Digestive Supplements

Digestive disorders are common diseases that often originate in the food supply. Diet revision should be the primary therapy. Basic symptoms alert you to the gastrointestinal tracts displeasure with your food choices - nausea, heartburn, vomiting, bloating, pain, constipation and diarrhea. Over-the-counter medications for digestive (gastrointestinal) tract symptoms is a multi-billion dollar industry and people often self-medicate when symptoms are mild or infrequent.

There are things you can do to help aid your body to properly digest foods. Here is a list of some of the more common treatments and supplements:

Every morning before breakfast, freshly squeeze the juice of 1 - 2 lemons in 1 cup of spring or filtered water. This small but effective daily routine will help to cleanse the stomach of left over debris and remove any excess acid.

Another daily drink taken late morning or sometime before lunch will help cleanse your body- This is 1tsp - 1 tbsp of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with apple juice (freshly squeezed is even better).

Avoid cold drinks while eating. Food is digested more efficiently at around body temperature, therefore cold fluid can slow down the digestive processes.

Swedish Bitters can usually be obtained from a good health food store. The taste of bitter herbs, foods, juices etc, 20 - 30mins before eating will increase digestive function by encouraging the release of digestive enzymes, juices and acids.

CHEW your food! One of the most important mechanisms of digestion, yet more often than not, the most forgotten! Chewing is the first stage of digestion. It not only physically breaks down foods, but signals the organs to secrete their digestive juices (pancreatic enzymes, stomach acids etc) in order to prepare for the incoming foods.

Next, some herbs which aid digestion in general: For example Gentian, Barberry, Angelica, Sweet Flag and Dandelion Root aid in the stimulation of digestive juices.

Preparations of these herbs include teas; capsules; tablets or drops. Peppermint, Licorice, Chamomile make great tasting, soothing and calming teas, while the culinary herbs, Cardamom, Cloves, Fennel, Ginger and Cinnamon can be added to meals, taken as teas (except cloves) or as capsules or tablets.