Health & Fitness

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY V.6

HOW TO NATURALLY AID YOUR DIGESTION

There’s a lot going on, a lot changing, a lot of unknowns. You’re feeling stressed, you’re feeling anxious, and your body is starting to listen. I don’t know about you all, but my stomach has been all over the place, and probably because my mind and my schedule and activity has been all over the place. So since we aren’t entirely sure when all of this is going to be over, I’m gonna need some help.

First I wanted to know what foods cause indigestion. We are all eating super differently right now; between the access to grocery shopping, or going out to eat, or maybe you are ordering in a ton! The amount of acid you could be eating might be tons higher than usual. If you feel like you’ve been eating differently, see if these foods below have been a part of that changed diet, and if so, spend this next week omitting or reducing them from your meals.

  • lemons + limes

  • grapefruit + citrus in general

  • tomatoes

  • beer

  • sparkling drinks or soda’s

  • juices

Now a lot of people might not realize it but too much of a good thing isn’t always the case in your diet. Too much fiber can cause a whole host of issues, including being bloated and major gastrointestinal pains. Here is a list of foods with the highest fiber count per serving:

  • Apples

  • Bananas

  • Strawberries + blueberries

  • Dark vegetables – beets, collard greens, carrots

  • Beans

But we all know that the biggest culprit of many health issues is stress and anxiety. And right now unfortunately that is out of our control. So if you feel that the stress and external circumstances are what’s causing your indigestion or stomach issues, try these aids to find some relief.

Peppermint & Chamomile Tea – these both help indigestion. Peppermint tea has an antispasmodic effect on the body to relieve certain pains And chamomile tea can help with certain stomach problems as well as decrease anxiety (yes please) and help you sleep.

Ginger is the most well-known and the easiest to include in everyday life for me. I add a bit to my smoothies to reduce stomach acid which can cause indigestion. But so can too little stomach acid, which is where a little apple cider vinegar can help and acid reflux if that is what is causing your stomach issues.

Hot lemon water, which is my favorite and my go-to, has an alkaline effect neutralizing acid and improves your digestion. Plus it also is a great source of vitamin C which, as we all know can help keep you healthy! But, be sure to drink plain water or brush your teeth after drinking lemon water as consistently drinking it can effect your dental health.

But while all of these are great solutions, I have found that the absolute best long-term help can be yoga and/or stretching of just activity in general. I think a lot of my stomach issues right now is from an up and down schedule and inconsistent activity. We all know that the twisting and opening in yoga is great for our muscles but it is also great for our organs; releasing certain toxins and actions that might have been difficult to do before. I have tried to take 20 minutes every morning after I have my coffee and write my gratitude journal to do a quick and easy round of sun salutations and yoga moves. But if you have found that you go from bed to your couch or your desk/laptop to work from home, it may be that your body is craving some motion. Sometimes getting the blood moving and heart rate pulsing can be the best medicine.

Stay happy, stay healthy, and stay home for now.

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