Many people suffer daily with bad digestion. From heart burn to constipation, these seemingly minor health problems can create major health difficulties if left untreated, or if the underlying issue is ‘covered up’ with long term use of pharmaceuticals.

Digestive disorders are so common, that many people who consume antacids in large quantities don’t even consider themselves to be suffering from a chronic digestive disorder.

Flatulence, tiredness after eating, heartburn, full feeling in the stomach after small amounts of food, bloating, pain, diarrhea, constipation, are common signs of chronic digestive disorders.

Victoria West Naturopath says that ‘Digestion is our cornerstone for good health’. To be truly healthy it is important to be able to digest what we eat and use the energy from these foods effectively to maintain our life and healthy ageing.

Diet therefore is pivotal to good digestive health. Just as there is no “one” herb for people’s digestive complaints, there is no “one” diet for everyone.  Dietary advice underpins any good treatment programme.  Victoria’s food philosophy is one of eating a variety of foods (eating broadly) and seasonally, so you vary your food groups through the year, meaning you don’t overconsume one food group continually.  Eating the same foods every day (generally for years) tends to limit the types of bacteria we develop in our gut.  This can lead to reduced capacity for digestion and enzyme production to digest your foods effectively.  A low diversity of gut bacteria (from eating the same thing every day for months and years) will limit the body’s healing and immune ability.  In some cases of strict dieting (not eating a balanced protein to appropriate carbohydrate and healthy fats diet) can even limit reproductive ability in some extreme cases Victoria has seen

Phone Victoria West now – 9792 4248 to find your digestion solution

Twelve point plan for a healthy gut:  

1. Chewing your food well and mindfully.  Avoid eating when stressed, watching the news or in front of a scary movie.  Chewing helps start the digestive process. Anticipating your food helps you salivate which in turn helps break down foods, especially starches and carbohydrates
2. If you are unwell or suffer from significant digestive issues, try eating a simple diet of eating one food at a time. For example, this could be you have a salad and then half an hour later eat your protein.  Allow 3 hours after protein before eating anything sweet.  Sweet foods can tend to ferment proteins.    Beware of overeating brassica foods every day (such as cauli, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage).  Eating too many brassica veg at one time (especially if daily for months or years), can contribute to wind and bloating. Brassica veg are healthy when kept in balance with your other foods. In place of brassica veg try adding some Asian greens in winter and salads in summer to break up the likelihood of overconsumption of brassica’s or just have one brassica per meal. Vary up your choice of vegetables so the gut bacteria get to experience other foods and cultures which contributes to a healthy microbiome.
3. Bone broth – in appropriate quantities, bone broth (or soups, stews made with bones) can help to heal, seal and support the gut lining for repair and maintenance.  The one proviso here is that bone broth is high in phosphorus, so if you are already ‘fiery’ person, please use sparingly and only through winter.  Once a week for fiery people should be ok.  For those who are feeling weak, tired, bone broth may help.  Use cautiously in overactive thyroid cases and seek appropriate advice
4. Fermented foods – sauerkraut, Kim chi, kefir’s, kombucha’s.  If you have significant gut issues, you may need to delay the introduction of fermented foods until you get some of the basic issues sorted.
5. Blueberries – great for all things in the body and can contribute to building a beneficial bacteria in the gut called Akkermansia :)
6. Digestive supports – peppermint, fennel and aniseed teas, Catmint, chamomile can all support digestion and help to reduce wind and bloating.  Best to buy the leaf or flower for making your tea rather than relying on tea bags (which have usually been bleached and are glued together! Something else for your gut and liver to detoxify)
7. Ginger – particularly if you are a cold person.  Ginger helps to warm digestion and helps to move food more efficiently from the stomach into the small intestine
8. Exercise is part of good gut routine.  Fast walking (swinging arms a little), slight jog with walk, swimming, yoga, Tai chi, Qi Gong, re-bounding – all help to stimulate the gut and lymphatic system that surrounds the gut
9. To help bowel movements, follow good food practices (eating broadly, widely), having good fibre intake (legumes, nuts, seeds vegetables, one piece fruit only daily or 3 x week, sufficient fluids between meals, avoiding overeating and exercise all help to regulate bowel function, reduce wind and bloating,
10. Keep emotions balanced with exercise, meditation and good sleep practices.  Anger, frustration, grief, shock, trauma and stress will all affect the bowel and digestion (usually in different ways) so finding a way to manage emotions helps towards a great digestion and therefore health
11. Reduce avoid: Sugar (toxic to gut and body), coffee.  These foods can interrupt digestion and the micro biomes diversity function and health
12. Seek help if you are not getting a resolution.  Some people, particularly those with constipation, may have a gene change which means they cannot breakdown fibres well in the lower bowel.  This can lead to constipation and bloating

As good as this 12 point plan is, getting expert advice to plan an approach that suits you is always advised.

For further information phone 9792 4248 or contact @ bunburynaturalhealth@live.com.au

Youtube video link on digestion and how it works: