There is no doubt that an individual’s digestive health is directly linked to their physical and mental wellbeing. The onset of imbalances and diseases stem likely from digestive issues and erratic diet.
The right diet is just one part of the equation, while proper digestion is the other, Even if you are eating right most of the times, a lack of digestive power can deter you from absorbing and assimilating the nutrients from your food. In this article, let’s go back through the gastrointestinal tract and learn how to cope with digestive problems naturally.
1. Mouth
The mouth is the first sight of digestion. As you chew your food, your saliva secretes enzymes that help to break down food. This is why chewing your food is of utmost importance and the very first step to solving your digestion problems.
2. Stomach
Once the food is swallowed it passes through the esophagus into the stomach where hydrochloric acid is secreted along with other enzymes to further digest and break down the food. This is the next juncture where digestion problems can arise as most of us have a habit of drinking water and eating simultaneously.
Drink Water After Meals
While a few sips of water is harmless, larger amounts of water can dilute the concentration and effectiveness of the hydrochloric acid-enzyme and interfere with the digestive process. As a result, it can lead to gas, bloating, shooting pain and nutrient deficiencies as the body struggles to absorb vital nutrients.
Always drink water at least 30 mins to an hour after you consume your meals to enable digestion. If you are thirsty right after a meal, have a mouthful, but don’t gulp down cups of water.
Low Stomach Acid
Another common problem at this juncture is acidity and heartburn. A common remedy for acid reflux is popping antacids, but it does not address the root cause of acidity. Rather acidity occurs as a result of a weakening of the gate valve situated between esophagus and the stomach called the cardiac sphincter.
Due to constant stress, eating heavy meals at late night and eating too much, the cardiac sphincter opens up and leads the stomach acid to travel upwards causing a burning sensation. The best remedy for this problem is to refrain from eating heavy meals at the night and give rest to your stomach by consuming meals with a three to four hours gap.
Also, leave out the stress and cast off the scare and anxious thoughts as you sit to eat in a quiet place to focus on your food, thereby aiding its digestion.
Natural Remedy for stomach acid
A natural remedy to improve your acid levels in the stomach is to brew herbal tea and consume it just before your meals. This will help warm up the stomach and revive your digestion power. Here is a quick herbal tea blend recipe:
- 1 Part of Dandelion
- One Part Gentian
- 1 Part Licorice
- 1/2 Part Golden Seal
Instructions:
- Boil these roots and make a powder
- Store it in a container
- Add a teaspoon of this herb mix along with half a teaspoon of chopped or grated ginger
- Simmer in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes
3. Pancreas
In the next step, the food leaves the stomach and starts to enter the small intestine, before which the pancreas release enzymes to finalize the digestion the food. The pancreas release proteolytic enzymes that break down proteins and fat. If the pancreas is not functioning optimally, you can strengthen it by supplementing it with enzymes that include amylase, lipase, and protease. Other potent enzymes include Papain and Bromelain.
4. Small Intestine
As the food enters the small intestine it is ready to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the Villi. One of the most common problems is a leaky gut syndrome or the depletion of the thick turf wall of the small intestine. This wall is filled with friendly bacteria which primarily include the Lactobacillus and Bifidus strains.
Therefore to strengthen the lining of your small intestine it is essential to include probiotics in your diet. Other herbs that can help to coat and soothe the gut lining is Aloe vera and Slippery Elm. A typical dose of slippery elm may include 4 g of powdered bark dissolved in 2 cups of hot water three times per day, according to the intensity of your problem. This potent herb can be used to treat conditions of irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease.
The common food items that act like kerosene to fire and compromise your gut lining is the hybridized wheat (gluten), dairy products and refined sugar. As you include more and more of these items to your diet, it can lead to a weakening of the gut lining. Therefore try to limit your intake of these foods till you are able to resolve your digestive power.
5. Large Intestine
Once the food is absorbed, the excess wastage is passed out of the large intestine out through the colon and rectum. To support the function of your large intestine it’s imperative to eat fiber-rich food, drink water and exercise.
Sipping herbal teas between your meals will also help to aid digestion quickly. A common digestive problem that occurs at this stage is constipation and hemorrhoids. In order to aid your colon to excrete waste, it’s important to follow the PANIC approach – Promptly Attending Nature’s Immediate Call.
A potent remedy that is good for the colon is the application of castor oil compress on your abdomen. Castor oil penetrates deeper than any oil. It eases inflammation and helps to breaks lumps and bumps associated with constipation. Using aloe vera gel topically on hemorrhoids promotes healing and taking an oral aloe latex can help to ease constipation.
The Road to Recovery
The time needed for your digestive power to heal is dependent on how you eat and what you eat. Follow the above natural remedies to improve your digestion and keep diseases at bay. Give yourselves some time to cope with the changes you make and always listen to your body for its natural cues to understand if you are going the right way.