In this day and age, there seem to be pills for just about everything. People everywhere are striving to improve health so they can look and feel better, but what about their digestive health? It happens to be a fact that digestion is such an essential part of health that it can even affect your skin health. Fortunately, some people have foreseen many of these issues and provides natural solutions for digestive problems. To get you started, the following article will be exploring food and supplements to help with your gut health.
It almost seems strange to include fiber as it’s something that you find in most natural foods, but today’s processed foods remove the majority of fiber, creating what’s called a “food-like” product. Fiber is important for keeping the portions of the digestive tract like the large intestine free of waste particles that can cause pockets to form in the lining of the intestines. Fiber also has soluble components that help lower cholesterol by attracting free floating fat particles in the blood stream. In all cases, fiber is essential for keeping things clean, so taking eating more fiber can help.
Some foods high in fiber are:
- Legumes
- Nuts and seeds
- Whole grains
- Leafy greens
- Avocados
- Root vegetables like parsnips and beets
- Vegetables with an edible stem like asparagus and broccoli
- Onions and garlic
- Berries
- Apples
- Citrus fruits
- Sweet potatoes
- White potatoes
Enzymes
These little chemistry enabling components of the body are one of biology’s most amazing achievements. When you ingest food, the food has to go through a process of being broken down into its most basic parts in order for your body to be able to convert it into fuel and for use as raw materials when it comes time to build new cells. Each type of enzymes has a specific job that it must do in order to keep you alive, so it should be understood that an absence of these important pieces could spell disaster for your limited carbon-based form. Sometimes illness and prescription medication can kill off essential enzymes, so a small dose of them can help you get back to normal and help repair digestive damage.
There are thousands of enzymes in the human body, here are just a few examples:
- Lipases – a group of enzymes that help digest fats in the gut.
- Amylase – helps change starches into sugars. Amylase is found in saliva.
- Maltase – also found in saliva; breaks the sugar maltose into glucose.
- Trypsin – found in the small intestine, breaks proteins down into amino acids.
- Lactase – also found in the small intestine, breaks lactose, the sugar in milk, into glucose and galactose.
Antifungals
Fungus in the body is never a good thing. While having some around and in you is nearly inevitable, it’s a good idea to do what you can to prevent the buildup of dangerous fungus like candida yeast. These yeasts can grow and disrupt digestion. They can even cause severe illnesses, and contribute to conditions that lead to even more serious diseases. Ingesting foods like garlic, coconut oils, and ginger oils are all helpful at killing any nasty fungus in the gut.
Working with a practitioner can help you tailor your diet and protocols. If you’re ready to work with someone to help you create a personalized protocol, I’d love to hear from you. You can book a complimentary consult below to tell me more.
