The Digestive System

Introduction:

Poor digestion is frequently responsible for a wide range of illnesses. In turn ill health often creates poor digestion, thus hampering recovery. Digestive enzymes must be motivated, otherwise food will not be properly processed. Attendant bloating and pain can ensue with microbes and bacteria escalating so that general health declines.

Poor digestion is greatly helped by herbs with a predominantly bitter/sour flavour which will provoke your gut enzymes to work more efficiently and provide better overall nutrition; (incoming food will be properly utalised). Illness usually means that eating patterns are disturbed or even that poor eating has irritated poor health. Either way a return to an empowered and strengthened gut makes all the difference to a chronic situation.

Don't forget that poor digestion means that all digestive components need to work better which will include the pancreas, spleen and liver as well as the gut itself.

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Nutritional Advice:

Eating little and often can be helpful for some people who find digestion particularly difficult and who have low blood sugar levels. Experiment with avoiding wheat and / or dairy for a period of time. Avoid known irritants e.g. coffee, alcohol etc. Superfood makes a gentle and easily digested meal either as a meal replacement or as an inter-meal addition.

Cinnamon is a warming herb used as a traditional remedy for supporting and strengthening weak digestion.

It also supports unbalanced blood sugar levels by nourishing the pancreas. It is lovely added to porridge, apple puree, mashed fruit etc.

Ginger root is helpful for digestion, nausea, wind, bloating and colic. Anything that can be amiss with a struggling digestive system is calmed and soothed by ginger.

It is warming, anti-nausea and relaxing to an irritated or tense gut. So make fresh ginger tea on a daily basis - grate one tablespoon of fresh root. Add one cup of hot water, leave to sit for 10 minutes, strain and drink with or without honey.

The kitchen herb, Tumeric is a prime digestive, which stimulates enzyme production and soothes the stomach due to its powerful anti-inflammatory components. It does this by protecting the stomach itself from its own acidity excesses and any invasive and destructive microbes, e.g. bacterial, fungal or viral. Add by the teaspoon to dishes or eat 2 teaspoons in a little water each day.

Fennel seed used so frequently in cooking, has the ability to ease wind and bloating caused by ineffective, weak and hampered digestion. It can additionally stimulate appetite and relieve stomach pain. (It is famous for being the main component in many colic formulae for babies.) Make a tea with 2 teaspoons of the seed, repeat as with ginger tea. Also add to cooking especially difficult to digest foods e.g. cabbage, beans etc.

The use of a wide range of cooking herbs is vitally important as these will strongly instigate digestive enzyme production due to their own essential oil content. For instance, oregano, thyme, rosemary, bay, coriander, mint etc. Use black pepper and chilli but add at the end of the dish, do not cook it. Once your stomach is stronger you can use cooked chilli but always add black pepper uncooked.

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