Digestion is one of the most important functions in the human body. Unfortunately, it also seems to be one of the functions that is often disregarded. It would be impossible for me to give an accurate number of the people I know that suffer from digestive issues that could easily be remedied with just a few minor changes to their lifestyle.
People seem to take digestion for granted. We assume that whatever we put into our bodies will be broken down and passed out with no problem at all. So we stuff ourselves with unhealthy foods that do not contain the nutrients our bodies really need, and are instead filled with products that we are not really equipped to digest. Then we sit and wonder why we constantly have a bloated gut, uncomfortable and embarrassing gas and other digestive issues we’d rather not face.
The Functions of the Digestive System are complex and have a delicate balance. Too often, we neglect to maintain that balance and our systems pay for it. Digestion may begin with eating food and end when we eliminate it, but there is a great deal more that happens in between. When we neglect to pay attention to that process, it can get ugly. Very, very ugly!
Fortunately, there are some things we can do that will not only make our digestive systems function better, but will also help to overall improve our health. Here are two simple health secrets that you need to know about your digestive system that if followed, will help keep things flowing smoothly.
There is More Than One Kind of Fiber
Many people are actually unaware that there is more than one kind of fiber. I don’t know how many times I have heard people complain of digestive problems like constipation and heard them say, “But I eat plenty of fiber.”
First of all, “plenty of fiber” is subjective. What one person deems as “plenty” may actually be an extremely inadequate amount. Secondly, the type of fiber they are eating may not be benefiting them at all. In many cases, people are consuming SOLUBLE fiber like oats, nuts, barley, etc. While soluble fiber is important, it should only make up about 25 percent of the fiber you consume. The most important fiber to consume is INSOLUBLE fiber, which is actually what helps to move waste through the colon and keeps pH levels regular in the intestines. Insoluble fiber is found in vegetables, fruit skins, and whole wheat products, and should consist of at least 75 percent of your daily fiber intake.
Supplements Are Your Friend
These days, most people are seriously lacking the correct balance of nutrients and enzymes the body needs, and digestive enzymes are no exception. Fortunately, Digestive Enzyme Supplements can easily be found for you to take daily which will help aid in healthy digestion.
Many times these naturally occurring enzymes are depleted in the body from poor diet and other unhealthy lifestyle practices. Contrary to what you may think, some bacterias and enzymes are your friend! Taking a supplement that contains these enzymes will help your food to better be digested, which will remedy many digestion problems you may be suffering from.
While these two simple facts certainly shouldn’t be secrets, they are important facts that many people are unaware of. By making sure that you get the right amounts of both types of fiber, and by taking a quality supplement that will help restore digestive enzymes to your body, you will really be surprised at how many digestive issues will suddenly disappear.
Digestion should be a smooth and easy process. If it’s not, I highly recommend you incorporate both of these tips into your life. You’ll be amazed at the difference, and won’t be able to wait to share these digestive “secrets” with everyone you know!
Article written by Lisa Smegal of Healthy New Age, wellness web site.
The aim of Healthy New Age is to help you discover how to improve your health so you can increase your chances of not needing holistic remedies or conventional medicine in the first place. Thus, you will find a great deal of information here on nutrition, fitness, stress-reduction, and many other wellness topics.
Tags: digestion, Digestive Health, fiber, insoluble fiber, soluble fiber
