So many individuals tell me that they suffer from constant pain, discomfort, bloating, gas, constipation and/or diarrhea. What is happening? Why is it that practically every other person has some of these symptoms? In my opinion, it can be boiled down to 2 main things, poor diet and tremendous levels of stress.
Let’s first take a look at what can be done from a dietary perspective. Upon awakening, try to get into the habit of drinking a half glass of pure distilled water mixed with a little aloe vera juice with either a squeeze of fresh organic lemon or 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. This simple step will not only help keep the body alkaline as opposed to acidic where mucus, toxins and illness proliferate but will also help soften stools and have a healing effect on the digestive system. Next, be sure to consume a little grain cereal preferibly that has been soaked the night before to rid the phytic acid. After soaking, it cooks up quickly. Make enough for a couple of days and keep in the refrigerator. Grains are important to consume at each meal. They are loaded with B vitamins which tend to be deficient in the diets of people with the above mentioned symptoms. Other great grains to be soaked and cooked are brown rice and quinoa which can be consumed for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Also crucial, is to consume an organic plain yogurt with active acidophilus and bifidus cultures on a daily basis. This will flood the intestinal tract with the good bacteria that your body needs. To obtain the omega 3 essential fatty acids, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of ground flax or chia seed on top. It is crucial that you eat dark leafy greens on a daily basis. These are loaded with minerals and are an exceptional source of folic acid and vitamin K which builds intestinal flora. Finally, it is important to consume proper amounts of protein at each and every meal. Good sources are all beans, tempeh, certain fish and occasional grass fed meats in very small amounts.
As far as stress levels are concerned, it is extremely important to eat in the right frame of mind. Don’t eat if you are angry, upset, irritated or in a hurry. You will do more harm than good. Take some deep breaths and clear your mind of clutter. Find some time early in the morning or prior to retiring for the night to perform some deep breathing exercises. They can be done within a few minutes and you will feel a definite shift of energy and will have more oxygen available for bowel function. Sit in a comfortable spot, close your eyes and breath deeply. Hold the breath for however long it feels comfortable and exhale through the nose. Do this several times.
Enjoy the new you!
