Too hard to digest

If your body were a ship, where would the control room be? Without a shadow of a doubt, the most important part of the body, which controls everything, is the digestive system.

Inside your abdomen lies the most intricate and complex system which is the core of your health. If anything goes wrong with your digestive system, the rest of the body will suffer.

The health of your digestive system will affect just about everything. It affects mood, behaviour, skin, energy, headaches, detoxification, and more.

When you get nervous, you get 'butterflies in your stomach'? That happens because the brain and the gut are linked. And vice versa. Whatever happens to your tummy will affect your brain.

So let's talk about all the things that people are too embarrassed to mention. Almost everyone I talk to suffers from some form of digestive unrest. Constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, gas, indigestion, heartburn, haemorrhoids, you name it.

Any of those symptoms ring a bell with you?

The interesting thing is that digestive problems seem to be very common in Bahrain and the Middle East. But what's more interesting is that many people with digestive problems suffer in silence or adjust to the issue as something that they have to put up with.

Many have had the symptoms for years and have learned to 'bear' with them. And others have resorted to over-the-counter remedies that have various side-effects that they're most probably not aware of.

Some have even told me that their digestive problems run in their family, so they expect to have them.

Well, first of all: digestive problems are not inherited genetically. If anything, you probably inherited the eating and lifestyle which caused them, and that's why you have them too.

Secondly, if you were to come to me for a nutrition consultation and ask about what food and supplements are good for your health, I would not even proceed forward until I make sure your digestive system is in top shape. If you are not digesting and absorbing the foods you ingest, then even the most healthy organic meals in the world will not help you.

So, how do we heal the digestive system?

We have to backtrack a little. You must first find out what has been damaging your digestive system in the first place. I'll give you the list and you tick the items that apply to you.

The digestive system can be affected by food factors such as refined white products (i.e. white bread, white rice, etc), sugars, dairy products, spicy foods, and chewing gum. It can also be affected by what you drink, for example coffee, milk, alcohol, and fizzy drinks. In addition, it can be affected by medicines and antibiotics, as well as stress, anger, and even toxins.

From the long list mentioned above, you can see that the digestive system is sensitive and the things you put into it can and will affect it.

But there is a plus side. The great thing about the digestive system is that it is constantly striving to stay well. So, there are some things you can do to help it out. The first being water. Water is the best for washing out any toxins and adding regularity to your bowel movements. This helps rid the digestive system of any unwanted stuff that might harm it.

Another great addition to make is fibre. But I'm not talking about the horrible wheat bran that you find in cereals. Wheat bran, although great at relieving constipation, is very harsh on the digestive tract and can sometimes act like wood shavings on a sensitive gut; it can increase irritation. So, stick to gentle fibre from fruits, vegetables, and salads; and you can also try oat bran or flax seeds.

Probiotics are another must for all digestive problems. These are the friendly bacteria that reside in your digestive system and act as protection for the whole area. You need them to stay healthy, but remember that they get affected by junk food, spices, antibiotics, and even airplane pressure. So make sure to replenish your body with probiotics supplements.

Some other great stuff for your digestion include Aloe Vera juice (not the greatest taste but very powerful healing effects from the inside out). And my personal favourite: a simple home remedy for constipation: one tablespoon of flax seeds soaked in water overnight and drunk on an empty stomach in the morning. Works wonders.

As a general rule, when you find that you are having problems digesting certain foods, you should also think about why that problem is occurring. For example, two people could be eating the same thing but only one gets affected negatively. This could be due to the food eaten (especially if it's from dairy products), but it could also be something wrong with the digestive system receiving it. So, before you start eliminating food and ending up with only a handful of items that you can tolerate, work on healing your digestive system.

Don't eat late at night. Fast from sunrise to sunset to give your digestion a break. Take up exercise. Chew slowly. Don't drink during a meal. And don't eat fruits or sugars immediately after a meal.

For more information, to book a seminar, or to join my personal mailing list, go to www.AliaAlmoayed.com