How To Improve Digestion

So it’s the day after Thanksgiving.

You had some melt in your mouth candied yams, a heaping of buttery mashed potatoes, ham, turkey, pumpkin pie, some cheesecake and maybe even some vegetables if you’re lucky. All you know is you wish you wore your stretchy pajamas instead of those jeans (skirt, or dress pants). Next thing you know… You have a FOOD BABY! You just ate 5000 calories and didn’t even know it. So how do you get rid of this bad boy? Here are a few tips to improve digestion.

1. Drink Tea – Tea is full of antioxidants which will help aid in digestion. ”Green tea is a natural diuretic, flushing your system of waste and excess nutrients while hydrating the body. Green tea contains about 60 milligrams of caffeine per eight-ounce cup, which is significantly less than the caffeine contents of coffee. Although someone with medical concerns or sleeping problems should avoid.” [Source]
2. Chew Gum After a Big Meal - Gum chewing causes your organs to “think” that you are eating and as a result, triggers the release of acid in your stomach to digest food more quickly. “Chewing gum made from xylitol, which is a natural sweetener, is the best way to see digestive benefits. In order to improve digestion, try chewing gum that includes xylitol just before you eat a meal or right after you finish. When you do this, you help your body to create more saliva. As a result, you build up the amount of acid that is in your stomach. With this acid, your body can then digest your meal much better than it could if you didn’t chew the gum.” [Source] Of course, don’t chew gum too often or else you can cause too much acid release in your stomach which may cause pain. Like everything else, moderation is the key.
3. Walk - If  you are too full for vigorous exercise, just move or walk around. Overeating can cause you to be lethargic, so if you think you might have eaten too much, try to start off by walking. “Walking is a simple way to aid digestion and may decrease or even prevent heartburn if you tend to get it after eating certain foods. A post-meal walk will immediately burn some of the calories from a large meal.” [Source]
4. Drink Warm Water – Imagine washing dirty dishes with only 1 cup of water. Not very effective right? It’s the same example with your body. Drink water so your body can smoothly “clean” your stomach and flush out the toxins in your body. In addition to drinking water, drink WARM water. “Hot water is an excellent way to detoxify the body and build digestive strength. Simmering a few slices of ginger root in boiling water makes a ginger root tea that stimulates digestion. Ginger in food has the same effect, as does candied ginger root eaten after meals. Other herbs that promote good digestion and make excellent herbal teas are chamomile, peppermint, and cinnamon.” [Source]
5. Sit or Stand - When you sit or stand, you use more muscles and burn more calories than lying down. In addition, the force of gravity can help aid in digestion by pushing food down rather than back up to your mouth. Here is a quick clip of how the gravity of digestion works in your body!

I hope you all enjoyed these tips as they are definitely helpful in my own experience. The main reason why i made this post is because so many people had liked my status on Facebook which stated “I don’t stop eating when I’m full. The meal isn’t over when I’m full. The meal is over when I hate myself.” – Louis CK

I thought it was hilarious but remember, enjoy your Holiday meals and just make sure you are treating your stomach well! Help it digest smoothly and it will love you all the way til the the next years to come! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

Janice