Merely eating healthy food does not translate to a good health. The real nourishment comes when our body digests what we eat. Proper digestion depends a lot on the kind of food we eat and also on our body type. Some people have fast digestion, while others don't. What we eat is important, but how well we digest that food is equally important.
At times, the body is unable to break down the food we ingest. This undigested food starts rotting. As a result, we produce gas, which gives rise to flatulence. Now, small episodes of farting are normal, as we release pockets of trapped air from time to time. But if the flatulence is excessive and is accompanied by an unpleasant odor, it is an indication that something is wrong.
For overall fitness, we must not only eat healthy food, but also improve the way we eat. We must chew our food properly. When we chew, our mouth is filled with saliva. This accelerates the digestion process. If we swallow our food whole, then the digestion process takes longer. The food that is left undigested causes problems.
Instead of three large meals, we should eat small meals at regular intervals. Smaller meals can be digested faster. Furthermore, along with proper meals, try to take some vitamin supplements, as vitamins are very important for our body. We usually suffer from some sort of vitamin deficiency given today's haphazard lifestyle and diet choices.
Water is also important. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water every day. Water washes away the toxins in our body. Less water intake leads to constipation, which is very painful.
Many nutrients are lost in the process of cooking. Having parboiled food is a good option. Steamed food retains the natural elements and is more beneficial. You can also add digestive enzymes in your food. Include a lot of fiber and shift to whole grains, high fiber brown bread, dry fruits, green leafy vegetables, fruits, etc. The fibrous content of the food absorbs the fat that sticks to the intestine walls and then flushes it out, thereby detoxifying our body to a large extent.
The digestion process takes time. Ideally, there should be a gap of 4-5 hours between meals. Don't lie down immediately after eating. Certain things such as meat and poultry are harder to digest, so keep that in mind before you chalk out a diet plan. A vegetarian diet is much easier to digest, but certain items like sugar and pepper make digestion more difficult. Pepper in particular acts as an irritant, as does too much tea and coffee. These stimulants contain toxins that hamper the digestive process.
A healthy diet plan should exclude tinned, canned and processed food, as these contain preservatives and artificial colors and flavors which are harmful for our body. Processed food contains a lot of fat. When we consume such food, the fat content usually sticks to our intestine and gives rise to constipation. Try to add live culture food to your diet. Probiotic yogurt is a very good option. The good bacteria present in it greatly help the body digest the food. Once you make such healthy choices, you can feel the difference yourself.
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Thanks,
Chris Edwards
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