Top 5 Tips for Digestive Health in 2013

While a variety of digestive health concerns exist, there are a few highly effective ways to combat some of the more general digestive problems. Whether it’s bloating, excess gas, heartburn, constipation or other digestive concerns, we have 5 easy-to-follow tips for you!

1. Take a Probiotic Regularly

Take a high quality liquid probiotic like Pro EM-1 that can be absorbed easily into your system. Probiotics work to detoxify the digestive system and keep your intestinal environment properly balanced by introducing beneficial microorganisms that naturally fight malicious bacteria. It’s important to use high quality raw probiotics that feature natural, certified organic ingredients, with no preservatives, wheat, soy or animal byproducts.


2. Exercise

WebMD, Livestrong and many more sources point to exercising for a near immediate improvement of the digestive system. The benefits of exercise are astounding. The good news is it doesn’t take a lot to qualify as “exercise”. You really just need to get moving for 20 minutes every day. That means you can just go for a walk around the neighborhood! That is all it takes to start to get yourself exercising. Surely you can find 20 minutes a day to do something! Working out will improve your digestion and elimination because it helps blood circulation, hormone production, and a slew of other things. On top of benefiting the digestive system, you’ll be working on cardiovascular and muscular health, too. So, start today and go for a quick 20-minute walk!


3. Reduce Processed Foods Consumption

Processed foods can poison the beneficial microflora  in your digestive tract, leading to an imbalanced digestive ecosystem. Processed foods not only lack nutrients and fiber, but they have been linked to poor digestion, decreased energy, illness, acidic blood and weight gain. A highly processed diet has been proven to artificially stimulate dopamine, the neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and addiction. As a result, processed foods can trigger over eating and obesity. Your digestive track fairs much better with natural, whole foods which are easier to digest, and provide a diverse array of nutrients, as well as valuable fiber and fats, all of which aid in digestion and immune system health.


4. Limit Excess

Along with eating slowly and early, most sources recommend limiting excess to better digestion and elimination. By restricting portions at meal times, you allow your body to digest easier. It’s recommend to eat smaller, more frequent meals rather than indulging in infrequent binges that are hard for your stomach and digestive system to process. Athletes learn to eat 4 to 7 small meals per day. At each meal they will eat some protein, some vegetable, and some good fat. Two of those meals will be snacks, but each snack will still have that mix of protein, veggie, and fat. Another guide they use is to only eat until you are 80% full.


5. Eat Slowly

Enjoy your food. Give yourself 20 minutes to eat and get rid of distractions. Don’t eat while watching TV or playing with your phone. And, it takes your stomach about 20 minutes to register that it is full. Bloating and gas can occur if one eats or drinks too quickly. Whether you’re swallowing a lot of air during a meal, or simply not allowing your stomach enough time to register that it is full, inhaling food and beverages can cause poor digestive health. Take your time and enjoy a meal! We recommend adding 1 tablespoon of  Pro-EM-1 probiotic to your water 3 times a day; sip on this during meals and it should help cleanse your system and boost digestion. (And, you might lose some weight by stopping eating just before you are full!)

To a happier, healthier New Year – we hope some of these quick tips aid you in better digestive health!