| ..... It is mid August here on this little island where I live and I am sitting here in a local restaurant overlooking beautiful Squirrel's cove. I realize that it is the first time in weeks that I have had a chance to sit and contemplate a quiet meal. Away from my house and workplace, I am aware that my only task for the next few hours is to write this article. No |
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carbohydrates and break them down. Chewing food thoroughly is a significant step in the digestive process and one that is often overlooked in this fast paced world we live in. The whole digestive process is like a chain with each link leading to the next step. If one step in the process is compromised it puts a burden on each and every other step |
wide. This island seems to go into hibernation during the winter months and many of its local citizens actually flee to warmer climates for months on end. But something akin to a feeding frenzy happens with tourist season as our population swells to maximum capacity. It happens seemingly overnight. And with that, my own life speeds up ten fold. As I move about my various jobs and obligations, I am all too aware that I spend much of my time mindlessly munching on something handy while moving on to the next task at hand.
......I am also aware that my body is screaming in rebellion. I have been breaking all the cardinal rules of proper digestion. I feel heavier than I care to feel and have been suffering from periodic bouts of indigestion. It is said that up to 80% of our degenerative disease processes begin in the digestive tract. It goes without saying that of all the health practices we can pay attention to, our digestion is one of the most important. When our digestion is compromised, we are unable to assimilate the nutrients from our food and this will directly affect our overall health.
.....Smooth sailing, digestively speaking, actually begins with that important first bite. Taste your food and savour it. Our saliva contains enzymes designed to mix with |
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enzymes are not available to digest our food, the food will just get pushed through the process and contribute a lot of bulk and only a few valuable nutrients along the way. If you are thirsty, drink your liquids a half hour before or after your meal or sip room temperature beverages while eating.
.....The ecosystem of a healthy intestinal tract is also dependent upon a balance of friendly bacteria verses unfriendly bacteria. Stress and poor eating habits can create an imbalance of this intestinal flora. When the unfriendly guys start to rule you will experience a wide range of symptoms and digestive distress. This is when a probiotic supplement such as Lactobacilllus acidophilus can be a real friend. Eating fermented foods such as miso, yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut on a regular basis can also be of benefit.
.....Although I have committed many sins in the department of digestion of late, I will say that my saving grace is that I eat mostly organic and frequently graze in my own garden. My body is my temple and I am going to start to treat it more respectively once again. We all need reminders to slow down and take time to eat. It starts here with a beautiful view of the ships sailing by and a delightful warm beet salad that looks divine! With that,
.....I sign off wishing you good health. |
