To Your Health
April, 2012 (Vol. 06, Issue 04) |
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Digestive Herbs and Nutrients that also benefit Mood, Immunity, Hormones & Energy
One interesting link is the fact that many digestive-supporting herbs and supplements also work to improve brain and neurological function, hormone balance, immune health and more.
Supplements are especially important for digestive health, as they can offer significant and relatively fast-acting support for components of your digestion that are not functioning optimally. The following is a list of key nutrients that support not only digestive but other connected areas of health:
- Probiotics and Prebiotics: These are two of the most important supplements you can take to help restore healthy digestion. Probiotics provide live strains of friendly bacteria that are crucial for digestive, immune and neurological health, and prebiotics ensure that your friendly flora are provided with a nourishing environment in which they can thrive.
- Zinc: An important nutrient for digestive health, which also plays critical roles in hormone regulation, immune health and neurological function.
- Chinese Cardamom: Offers numerous benefits for digestion, increases antioxidant levels and boosts immunity. Also helps to combat unhealthy cellular growth and balance hormones with the compound Indole-3 Carbinole.
- Cinnamon: Soothes digestive discomfort, improves digestive capacity, boosts immunity, and balances blood sugar.
- Ginger Root: Improves digestion, reduces inflammation and purifies GI tract, increases antioxidant levels and boosts immunity.
- Fish Oils: Reduces inflammation and help heal GI tract lining, improve nutrient absorption, balance hormones, improve neurological function and boost immunity.
- Proteolytic Enzymes: Increase digestive capacity and nutrient absorption, boost immunity and increase vital energy.
Additional Tips for Improving Digestive Health and Well Being
There are many factors that influence the health of our digestive system. Some of the most common causes of digestive discomfort include poor diet, late meals, rushed eating, food allergies and most of all, stress. Simply taking the time to slow down and eat healthy foods in a mindful way can greatly improve digestive health and relieve tension. The following practical tips can help you improve overall digestion for optimal health:
- Include an abundance of fiber in your diet from fresh fruits, vegetables and whole, unprocessed grains
- Avoid processed foods, commercial meats and trans-fats (unhealthy fats)
- Test for food allergies and sensitivities with your doctor
- Refrain from eating two to three hours before bedtime
- Drink plenty of filtered water and herbal teas for proper hydration
- Find healthy ways to relieve stress such as meditation, exercise and laughter
- Practice yoga for improving digestive function and reducing stress
- Limit your use of over-the-counter and prescription drugs
- Limit caffeine and alcohol, which damage friendly bacteria
The Gluten-Free Movement
If you have ongoing digestive or immune issues, it is possible that you may have an undiagnosed gluten sensitivity, which is common for many people. Gluten-dense foods can interfere with digestive capacity and have also been found to contribute to the onset of inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorders, neurological and behavioral illness, skin diseases, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue, and a host of other degenerative conditions. A growing number of people who present such symptoms have tested negative for gluten intolerance or Celiac disease, an autoimmune condition where any intake of gluten damages the lining of the small intestine. However, after following a strict gluten-free diet for even as little as a week or two, their symptoms clear up dramatically.
Time Tested Wisdom Validated by Science
These intriguing connections confirm what traditional healing systems have proposed for thousands of years – that individual digestive ecosystems play a large role in how we look, feel, think and act. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) teaches that there are direct relationships between different systems of the body. Western medicine is uncovering many of these same relationships, such as the complex gut/brain connection, from a scientific standpoint. These striking parallels between modern science and ancient healing wisdom will continue to unfold as our research-based understandings of human physiology continue to shed new light onto time-tested philosophies of health and healing.
Broad spectrum health benefits are common to many natural therapies. In the case of digestive health, however, the seemingly diverse effects offered by many digestive remedies give us a more in-depth perspective on the direct connections between gut health, immune health, brain function and overall well being. For optimal health and wellness, listen to your gut!
IsaAc Eliaz, MD, LAc, MS, has been practicing integrative, holistic medicine for more than 25 years. He is the medical director of Amitabha Medical Clinic and Healing Center in Sebastopol, Calif., where integrative health practitioners work with patients to treat cancer and other chronic illness. Learn more at www.dreliaz.org.
