By understanding the importance of Step #1 of the Surefire Steps to Transforming Your Health, you'll be empowered with the information you need to prep and prepare the cells to receive, assimilate, and utilize the nutrition that you eat.
Now it's time to support, repair, and maintain the mode of transportation for the nutrition... The digestive system.
The digestive system is a crucial piece of health and wellness for your overall health. There are two primary reasons proper digestion is important to health. First, it’s the vehicle or transportation system of your nutrition. Without proper digestion, nutrition will not be utilized or absorbed by the body. If the digestive system is compromised, even the best nutrition goes to waste. The second primary reason that a properly functioning digestive system is vital to health is over 70% of the immune system resides in the GI tract. It's estimated that twenty million Americans suffer from chronic digestive diseases, resulting in more Americans being hospitalized with digestive diseases than any other condition!
Hippocrates known as the Father of Medicine was quoted as saying, “All disease begins in the gut.”
With this understanding and awareness, what simple things can you do to restore, repair, and maintain your digestive health?
The Three Amigos of Your Digestive Health
Your digestive health impacts the quality of your life. Emeran Mayer, MD, author of The Mind Gut Connection states, "The gut is the largest storage facility for serotonin in our body. 95% of the body's serotonin is stored in the gut. Serotonin is a signaling molecule that plays a crucial role within the gut-brain axis, and it plays a crucial role in functions such as sleep, appetite, pain sensitivity, mood, and overall well-being. "
Amigo 1 - Prebiotic
A prebiotic is a non-digestible food ingredient that promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines. It helps maintain a healthy environment for the microbial population that promotes the proper function of your digestive tract. Prebiotics serve the beneficial bacteria that already reside in the gut. Bacteria in the large intestine ferment prebiotics. This releases byproducts called short-chain fatty acids. Common natural prebiotic foods include chicory root, dandelion greens, garlic, onions, asparagus, bananas, apples, barley, and oats.
Amigo 2 - Probiotic
Animals and humans are both full of beneficial bacteria and microorganisms that promote health and balance of the body. Probiotics are strains of bacteria that are known to benefit the body. There are many supplements that claim to contain probiotics… If you do not see any benefits when adding it to your diet, it’s a red flag that either the supplement does not contain active or optimal probiotic strains, or that your GI tract needs additional support to balance pH and the environment of the GI tract.
Amigo 3 - Digestive Enzymes
Your body is made up of trillions of cells, and there are different cells for different functions. Enzymes are what make chemical reactions in cells happen. They are vital for life and serve a wide range of functions in the body, including aiding in digestion and metabolism. Ensuring you eat foods with active enzymes and/or taking additional digestive enzyme support can serve your overall health and wellbeing.
There are times that reaching for additional digestive support is more crucial than others. Although it can be beneficial at almost any time, if you experience any of the following indicators you're at increased risk for digestive imbalance without the added boost of the 3 Amigos of Digestive Health.
- You're experiencing high levels of stress. Whether mental, emotional, or physical.
- Your not getting adequate hours of sleep.
- You're traveling.
- You're ill or recovering from an injury.
- When infectious sickness or viral conditions are spreading at home, your workplace, etc. and you want to boost your immune system.
- You have recently taken or consistently are directed to take pharmaceutical medication.
- You eat processed foods more than fresh produce.
If any of the following situations align with your current condition or lifestyle, then supporting yourself with digestive enzymes, probiotics, and prebiotics is highly recommended.
Your digestive system is a crucial part of your overall health and wellbeing. Reach out to your Core Wellness Coach to learn more about effective digestive support products and systems to keep the digestive system at its peak performance.
You're now well on your way to having full awareness and understanding of the Surefire Steps to Transforming Your Health! There is only one more step we need to reveal... Watch your email and we will see you soon.