Are you suffering silently from digestive issues?
May be its heartburn, acid reflux, constipation or irritable bowel syndrome. Here are six steps that you can take to make your digestive system healthier.
1) Stay hydrated with water:
Water, as opposed to sugary drinks or caffeine, is essential for not only the digestion of the food you eat but also the passage of waste through the bowel. It helps prevent constipation which can lead to inflammation in the intestine.
2) Probiotics:
Your gut has hundreds of bacteria floating around in it to keep it healthy. At times of stress, illness or after antibiotics, the gut flora levels can drop. It is always a good idea to regularly take probiotics, to boost not only your digestive system but it will also help with your immune system. There are loads on the market but we actually make our own kefir which contains at least 12 different types of probiotics. When mixed into a smoothie the whole family benefit from it.
3) Reduce Stress
Your autonomic nervous system (the division that influences the function of your internal organs) has two branches the parasympathetic and sympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for fight or flight (your stress response). The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for rest, digestion and reproduction. As a rule, the parasympathetic and the sympathetic nervous systems cannot both be functioning at the same time. The last thing your body is concerned about is reproduction, digestion or rest when you are being chased by a scary monster. So, if you want to improve your digestive system function take steps to reduce stress.
4) Fill Up on Fibre
High-fibre foods are one of the best ways to clean up your digestion. Not only will it keep you regular, but it can also help you lose weight and prevent heart disease. Foods high in fibre include beans, whole grains, avocado, broccoli, nuts, apples and pears.
5) Chew, chew and chew some more:
The digestive process starts in your mouth as food from your mouth will find its way to your stomach via the oesophagus.
Rushing through a meal slows down your digestion. Take the time to eat slowly by taking smaller bites and chewing twice as long. This can also make you feel full quicker so you won’t over eat. Eating your meals on schedule every day is also a great way to keep your digestion on track. Try to set meal times that are practical for your day-to-day life.
6) Get adjusted:
Your nervous system controls your digestion system function, which means that every time that your nervous system gets stressed, your digestion suffers. Spinal adjustments carried out by a chiropractor helps reduce the stress response in your body. The bowel itself is heavily innervated and any interference in the communication between the brain and the digestive system and vice versa can cause symptoms such as bloating constipation etc. During our years in practice it has been common place to see instances of people of all ages who have not had a bowel movement for days’ experience almost immediate relief after an adjustment. Regular chiropractic care can help patients establish a more natural rhythm of comfortable, effortless digestion and elimination.
Dr Ellen Finnegan
Chiropractor at Clane Chiropractic
If you are suffering with digestive issues why not join Dr Ellen for Novembers Body Signals Workshop ‘Eliminating Digestive Issues @ Clane Chiropractic on Wednesday 23rd November @ 6.45pm. Click the link below to register for your complimentary place (places are limited to 15 guests).
