If your body needs a reset, it's time to eat clean. This lemony toasted quinoa and wilted cabbage salad is the perfect recipe for any clean-eating endeavors; not only do the flavors meld well together, but each ingredient helps aid digestion, like the fiber in the quinoa, chickpeas, and cabbage and the detoxifying properties of lemon. Serving with an optional dollop of probiotic-filled Greek yogurt will also aid in regulating your system.
Pickled vegetables are an excellent way to add flavor to your meals, especially if you're looking to lose weight. Not only are pickles low in calories, but studies have also shown that adding vinegar to your diet can help keep you feeling fuller and more satisfied for longer. And it's not just about weight loss: other studies have shown that vinegar can lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels as well as blood pressure; the pectin in apple cider vinegar can also help with constipation.
I used cucumbers, onions, and red jalapeños in this recipe, but feel free to experiment with other produce to see what kind of pickles you like best. You can serve these pickles after a few hours in the fridge, but they taste best after a few days.
If you're feeling bloated, sluggish, or otherwise low energy, it's time to whip up this digestion-relieving smoothie. Almost every ingredient in this recipe is good for your gut: papaya helps you debloat and relieves constipation, Greek yogurt offers healthy probiotics for your system, and ginger and mint help calm any stomach upsets. It even has a splash of lemon juice to help flush out toxins. Keep this recipe on hand for any overindulgent days.
Belly discomfort and indigestion plague everyone from time to time. But instead of constantly canceling plans or chewing on Tums, focused yoga poses can help stimulate your digestive tract to get things flowing naturally. If you're dealing with heavy heartburn or nausea it's best to steer clear of flipping upside down, but if you're dealing with some clogged pipes, it's time to move through this easy-to-follow yoga sequence to help move things along.
Photos courtesy of Jenny Sugar and Thinkstock
Can't get enough fruit? While perfect on its own, fresh fruit also takes great in cereal, salads, with cheese, topped with yogurt, or in smoothies. Recently a friend forwarded me an article claiming that to fully reap the nutritional benefits of fruit, it should be eaten separately, on an empty stomach. Have you heard this too?
A basic theory of trophology, a nutritional philosophy on food combining, is that fruits should be eaten as separate meals. It's said that fruit digests at a faster rate and requires different digestive enzymes than other foods such as proteins or carbs. When consumed with these foods the digestion of fruit is delayed, causing it to ferment in your gut. Strict supporters of the food combining theory attribute digestive issues like upset tummy, indigestion, gas, and constipation to mixing your fruit with other foods.
But don't give up your peanut butter and banana sandwiches just yet! You can feel good eating your fruit in whichever way you please since there's no scientific research to back up this fruit philosophy. If you're having issues with digesting fruit, you could try eating it separately to see if your body handles it better, but in my experiences, if I eat an apple on its own, my stomach wages a full-on rebellion.
Tell me, do you prefer eating fruit alone or with other foods?
Recently I realized that for three consecutive days, I was chugging copious amounts of water to force bite-sized chunks of food down my throat and these episodes of near choking were followed by serious digestive distress. Perhaps it’s time, I thought, to focus on chewing. A simple, everyday action that I thought I mastered before the age of 2, but it seems I was taking chewing for granted. I reminded myself that the whole process of breaking down food and converting it into energy starts in the mouth. Chewing is important.
For the last seven days, I have taken my mastication seriously and have noticed a bunch of things worth sharing. One, it takes a long time to really chew your food. It took me just under 30 minutes to eat a dinner-size salad with roast chicken and beets. That's a lot of chewing, which is good since it slows down the eating process. Occasionally, I would become bored with chewing and stop eating as soon as I felt sated, a great way to not overindulge. This process helps with dieting. Secondly, my digestion really improved. Gone was the random cramping and bloated feeling.
I challenge you all to focus on your eating. Take a refresher course on chewing when you read more
Feeling a bit stuffed? It is a common problem on Thanksgiving and can lead to discomfort. Here are a few ways to aid your digestion and detox after your big meal.
After the meal:
Learn how to help your digestive system tomorrow when you read more
Some of you have families that get active before the big Thanksgiving meal, playing a game of touch football, going for a hike, or running a few miles before gorging on the turkey and all the trimmings. If this doesn't sound like you're family, that's OK. But after your feast, encourage the family to go for a walk, instead of slumping onto the couch after the big feast. Walking after a rich meal actually reverses the arterial damage caused by fat.
Walking also aids digestion and can prevent heartburn if you're prone to it. Going for a brisk stroll will also offer some much needed fresh air to prevent getting sick and can help burn some of those calories you consumed. Not only that, but you can get away from the annoying relatives who ask those oh-so-personal questions about your love life. When you get back, if your stomach is still feeling uneasy, give these relaxing stretches a try.
Digesting your Thanksgiving meal is a feat unto itself. Take this quiz to see how eating turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, and apple pie affects your tummy.
With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm sure many of you are looking forward to chowing down on some delicious foods. Most of us end up eating way more than usual, and since many of the dishes may be richer or sweeter than you're used to, it can cause some major discomfort in the tummy department. Here are some gentle stretches you can do to ease digestion.
Don't see your favorite yoga pose here? Then write about it in our Yoga Stretch and Tell group. I am sure all of our digestive systems could benefit from a wide variety of stretches.
