It’s Not What You Eat, It’s What You Digest. 3 Easy Tips To Ignite Digestion.
The energy that we take into our bodies through the air we breathe, the food & beverages that we consume, is so vital for nourishing the existing life force which was gifted to us at birth. Taking in the proper nutrients is one thing, transforming and utilizing them is something else. Optimal digestion builds the blood which goes on to nourish all the organs, muscles and tissues of the body. Yet so many people are having difficulties with digestion.
In clinic we see lots of people with chronic digestive issues, some of which they have come to accept such as gas, bloating, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), IBS, constipation and diahhrea. Merely covering up symptoms with medications and missing the opportunity to address the underlying cause. Acupuncture is extremely effective at addressing those underlying causes of poor digestion.
Today, I want to give you 3 easy common sense tips you can start applying now to invigorate your bodies own digestive process.
1. CHEW YOUR FOOD (NO SERIOUSLY)
Listen to your parents, chew your food. We are all guilty of it. We rush around, we eat on the go. We don’t give it much thought. But when we neglect to really chew our food we are missing out on a big opportunity to help our body. Digestion begins in the mouth, not the stomach. Proteins and fats begin digesting in the stomach and the small intestine. Carbohydrates begin digestion in the mouth, through an enzyme called Amylase in your saliva. (1) The chewing action provides the needed mechanical action to break down the food, thereby increasing the surface area for the amylase to begin working on. So when we wolf down our food, not giving it much thought, we are forcing our pancreas to work that much harder to produce the enzymes needed to beak down carbohydrates. So take it easy. Give your body a break…Chew your food.
2. AVOID STRESS WHILE EATING (WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHILE EATING?)
So many people around the world have gotten into the habit of watching television while they eat or snacking while playing video games. Myself included. What you chose to watch while eating can make a big difference to your digestion, because It directly affects our autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is made up of the sympathetic nervous system (which governs fight or flight response in the body) and the parasympathetic nervous system which governs rest & digest mode in the body.
For optimal digestion, we ned to be in parasympathetic mode (rest & digest) while eating and for the hour or two following the meal. (2) Action movies (jammed packed with gunfights & car chases) horror movies, zombie attacks etc. all push our autonomic nervous system away from parasympathetic and into sympathetic mode (Fight or flight) Our nervous system does not know the difference between a real threat or a pretend threat. So take a break from the shoot-em-up video games and action movies, and switch on a romantic comedy, listen to some soothing baroque music, and of course you can always look at adorable picture of puppies on Instagram ;-)
3. THEY CALL IT BREAKFAST FOR A REASON.
During the daylight hours (the yang/active part of the day) our digestive system experiences a great deal of activity as we consume 3 meals and possibly some snacks along the way. During the night time hours (the yin/resting time of the day) we are meant to give our digestive system a well deserved rest as we fast overnight. When we routinely consume a midnight snack/meal, upon awakening in the middle of the night, due to hunger or merely habit, we are asking the stomach to burn the candle at both ends so to speak. Most of the time that hungry feeling in the middle of the night is not even true hunger but your body telling you that you are thirsty for water (3) So instead of eating something try a drinking a glass of water instead. When we wake at dawn we eat breakfast or “Break-Fast”, as now is the time to break the overnight fast and bring the digestive system back into its active mode.
Poor digestion, manifesting in symptoms such as GERD/reflux, gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea, can stem from many different sources such as an imbalance in the energetic pathways that govern the digestive process, poor diet, excessive emotions causing the liver to become congested etc. Acupuncture is extremely effective at balancing and optimizing digestion, by restoring proper energy flow to the affected channels, as well as add beneficial Qi/energy where it is deficient.
If poor digestion is interfering with your quality of life, don’t hesitate to call, email or book an appointment online. Humanity Acupuncture is here to help you get your digestion back on track, so you can get back to living!
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Many Blessings,
Stephen Longo LAc. Dipl. Ac.
Humanity Acupuncture
Stony Brook, NY
631-686-4001
stephen@humanityacupuncture.com
www.humanityacupuncture.com
(1) Peyrot des Gachons C, Breslin PA. Salivary Amylase: Digestion and Metabolic Syndrome. Curr Diab Rep. 2016 Oct;16(10):102. doi: 10.1007/s11892-016-0794-7. PMID: 27640169; PMCID: PMC6825871.
(2) Cherpak CE. Mindful Eating: A Review Of How The Stress-Digestion-Mindfulness Triad May Modulate And Improve Gastrointestinal And Digestive Function. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2019 Aug;18(4):48-53. PMID: 32549835; PMCID: PMC7219460.
(3) Batmanghelidj, F. (1992). Your body's many cries for water: Don't treat thirst with medications: Body thirst signals and damages of chronic dehydration are explained: A preventive and self-education manual for those who prefer to adhere to the logic of the natural and the simple in medicine. Global Health Solutions.