I hear these confessions frequently from my clients, “Oh, I am so bloated”’, “I have horrible acid reflux”, “I have an upset tummy after almost every meal”. Do you find yourself rubbing your belly after your meals, sucking in your bloated gut at the beach, or have frequent gas or belching? It’s all about what we digest…. It’s almost as simple as stating that the secret to life is a healthy G.I. tract. I do not think that’s very far off. 90% of your serotonin is made in your gut, and many people struggling with depression or anxiety have G.I. issues.

Your gut begins in your mouth, starting with releasing digestive enzymes with your saliva. Chewing your food is essential for digesting your food properly. Also, it is known that chewing with your mouth open causes more air to be absorbed, therefore casing more gas. When you digest your food well, you can burn fat easily and heal the body, reaping the full benefits of what you eat. Aside from digestion, your system must be able to eliminate waste and toxins efficiently. If you take the time to chew your food properly, your G.I. health will be in better shape. If not, you work doubly hard to break down large clumps of food, and that seriously taxes your system.

Most people with reflux or heartburn produce too little hydrochloric acid. Ironically they will run out to buy antacids, which is exactly the opposite of what your stomach needs. What your gut is telling you is that it needs more hydrochloric acid. This provides the acidic environment necessary for the enzyme pepsin to break down proteins effectively, as well as helping to destroy parasites and harmful bacteria.

It’s unfortunate that most of us wait until we have a problem or are already in a diseased state before we decide to take charge of our health. It takes years to cause the deterioration of the G.I. tract, showing symptoms along the way as frequent headaches, low energy, constipation, bloating, gas, and of course, IBS. Every disease starts in the gut. Remember, your body is talking to you, so listen!

Try a morning breakfast smoothie that is easy to digest, healing, and tastes delicious.

Gut-Friendly Smoothie
¾ Cup Fresh Berries
2 tbsp. Hemp, Flax, or Chia seeds
Small Banana
¼ tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Raw & Local Honey or Bee Pollen
Organic Protein Powder, Possibly with Glutamine
Aloe Gel (gel from leaf) or Lily of the Desert liquid – 1 oz.
1 Cup Unsweetened Coconut Milk
Ice

Other gut healing additions you can try…. Collagen Powder, Powdered Colostrum, Fennel Seeds, Slippery Elm Bark Powder, and Coconut Water Keifer

Remember if you have any G.I. issues:

Take time to chew your food, even a smoothie
Eat raw food daily
Take digestive enzymes with meals
Consider supplementing with HCl with meals
Consume enough essential fatty acids
Increase fiber with chia, flax, or hemp seeds
Get rid of the chemicals in your food
Drink enough purified water

Once I comprehended the devastating effects of eating on the run and not chewing my food well, I realized that gut health was essential to my quality of life. There was no way I could continue to eat processed foods or gobble down my meals in hasty fashion. When the light bulb turned on, my habits changed and so did my health.

Try for 100% organic. Buy fresh, buy local, and enjoy your greens.

Are you bloated?