JOURNEY TO WHOLENESS
HEALTH POWER by CHOICE not CHANCE
DIGESTION
Application
How do you spell relief? If you are like most North Americans you spell it D-O-L-L-A-R-S. Each year we spend millions on pills and potions to quiet our angry stomachs. A better way would be: stop overloading your stomach and give it the rest it needs.
Sweetening a Sour Stomach
How often does your stomach protest?
__ Never
__ Several times a year
__ Several times a month
__ Weekly
__ Every day
If you frequently have indigestion or an upset stomach, and your doctor has ruled out more serious problems, it may be your eating habits that are causing you grief.
Answer the following questions with a YES or NO.
1. - Do you have regular eating times?
Your body thrives on a regular schedule, not only of eating, but of waking, sleeping, and exercise.
2. Do you often eat between meals?
When new food shows up in a stomach that is already working, digestion must slow down until the system deals with the new arrival.
Imagine a washing machine working on a load of clothes. If you come by every 10 minutes, turn the dial back, and dump in more clothes, you would never finish a load. A washing machine, just like your stomach, needs time to finish its cycle.
3. Are your meals spaced four to five hours apart?
Spacing meals several hours apart allows the stomach to work at its own pace. Food from one meal is completely digested before the next one arrives.
4. Do you drink coffee?
Coffee, even decaf, contains substances that can irritate the lining of the stomach. Too much of this substance can send your stomach into rebellion.
5. Do you eat right before going to bed?
The stomach, like the rest of your body, needs rest. A meal or snack late in the evening forces it to work overtime.
Dealing With Gas
Many people adjusting to a high-fibre diet experience problems with intestinal gas. This is especially true when legumes are on the menu. Here are some suggestions that can help:-
• For occasional intestinal gas; try some pharmaceutical-grade charcoal. It adsorbs gas and provides a measure of relief. It is available as powder, tablets, syrup, or capsules and is sold over the counter.
• To reduce gas caused by cooked dried beans, try soaking them overnight, discarding the soak water, and replacing it with fresh water for cooking.
Your Challenge:
Give your stomach a break by spacing meals further apart. Not interrupting the digestive cycle with snacks will sweeten the disposition of a cranky stomach.
DIGESTION - Health Power by Choice
LOGIN