How you eat is just as key as what you eat!
There are many steps your food takes on its journey through your digestive system so today we are going to be starting right at the beginning – with the way you actually eat!
Why is this important?
Well, the mouth is really the trigger the tells your digestive system to get ready, food is coming.
So here are my top tips for meal times.
- Sit down, take a breath and start by visually taking in your food. This sends a signal to the brain that a yummy meal is here and the brain tells the gut to start preparing the juices and enzymes that will be needed to break the food down properly.
- Turn off the TV, turn down bright lights, remove unpleasant noises or smells. Meal times should be relaxed and focused on the food, not simply a time when you wolf down dinner while catching up on emails or Eastenders.
- Chew your food really really well. This is because chewing further stimulates the digestive juices and starts the mechanical breakdown of the food, making it easier to digest and absorb nutirents.
- After dinner, take a little stroll if you can or at least walk around the house a bit to aid digestion, rather than slumping on the sofa and restricting that whole area of your body.
- Have space between meals – your digestive system needs time to digest and process what you have eaten. There is a distinct pattern of electromechanical activity that works between meals to sweep undigested food through your gastrointestinal tract.
These are some of the simple methods I recommend to my clients who suffer with digestive symptoms. We also look at diet, triggers, gut health and supplementary support. You don’t need to put up with digestive discomfort. Book a discovery call to find out more.