Digestive wellness has a major impact on your health. Statistics show that one of the most prescribed medications is for digestive complaints. Your digestive system makes more immunological decisions in one day then the rest of the body makes in a lifetime. The main purpose of the body’s digestive system is to provide nutrients for every cell in your body. If it’s not working properly you start to feel fatigued, can’t think properly and begin to develop symptoms of disease.

What causes digestive imbalance?

• Not chewing food enough
• Helicobacter pylori
• Other parasites
• Poor food choices
• Poor fibre intake
• Low water intake
• Stress
• Illness
• Infection
• Some medications
• Toxins – environmental toxins, irritants, heavy metals, cigarette smoke
• Low stomach acid
• Alcohol
• Coffee
• Lack of exercise
• Poor sleep
• Genetics

Diet and lifestyle have been found to have a dramatic effect on how your genes express themselves. A low-fat, whole-food, plant-based diet with moderate exercise and daily stress management has been shown to turn-off disease promoting genes and turn-on disease protective genes.

How is your digestion?

Answer this quick poll to give feedback on your digestive health...

Why do you need good digestion?

• To protect against toxic exposure
• Strengthen immune system
• Reduce inflammation
• Absorb nutrients
• General good health

What health conditions can be promoted by poor digestion?

• ADHD
• Allergies
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Autism
• Autoimmune disease
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Chronic Fatigue
• Coeliac
• Crohn’s disease
• Cystitis
• Diabetes
• Eczema
• Fibromyalgia
• Insulin Resistance
• Irritable Bowel Disease
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Migraines
• Obesity/overweight
• Osteoporosis
• Psoriasis
• Pyroluria
• Schizophrenia
• Sjogren’s Syndrome
• Ulcerative Colitis

How can you improve your digestion?

It’s an old cliché but “you are what you eat”, but there is much more. The first step is to identify nourishing foods that are digestion-enhancing and provide a health-supportive diet that works for both you and your family. A healthy diet includes natural, whole-foods including fruit, plenty of vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, seeds, providing plenty of fibre and a healthy balance of good quality fats, high-quality protein and carbohydrates. Nutrition Australia has recently updated their Food Pyramid to be more in-line with a more Mediterranean type diet article. Add plenty of water, moderate exercise, relaxation and mindful eating and you are on your way to healthy digestion. Gut supportive nutrients may be beneficial, using supplements including pre-biotics, pro-biotics, digestive enzymes, gut relief and anti-parasitic formulas and good quality fish oil.

Do you need additional support to improve your digestion?

For some simple advice you can talk to a Naturopath or Nutritionist at Mr Vitamins.

Naturopath Janne Ramsay

Janne Ramsay is a Naturopath at Mr Vitamins. She runs regular workshops on Digestion and Detox.  If you would like to learn more join Janne as she takes you through an informative and fun presentation on the basics of healthy digestion. If you would like speific advice and support and would benefit from an individual program, contact Naturopath Janne Ramsay or make an appointment to see her in the clinic Learn more about Janne here Digestion and Detox programs are also offered via Skype appointment