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Important, Please Read:
If you choose to take vitamins, minerals, herbs or change your diet, make sure you are informed and consult a physician or dietitian before taking any supplements.
Wikipedia.org
Digestive system
How It Works
Digestion begins in the the digestive tract. Organs that make up the digestive tract are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (also called the colon) rectum, and anus. The mouth, stomach, and small intestine produce juices to help digest food. The liver and the pancreas, produce digestive juices. The gallbladder stores the liver’s digestive juices until they are needed in the intestine. The digestive tract contains a layer of smooth muscle that helps break down food and move it along the tract. The nervous and circulatory systems play major roles in the digestive system.
Food enters the mouth where it is chewed and broken down into small pieces, mixed with digestive juices that brake it down into smaller parts and swallowed. It moves through the esophagus and into the stomach where the food is broken down into even smaller bits by digestive enzymes. Next it enters the small intestines where nutrients from the food is absorbed and flow into the bloodstream. The body uses the nutrients from this digested food to build and nourish cells and to provide energy. Leftovers that your body can't use move to the large intestine where water is extracted and recycled back into the body. Finally waste is expelled out of the anus.
- Being relaxed and calm before, during and after eating can be a benefit to digestion and good health. Eating slowly allows your stomach to feel full sooner so you don't overeat.
- Chewing your food completely helps your body absorb more nutrients.
- Avoid overeating. Drinking a little water before eating helps.
- Try to avoid cold foods and drinks until after eating meals. They can reduce digestive enzymes.
- Freshly cooked and partially raw foods (vegetables) digest better and are absorbed by the body easily.
- Taking probiotics can help food digest better allowing more absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Healthy Food
- alfalfa sprouts
- apples
- bananas
- cold water fish
- flax seed (ground)
- garlic
- grains (100% whole)
- honey
- oat meal
- oranges
- wheat germ
Immune system
The immune system works to defend the body against attacks by “foreign” invaders. It is the immune system’s job to keep them out or to seek out and destroy them.
Building and Maintaining
- Get plenty of sleep, at least 8 hours.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Vitamins: C, E
- Minerals: Zinc, selenium
- Foods: Yogurt for good digestion , garlic, walnuts and almonds.
- Cold water fish oils and flax seed oil for omega-3 fatty acids.
Loosing Weight and Good Health
- Lose weight the healthy way. Try to consume less calories and then burn more than you are taking in. Always eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Drinking water is very important in any diet, whether losing or gaining weight.
- Eating foods with protein and fiber will help you lose weight and feel full. Protein builds muscle and fiber helps with regular bowel movements and also helps to clean out toxins in the intestines. Its best to get most of your proteins from beans, peas, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables more than from meat.
Supplements and Good Health
- Its best to get nutrients from food, but sometimes we may need to take supplements in the form of vitamins, minerals or herbs with food to maintain or improve health.
Whole Foods
- Choose whole foods instead of processed foods whenever possible. Fresh from the garden, recently frozen and canned are best.
