two teaspoons of l-glutamine powder; one teaspoon at night in water just before you go to bed, and one teaspoon on rising, waiting an hour before you eat. Do this for one week.
Step 3: Improve your protection
Re-inoculate your gut with healthy bacteria. The cornerstones of good gut microbiota are Acidophilus or Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Try products containing these, and also avoid alcohol.
Step 4: Calm inflammation down
If your gut is in an inflamed state, the best way to calm it down is to eat a healthy diet, free from foods that you are intolerant to. Try foods that contain some of the following important ingredients:
Omega-3 fish oils: Eat oily fish two or three times a week; especially important for vegans. Also try Chia seeds.
Turmeric: Of all the natural painkillers and anti-inflammatories, turmeric is the best all rounder
Quercetin with bromelain: Quercetin Is a potent anti-inflammatory found especially in red onions but also other foods
MSM (sulfur): Found In onions, garlic and eggs; is vital for healthy methylation, which is the master control function of the body and required for nutrient absorption
Vitamin C: a natural antihistamine. Histamine is released when the body reacts in an inflammatory way, so vitamin C helps to calm this down. People with incredibly sensitive digestive systems may need to take an alkaline form of this slightly acid vitamin, such as magnesium ascorbate. Magnesium also works as an antispasmodic
Step 5: Eliminate food allergies
If your body has developed sensitivities and intolerances to certain foods that currently trigger an immune based antibody response, the first step is to stop trying them, calm down the situation. Get yourself tested for ICG antibodies reactions against certain foods, and then you can eliminate them.
Step 6: Improve elimination
Finally, to encourage healthy elimination, increase your intake of soluble fibres. You can do this by using diet, so eating out based foods and chia seeds. However, if this is a sticking point for you, you may want to take a teaspoon or the equivalent number of capsules or glucomannan or a glucomannan-based soluble fibre, always with a glass of water immediately before each meal.
The Vintage Salon Team x