Improve Your Digestion - Improve Your Health

The digestive system becomes less effective as we age.  A deficiency of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and the declining production of digestive enzymes, including protease to digest protein, amylases to digest carbohydrates, and lipases to digest fat, reduces efficiency of the digestive process. . The inability to absorb nutrients is one of the most common causes of malnutrition in the elderly.

One way of improving digestive health is the proper combining of foods. Pitchford (1993) suggests eating high protein food at the beginning of a meal.  Digesting protein requires large amounts of stomach acids, while starches, fruits, and vegetables use very little. He also suggests eating salty flavors before other flavors to stimulate gastric juices, combing greens and non-starchy vegetables with proteins, fats, and starches, and eating fruit alone.  He recommends taking only one starch or one protein per meal. 

A basic plan for food combining and better digestion includes having a meal of either starch or protein combined with non-starchy vegetables.  Sweet and acid fruit should be eaten separately. Exceptions are lemon, limes, and tomatoes – fruits that can be combined with green and non-starchy vegetables. Nuts, seeds, and fermented dairy foods also combine well with acid fruits. Lettuce and celery combine with all fruits. Melons should be eaten alone due to rapid digestion (Pitchford, 1993).

A natural approach to increasing hydrochloric acid in the stomach is to take one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of raw honey in small glass of water before each meal  (Brown, 1996).

Sprouting grains and seeds makes them easier to digest.  It causes the fats and proteins to become more bioavailable (Pitchford, 1993).  Sprouted grains and sprouted grain bread are easier to digest.

Soaking legumes overnight then cooking them with the seaweed kombu increases their digestibility. 

Include foods with known digestive enzymes such as pineapple (bromelain) and papaya (papain).

            Include foods with natural probiotics such as miso, sauerkraut, and plain yogurt.      

            Test for allergies and food sensitivities.  Many people have problems with wheat and cow’s milk, but may not be aware of it.

            Goat milk and yogurt are easier on the digestion due to the soft curd and smaller fat globules. Goat’s milk is also a good source of fluorine which helps build immunity, protect teeth, and strengthen bones (Pitchfork, 1993).

            Eat in moderation.  A high fat meal is difficult to digest.