Find your inner balance
Find your inner balance
By: State Point
Every year millions of people vow to get fit and improve their health by joining a gym and following a healthier diet. Unfortunately, many overlook an essential part of our overall health and wellness — the digestive system.
When the digestive system is out of balance, you are vulnerable to experiencing occasional digestive upsets that can slow you down and make you feel sluggish and unhealthy.
Registered dietitian and Align spokesperson, Ashley Koff, offers these tips for working towards a healthier 2010:
Mind your manners
Talking while you’re eating, chewing gum and drinking through a straw can all cause you to swallow excess air, leaving you uncomfortable.
Great things do come in small packages
Allow yourself to enjoy the occasional treat, but limit yourself to just a taste or bite. The smaller portion will be better for your digestive system and can help you feel less bloated.
How sweet it is
Keep this in mind the next time you reach for a treat. Sugars, dried fruit, sweeteners and juice are treats that may not be friendly to all digestive systems. Carbonated drinks like sugary sodas can make your stomach feel puffy and distended. Keep it simple — stick to water with lemon or herbal tea.
Underwhelm the digestive system
How do we calm irritability? Take a few things off your plate — literally. When we eat and drink less at one time, we present less to the digestive system.
Don’t feel weighed down
Hop on the treadmill, hit the dance floor or just run around with your nieces and nephews — anything. Working up a sweat releases fluids your body might be holding, and exercising each day can help to move food along your digestive tract. Before beginning a new exercise program or regimen, though, talk to your doctor to see what kind of activity is right for you.