As people, we love to eat. All of our most cherished and joyous celebrations surround food somehow. And, judging from the expanding waistline of most folks in North America, we must be the happiest people on Earth!

Digestion really begins with anticipation as our brain triggers the feeling of hunger. Hunger is associated with a family of hormones that "turn on" when our blood sugar drops and "turn off" when our stomachs expand – especially when what we take in has viscosity or thickness to it.

For proper digestion we need water, fiber, proteins, fats and carbohydrates – including starches.

The first step to healthy digestion

The most important recommendation for digestive health is to chew your food thoroughly. Starches and other carbohydrates begin their digestive journey as we chew. Take a small bite, put your fork down and focus on slowing down and chewing your food until it is only water.

Food that is not properly chewed will not properly digest, and large, undigested particles of food will inflame your intestines. Inflammation is at the heart of most chronic illnesses. Inflammation triggers the release of antibodies from your immune system that are designed to remove damaging proteins and protect us. They "remember" the threat – in this case from improperly-chewed food – and treat any similar food as an enemy. This is often the source of food allergy: improperly chewed food!

So remember, poorly chewed food creates inflammation in the digestive tract, which may create food allergies. Chronic inflammation also kills healthy tissue, which provides fertile ground for breeding infection – especially bacteria and yeast infection (many Candida infections result from chronic digestive tract inflammation).

Digestion basics

When we swallow, our stomach is already prepared to receive the food. A hormone called pepsinogen is waiting to bond with hydrochloric acid and produce an enzyme called pepsin. Cinnamon and glucomanan fiber (Leanology capsules) support healthy digestion in the stomach.

After about half an hour, the food begins to pass through the stomach into your small intestine. At the same time, your pancreas secretes enzymes into your small intestine to meet this bolus of food. The starch has been neutralized by chewing and the protein has been prepared by your stomach. Now, the special enzymes from the pancreas convert these nutrients for transport. Most of the magic of digestion occurs in the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum. Again, fiber and aromatic herbs like cinnamon aid digestion in the small intestine. Also, aloe vera can benefit digestion as an anti-inflammatory.

Most vitamins are absorbed in the stomach and first part of the small intestine. Proteins, fats and other nutrients are absorbed throughout the intestinal tract. Minerals, especially iron and calcium, are absorbed in the large intestine as the last drops of water are taken out of your food.

Stress and digestion

Have you ever experienced butterflies in your stomach? Most of us have. A nervous stomach will not properly digest or absorb food. Stress impairs digestion. Adaptogen 10 Plus has specific botanical extracts that have been used for thousands of years to settle a nervous stomach (it also contains robust levels of aloe vera).

A little help from our friends

Our intestines are teeming with trillions of bacteria – most of them friendly! These bacteria are called "probiotics" and are needed to help us utilize our vitamins and minerals. Healthy bacteria can grow in your digestive system if we have enough water and fiber in our diet and supplements. Eating the right amount of high water-content fruits and vegetables and drinking the right amount of water will give us the best environment for growing our own probiotics.

Take care of your digestion by eating nutritiously and chewing slowly. Include water, fiber, proteins, healthy carbohydrates and healthy fats. Remember, your digestion is impaired by stress. So, consider ways to reduce your stress and supplement your diet with adaptogens to protect digestive health from stress. And don’t forget the joy of eating. Joy is really a sign of acceptance. Acceptance is essential for physical and emotional health!

Learn more!

• Do You Suffer from Food Allergies?
• GERD and Acid Reflux

Tags: Food Digestion