Constipation Solutions

The Best Natural Ways To Eliminate Digestive Problems

Digestion problems seem to be a common ailment of our modern way of life. All those deliciously sweet, refined and deep fried foods. The hustle and bustle that seems to stimulate the fast food economy, while convenient and soothing to the palette, are often not as pleasant to the digestive tract. How many of us have eaten an inviting, mouth watering meal all the while thinking "I know I'm going to regret this later"? Well, while the modern pharmaceutical companies have made millions capitalizing on touted indigestion solutions, few people realize there are many ways to handle digestive ailments naturally, most of them found in the average kitchen.Changing your eating habits - Many digestive problems such as heartburn, diarrhea and constipation stem from overeating, not chewing properly, or eating improperly prepared foods. The start of solving indigestion problems is to learn how to eat correctly. Yes, believe it or not, there is a proper way to eat, your mother wasn't just pointing out a lack of manners when she told you to slow down and chew your food.The first line of defense towards avoiding digestive problems is to learn proper eating behaviors. First, cut meals into smaller pieces and chew them well. Saliva contains an enzyme which the body uses to break down food and mastication of the food helps the stomach to digest food easier. Avoid overeating. Eat smaller portions, spaced further apart. Instead of gorging yourself on 3 meals, try eating smaller, balanced meals and a few healthy snacks in between meals instead. Try to eat meals consistently at the same time daily. Also brushing before meals as well as after helps avoid digestive problems as it cuts down the chance of harmful bacteria's entering into the digestive tract while eating.Exercise - Exercise helps tremendously with digestive problems. Take a short walk after a meal. Exercise helps get the blood flowing and stimulates the digestive tract. Try to avoid lying down for at least an hour after eating a large meal, sleeping slows the bodies processes. Experts recommend giving yourself at least 2 .5 hours between dinner and bedtime. Avoid wearing constrictive clothing and belts. Constricting the waist line forces acid to move upwards. Bending at the knees helps expel gas and reinforces the motion of the sphincter. You should however, avoid excessive exercise or athletic activity for a few hours after a meal to avoid stomach cramps.Watch what you eat - The types of foods you eat play a large part in having digestive problems. Avoid fried foods. Grease and oil soaked into fried foods weigh heavily on the stomach and are difficult for the body to process, causing the body to produce excess digestive acids to help get rid of them. Avoid caffeinated drinks, especially in the evening. Try to stay away from foods with refined sugars in them as refined sugar is difficult for the body to process as well. Chocolate is also a food associated with heartburn and intake should be minimized. Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Avoid alcohol as it is made with fermented products and is not digestible. It also relaxes the sphincter which makes digestion more difficult. Minimize foods high in starch such as potatoes and white breads. Substitute foods high in fiber such as whole grain breads and brown rice.Stop smoking - Avoid smoking or being around smoke after a meal. Smoking creates excess air in the stomach as it is breathed in and irritates the digestive tract. It also relaxes the sphincter and creates excess acid.Eat more fruits - Try introducing more fruits into your diet. Fruits contain natural sugars that help stimulate digestion. Fruits such as oranges, grapes and pineapples have long been considered good remedies for heartburn and diarrhea. Apples are good for constipation. If you don't care for the fruits themselves, you can drink a small glass of the juice after a meal instead to stimulate digestive juices.Gas is another digestive problem that can be helped by a few changes in dietary habits. Gas is produced in the digestive tract when we eat too fast or swallow a lot of air. Avoid drinking through a straw, gobbling food or smoking after a meal to minimize air that is swallowed. Another reason for gas is fermented food in the intestinal tract. Some foods take too long for the body to process and as they ferment they give off gasses due to harmful bacteria building up in the digestive tract.Avoid certain foods - Foods to avoid if you have problems with excess gas include things like beans, cabbage, onions, prunes, bananas, wine, and dark beer (although boiled cabbage juice is often touted as a good cure for colic because it produces excess gas and helps babies to burp). Minor food allergies can also be a culprit in creating gas and abdominal pain associated with gas. Avoid foods made from yeast as yeast is naturally fermented. Other foods prone to create both gas and heartburn are foods high in lactose. Many people suffer from some degree of lactose intolerance and foods high in milk products such as cheese, sour cream and real butter should be avoided as often as possible. Vegetables known for causing gas when cooked such as cauliflower and broccoli actually produce no gas when eaten raw and are much healthier when eaten that way. Try eating fresh vegetables as a snack during the day or adding them to a salad instead of boiling them.For instant relief from digestive problems, the following methods are often recommended:- mix a teaspoon of lemon juice, a teaspoon of fresh ground ginger and two teaspoons of unrefined honey in a cup of lukewarm water and drink for immediate relief. (not to be given to toddlers due to the inclusion of unrefined honey).- mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 4 ounces of water and drink. Not to be used more than 3 times per day. (not to be used to treat chronic indigestion problems)- chew a small piece of fresh ginger before meals (do not swallow) to stimulate digestive juices. You can buy candied ginger if you cant stand the taste in little packets in the organic section of just about any grocery store and it is candied with unrefined sugar.- drink a cup of ginger or peppermint tea after meals. Both of these herbs can be found already in tea form at any local grocery store and are proven to be quite beneficial for the relief of indigestion.- garlic tea, fresh garlic slices or adding fresh garlic to meals helps digestion. Garlic acts as a natural antibiotic and helps to eliminate harmful bacteria's in the digestive tract.- drink 4-6 ounces of carbonated water (soda water) or ginger ale.- drink some cinnamon tea or chew on a piece of cinnamon bark after a meal.- for nausea drink soda water with unsalted crackers.- drink a few ounces of pickle juice or apple cider vinegar.By Nora Carver - Co owner/operator home repair and remodeling company, landscaping design coordinator, restaurant manager, parent  

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