Today’s health habits will focus on the gastrointestinal track, or GI for short, also commonly known as the digestive system
The GI track starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. In total it stretches approximately 30 feet. Before you continue reading try to imagine how long 30 feet would be. As well as being approximately 30 feet in length, it contains 21 organs.
The digestive system has to perform some basic physiological steps which include ingesting the food, we call it eating, chewing and mixing is another step needed for proper digestion. As well the digestive system has to mechanically digest what is ingested which takes digestive enzymes and these enzymes start right in the mouth with the salivary glands and continue on in the stomach, pancreas and intestines. Amino acids, water, minerals, vitamins, glucose and cholesterol occur naturally in the digestive system or they should occur naturally if you have a healthy digestive system but if you noticed there are a few critical components missing for a healthy body. Can you think what they might be? Protein, carbohydrates and lipids are missing and we cannot sustain life without them. Therefore we need digestive enzymes to be able to utilize carbs, protein and lipids in the body.
Our intestines have a lining that helps with the absorption of the nutrients from our food and send it into the blood and lymph’s that then circulate throughout our whole body. During the circulating the various parts of the body will utilize the nutrients. So if your intestinal area isn’t working probably you likely are not absorbing your nutrients from your food intake and therefore not feeding your body.
Then the end process is what is eliminated in your fecal matter or bowel movement.
Most people realize how important the heart is, or how important the lungs are but most don’t realize the importance of the gastrointestinal track. Your whole body depends on a healthy digestive system, including your immune system. So many people try to boost their immune system when in fact what is really needed is to look after the digestive system.
So here are some healthy habits for your digestion:
- No drinking any liquids with your meals. When you put your food in your mouth and start chewing, you start to release saliva. If you are constantly drinking with your meal you are actually diluting your saliva, therefore losing out on digestive enzymes.
- Use digestive enzymes if you are not eating alive food at your meal. Enzymes come from alive food and alive food is just that, alive. There are two types of food, alive or cooked. Fresh fruits and vegetables are alive, meat is dead food.
- Keep your intestinal area healthy by eating fermented foods. Keifer and sauerkraut are good options, two to four tablespoons daily. Another choice could be yogurt or probiotics.
- It is really important that you have proper bowel movements. Minimum 1x’s a day. If you don’t have healthy, proper eliminations you really need to work on this area. Some people have far too many bowel movements in a day and that isn’t healthy either.
- Fiber is critical for a healthy digestive system, both soluble and insoluble fiber.
- Hydrate your intestinal area, water is the key. Drink plain water with no additives.
Take care of your gastrointestinal tract and it will take care of you.
Diane Elms D.H.M.H.S., CCI, CCII, Homeopath, Specializing in Drugless Cancer Care, 2006 Iridologist of the Year, if you have any health related questions contact or 905 768 0848.