Digestion, Part 1

According to Elson M. Haas, M.D., "...the digestive tract and its function may be the single most important body component determining health and disease."2 Thus, understanding what types of things support healthy digestion and what may lead to an unhealthy digestive tract can be important.

How does one know whether or not he or she has a healthy digestive tract? A good place to start might be to identify when one could be experiencing indications of an unhealthy digestive tract. Some manifestations of an unhealthy digestive system are experienced as overelimination, constipation, flatulence, abdominal pain, bloating, cramping of bowels, indigestion, and others.1,2,3,4

What causes these uncomfortable manifestations? Poor digestion is very often a result of our eating habits, low-quality food, and a stressful lifestyle.1 Often, the body will let us know when we have poor eating habits through indigestion and gas.1 Poor eating habits could include eating too quickly, combining the wrong foods at meals, drinking too much water with meals, eating too many raw foods, and overeating in general.4 Over time,the stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, and pancreas, which are all organs of digestion, can become weaker and cause imbalances in the body.4

Other possible causes of digestive problems are illnesses caused by contaminated food, as well as, intestinal infections that, left unchecked, may cause Candida yeast.3 In addition, intestinal disturbances may be a result of decreased digestive enzymes in the stomach, which may come naturally with age, with stress, or from less than ideal food choices.2

A simple and balanced diet is often recommended to promote healthy digestion and to keep the system running well. Vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats are important factors to consider when deciding which foods to eat. An imbalance in the types and amounts of foods one eats may cause digestive disturbances. For instance, overeating refined foods can weaken the digestive system.4 Also, eating too many raw or cold foods may lead to overelimination causing important vitamins and minerals to be lost.4 On the other hand, eating large amounts of meat may also cause problems by overwhelming the digestive system which then inhibits it from assimilating many necessary nutrients.4

In my next several blog entries I will explore how digestion may be improved through diet, lifestyle changes, supplementation, and more.

1 Gladstar, R. (2008). Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. 2 Haas, E.M., & Levin, B. (2006). Staying healthy with nutrition: The complete guide to diet and nutritional medicine. Berkeley: Celestial Arts.
3 Light, L. (2006). What to eat: The ten things you really need to know to eat well and be healthy! New York: McGraw-Hill.
4 Tierra, M. (1998). The Way of Herbs. New York: Pocket Books.