10 Tips For Improving Digestion Right Now (And How To Overcome IBS Naturally)
Millions of Americans suffer with gastrointestinal symptoms every day, with some of the most common GI symptoms being:
- Bloating
- Gas
- Cramping
- Constipation (less than one to two bowel movements per day)
- Diarrhea
- Pain
- Heartburn
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Ulcers
And an overwhelming majority of these people don’t know why. Perhaps you’re even one of them.
You’ve come to the right place, though!
We’re going to discuss now why improving digestion is important and how you can get on the path to healing.
Improving Digestion: The Key To Good Health
The key to good health stems from a balanced diet that is appropriate for your unique constitution; effective digestion; nutrient absorption; and regular elimination.
It seems so simple, yet so many people suffer from poor health as a result of poor digestion.
Digestion is literally the cornerstone of our health. If we are consistently having any discomfort or problems, something is wrong.
We must look deeper to heal the root cause, not just the symptoms, or we will have to deal with a laundry list of subsequent health issues down the road.
Poor digestive health can lead to the following health issues:
- Weakened immune system
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Hormonal and endocrine imbalances
- Decrease in organ function
- Increased toxic load for the body to deal with
- Metabolism dysfunction (how effectively the body can convert food into a usable form of energy)
Not trying to scare you, but this is important to be aware of.
Speaking of awareness.
Millions of people dealing with digestive issues have been told by their doctors at one point or another that they have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). In fact, this is one of the most commonly diagnosed “dis-eases” related to digestion in our country.
In our opinion, IBS is not a diagnosis, but rather a stopgap to finding the root cause. If not handled appropriately, it will lead to exponentially worse dysfunction in the body.
If You’ve Been Told You Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome…
When someone comes to us with IBS, we suggest looking for intestinal permeability (leaky gut syndrome) and pathogens, such as bacteria, parasites, yeast (Candida Albicans), and fungus.
Also, i’s important to test for food sensitivities—not food allergies, but sensitivities. A food sensitivity might not produce an overt outward reaction such as breaking out in hives, but it does lower the immune system and irritate intestinal lining, making it more susceptible to microbial invasion.
Over time, consistent consumption of these foods will wear the body down (if the gut is not fixed). Nine times out of ten, it is one or more of these issues that must be addressed and resolved for total recovery to happen and optimal health to be achieved.
We should all take stock to improve digestion on a daily basis as a barometer of our total health.
This is our one life to live. Why not live it the best that we can?
With that said, read on for our top 10 recommendations to improve your digestive health immediately.
10 Tips For Improving Digestion Naturally Right Now!
- Avoid the use of NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin, Advil, or Motrin. They thin the lining of the gut. Instead, use natural remedies like Boswellia and Turmeric.
- Limit alcohol intake to three to five drinks per week or, preferably, less. Alcohol irritates and damages the stomach.
- Avoid chronic stress. Evaluate where it comes from and take steps to minimize it in your day-to-day life. It is possible.
- Avoid unnecessary medications and stomach aids. Instead, take a two-ounce shot of Braggs Raw Apple Cider Vinegar for heartburn or acid reflux. It will stimulate increased hydrochloric acid production, as well as shift your pH to a more alkaline state.
- Take a good, multi-strain probiotic.
- Try the Ayurvedic herb triphala for gentle, natural, and effective relief of constipation. It can be taken daily and consistently and is non-habit forming.
- Do not combine fruit and grain together (i.e., oatmeal and blueberries). Fruit should be eaten alone because it digests the quickest. When we add grain to fruit, the fruit is forced to wait in the intestines, which makes it ferment and cause gas. Regular gas leads to yeast overgrowth and an imbalanced pH, both of which are linked to cancer.
- Take a good superfoods green supplement for daily cellular detoxification.
- Get an IgG blood test for food sensitivities and allergies. Know and avoid the most common allergens: wheat, pasteurized dairy, non-organic corn, soy, and eggs from chickens fed corn or soy products.
- And last, but certainly not least, avoid poor dietary choices. Don't restrict yourself completely, but rather follow our 80/20 rule and put your health and well-being first!
Want To Learn Even More About Improving Digestion Naturally?
Take a deep dive into gut health with Christa in our free educational webinar that will teach you her “5 Steps To Gut Healing.”
If you suffer from any of the digestive symptoms we’ve discussed in this article, please know that you don't have to suffer anymore.
Watch our gut healing webinar to find out how you can begin improving your digestion today!
thanks for sharing with us.
Hollister : Nouvelles chemises à carreaux pour la rentrée .
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Hello JMH,
Thank you for your thoughtful insight. We totally agree. Gelatin is a crucial ingredient to help the entire system and is very helpful in helping the body recover from metabolic devastation. And yes, HCL pills are more helpful for some. Thank you again for reading our blogs.
One of the important ingredients in stock is gelatin. Like in jello. You can supplement it by itself if you can’t get enough stock into you.
Also, apple cider vinegar is awesome, but if you drink it straight it can wear at your teeth. HCl pills help a lot, and are contained until the acid is in the stomach where it belongs. 😉
Some people just have problems digesting fructose, period. If eating fruit by itself doesn’t help, try switching to melons or other fruit that’s more glucose than fructose.
great tips Christa! Thank you for sharing!
Using what Christa is calling stock is very important. As a food for sale I call this Broth. My product The Flavor chef’s genuine Chicken bone broth is available in the freezer of Jimbo’s markets in San Diego, And many others… Markets visit . www. bonebroth.com for a list and more info on this amazing health giving elixir
“Thanks for your comment, Cesar and congratulations on beating IBS and getting healthy again. I definitely believe in Homeopathy and am glad to consider this as another option.
Kate, thanks for your comment and support!”
“Hi Natalie,
You should wait about a half hour after eating fruit before eating something else. However, I am not a fan of just eating fruit first thing in the morning because it sets up blood sugar instability and a slow metabolism for the day. Healthy fat and protein is the best way to get started, saving fruit for a mid-am snack.”
“As a Fitness Professional, it is so refreshing to read this. THANK YOU Christa for the invaluable article – much needed in today’s society. So many articles focus on solely ‘what’ to eat or what to ‘not eat’, lacking the pertinent piece you weave in – HOW to eat and ensure that your body is assimilating all the nutrients it needs to function at its optimal peak.
Keep up the amazing work.”
“I suffered for years with IBS symptoms and found that what I ate really affected me though it would differ at different times. I really found avoiding the things you mentioned to be helpful but also found that besides the probiotics I was advised that I needed prebiotics for bowel repair, which I took from something called Healthy Bowel Support. But when it really all turned around was when I added in homeopathy for what I had been dealing with. I used the IBS kit with it in it (www.diverticulitisinfo.com) for about 3 months and have been symptom free since then, though I am still careful to choose my foods carfully and avoid alcohol.
Homeopathy works if you work with it; many say, it did not work for them, I believe that if you are very carful in taking the homeopathic remedies as you are told they will work and they work. It is Amazing!!! I feel so much better my life is more balanced; I am still responsible for taking care of myself; but I’ve got the help I, for so long needed.. Thanks!!
Cesar”
How long should you wait after eating fruit before eating anything else. I’ve been eating fruit first thing in the morning, but am not sure how long I should wait before I eat something else as sometimes I’m still hungry.