1 Chew thoroughly
Saliva starts the digestion
process – as you age your mouth has less of it, which means thorough chewing is
even more important. Try putting your fork down between mouthfuls to slow down
eating. If you eat too quickly, your
stomach and intestines have to work harder to digest food, increasing the risk
of bloating, stomach aches, indigestion, constipation and heartburn. Chewing
thoroughly could also help you lose weight because your body has more chance to
register you’re full before you overeat.
2 Detox
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“Toxins such as mercury,
aluminium and pesticides can all collect in your gut and reduce its
effectiveness,” says nutritionist Nadia Brydon. “Give your bowels a thorough
cleanse by taking a supplement such as Sun Chlorella ‘A’
every day. Chlorella is a green algae which acts as an intestinal broom,
cleansing your gut by clinging onto toxins and eliminating them as waste.” A
recent study found people taking it had less constipation and more regular
bowel movements. It’s thought the
benefits might come from a unique component in Sun Chlorella ‘A’ called
Chlorella Growth Factor that stimulates the repair of body cells, promoting the
growth of good stomach bacteria.
3 Eat pistachios
Snacking on pistachios could
improve your digestive health. Scientists have found they act as a prebiotic
because they contain non-digestive components such as dietary fibre, which stay
in your gut providing food for friendly bacteria. If friendly bacteria have
plenty to eat they can better do their job and keep your digestion moving
swiftly. Try eating up to 3oz/85g a day to get the benefits.
5 Check your medicines
Some prescription medicines can have
side effects which might upset your tummy. Aspirin and some arthritis drugs –
especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can worsen
indigestion. Other painkillers, iron tablets and cough medicines may cause
constipation and antibiotics or blood pressure pills could prompt diarrhoea. If
you think your tablets might be affecting your digestion speak to your GP. There
is often another option which may have fewer
side effects.
6 De-stress
Eating when you feel anxious or
stressed could disrupt your digestion and lead to stomach aches, cramping, bloating,
indigestion and heartburn. Being stressed reduces the supply of blood to your
stomach, which makes your digestion more sluggish.
Try to eat when you’re feeling calm
rather than wound up. If you regularly feel stressed look for ways to relax –
many people find yoga helpful for both stress and stomach problems – there are
particular poses which are thought to improve digestion.
Find a teacher in your area by visiting
www.bwy.org.uk or calling 01529 306851.
4 Beat bloating
Bloating often comes hand in hand
with trapped wind, both caused by excess air in your digestive system. Eating
too quickly and not chewing thoroughly with your mouth closed can increase the
amount of air you swallow. Chewing gum and poorly fitting dentures also
increase bloating and flatulence. If you’re particularly prone to these
problems, avoid ‘wind-inducing’ foods such as cabbage, cauliflower, pulses,
beans and sprouts.
7 Exercise
If you struggle with
constipation, try doing more exercise. Inactivity is one of the biggest contributing
factors to sluggish bowel habits. Regular
exercise helps to speed up the rate at which your food passes through your
digestive tract. Just 10 to 15 minutes of walking a day could make a difference
if you don’t usually exercise. Don’t be
tempted to walk straight after a meal, though – you’re better off waiting an
hour so that your body has a chance to start processing your food.
The Sun Chlorella annual seminars will be in October this year. For the first
time we will be holding seminars in both Brighton and Manchester as well as
our annual London event.
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