Tips to help digestion

Being able to digest your food is a key to good health. In Ayurveda and Weston A. Price traditions - digestion is seen as the key, the place where all health or illness begins. It makes sense when you think about it. The different systems of our body need certain nutrients in order to work effectively. If something is impairing our digestive process, those nutrients won't be broken down and assimilated. Simply put, the car can't go without gas. And if it's missing an essential part like a tire, or say, the engine is defunct, you won't be in for a smooth ride.

In our culture, there is a lot of emphasis on what to eat. While definitely important, what often gets overlooked is how we eat. Chewing your food well is essential for optimal digestion. This post has lots of good info on chewing your food, including ideas to help you remember to do so. I've included a few more tips below on how to eat, helping you to digest your food well.

Tips to help digestion:

Eat without distraction

I have to admit, this was initially one of the hardest tips for me to implement. Now, it's my favorite way to eat. I'm a multi-tasker, many of us are. I ate while working on the computer. While standing up and walking around. Watching a movie rental. Even driving!

All of this motion throws off your nervous system. You may not notice it, but you're always in the middle of an adrenal (and often mental) spin. This makes it hard to digest. Instead, sit outside in nature or clean the area around where you're eating so the meal is the main focal point. You'll not only enjoy your food more, you'll support your overall health.

Eat until 75% full

Often, when eating becomes one of the many tasks we are doing at the moment, we tend to not pay attention to how much we're eating or realize that we were full five minutes ago. Eating without distraction gracefully leads into this next tip. When you're focusing on your meal, on chewing thoroughly, you'll notice when you've had that "just right" amount. Kinda like Goldilocks. When we overeat, our body works overtime to try and break everything down. It's like moving through sludge, even if the ingredients were healthy to begin with. 

Lay on your left side for 10 minutes after eating

Depending on where you are, it may not always be possible to do this. Though I did see a man do this once, about 10 years ago, at a sushi restaurant, followed by a very loud sound coming from, oh, the middle of his backside. Besides laughing, I dismissed it, figuring it was just a ritual he did.

Turns out, he was onto something. I learned about this tip a few days ago from my Ayurvedic practitioner Kim. In this position, gravity works with the digestive tract and flow of the digestive process. It's also relaxing, and again, when relaxed, digestion works easier (as does any area of your life!). 

What other tips have you learned about to help with digestion? Share your resources here...