clean living// optimizing summer digestion
OPTIMIZING SUMMER DIGESTION
clean living// products and practices
SUMMER IS HERE and with it brings a whole new wave of summer routines, foods, activities, and practices. i love the change of a new season, but i especially love summer. for many, it means more time spent outside, more moments with friends and family, and more memories to be made.
with the summer season often also comes the desire to kick into gear with healthy eating, working out, grooming, and other forms of self-care. i’m not sure what it is about the sun and the warm weather, but it seems like everyone is in the mode to prep themselves for being out.
one of the most IMPORTANT PRACTICES you can do for your health and prepping yourself for that “summer bod” isn’t working out, or dieting, or trying the newest quick-fix fad. it’s taking care of your body, starting from the inside, out.
for those of you who have been following along with me for a while, you know how passionate i am about GUT HEALTH. i talk so much about this in my clean living programs THE CLEAN SWEEP, where i take a deep dive into food, products, and practices that help optimize the health of your gut, and bring you along a step by step guide for how to transition your body and your routine over to clean living.
your gut regulates so many functions in the body, from your immune system, to your energy levels, hormone functions, and more. i could go on and on about the importance of caring for you gut, but as it pertains to summer and summer body prep, your gut health can help conquer your bloating woes, boost your energy, and help you enjoy those yummy summer eats without stomach aches, bloating, or guilt and regret.
here are just a few PRACTICES and PRODUCTS you can implement to improve the health of your gut, optimize your digestion, and get your body functioning at it’s happiest and healthiest for the summer.
PRACTICES –
stay hydrated with filtered water// this helps tremendously with the proper absorption of food and helps to balance good bacteria in the gut
chew your food// did you know that the digestion process actually begins with your eyes? your eyes see the food you want or are about to intake, and it signals to your saliva glands in your mouth to start producing liquid. this necessary step works with the digestive enzymes in your stomach to break down your food and absorb its proper nutrients.
when you neglect to slow down and chew your food, you make the work of your stomach much harder. this hard and unnecessary functioning of the stomach can result in a number of symptoms from stomach cramps and pain, to bloating, gas, and constipation
consume whole foods that feed your body// your body needs whole foods–and processed foods, no matter which way you spin them, are not whole foods. your body is a naturally tuned machine to absorb the nutrients it needs. in that machine, is the digestive system, and there is no other function of the digestive system besides getting what your body needs and discarding the rest. because processed foods are not nutrients, your body discards them, or either misunderstands the processed food and absorbs it. this results in a number of undesirable symptoms: in the long run, symptoms like weight gain, and in the short run, you may experience anything from lack of energy, headaches, breakouts, rashes, bloating, and the list goes on. in short, discard the processed foods and eat whole foods that contribute to the health of your gut and help your body thrive
eat enough fiber// natural fiber aids in the softening of your stool, making it easier to pass through your digestive system. this further reduces negative symptoms correlated to a hard stool such as bloating, gas, cramping, and constipation. fruit is a great NATURAL SOURCE of fiber. it also digests the fastest out of any food category and for this reason should be enjoyed at the beginning of each day, or first in a meal if eating throughout your day.
understand what food negatively impacts your body and aim to avoid it// this is a very important and intuitive step as every body is different, and this is something to be celebrated. often times diets and meal plans can be so confusing because what works for one person, is not one size fits all for the rest. what one friend may be able to eat and enjoy, may not be true for you. the only way you can find out is through trial and error, and the process of elimination. when you eat, listen intuitively to your body; from your energy levels, the clarity of your focus, and the feeling in your stomach. not all foods will be the same, so when practicing this method, do not fill your plate with a number of foods you think your body will be negatively affected by. instead, eat one item one meal at a time to see how your body responds.
eat in a restful and stress-free state// your emotions impact the functions of your body, including your digestion. this includes a number of things from stress eating, to mindlessly snacking, to overindulging while experiencing sadness, and more. food is an emotional experience. think of the wave of memories you experience when you smell a familiar dish or the food you crave when you physically enter a familiar place. our bodies are intuitive to instinct more than we give credit, and because of this, we must be careful when eating. from our habits to the actual workings of our stomach, our bodies crave healthy practices, because healthy practices create healthy functions.
warm foods are so much easier to digest compared to cold food or drinks// going back to the inner workings of your stomach, the temperature of your food has a great effect on your digestion. your body can more easily break down and absorb foods when they are at body temperature. when foods are consumed cold, your stomach has to additionally work to warm the foods to body temperature, in order to break them down and absorb them properly.
PRODUCTS –
here are just a few of my favorite digestion and gut-boosting products. all of these are entirely clean, products i use myself, and have a number of benefits each which you can find on the product pages.
the beauty chef// gut primer inner beauty support
traditional medicinals// tea belly comfort peppermint