We Are What We Eat, Digest and Absorb
We are what we eat. Even MORE true: we are what we eat, digest and absorb!
We are what we eat
Food is fuel for our bodies. But it doesn’t just give us energy, it can also impact our moods. Knowing this, how can we make better food choices?
Our gut or gastrointestinal tract is home to billions of bacteria. The food we eat directly affects our gut health (or the balance of good and bad bacteria) and influences the production of neurotransmitters (our body’s chemical messengers that are constantly carrying messages from the gut to the brain).
Because different foods trigger different moods, we can strategically choose foods that evoke desirable mood-states. For keeping our moods even and balanced, we can consume foods that promote good bacteria in our guts.
Our relationship to food is complex, but the consensus is that food should support both physical and mental well-being, and that the eating pattern most likely to achieve this outcome is one that is higher in plant proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while limiting saturated fats and added sugar. We also need to have a positive relationship with the foods we eat, and emphasis should be on a positive approach of choosing foods based on personal and cultural preferences rather than a negative approach of avoiding foods.
Eating is only the first step in the digestive process. The actual eating of food is the easy part, but to actually receive nourishment and benefit from food requires a little more consideration.
We are what we eat, digest and absorb
If your digestion isn’t optimal (ie if you get heartburn, bloating, indigestion, etc) after eating, then you may not be absorbing the wonderful nutrients in your healthy meal.
Your body will attempt to digest and absorb whatever is put into it. If your digestion isn’t optimal (ie if you get heartburn, bloating, indigestion, etc) after eating, then you may not be absorbing the wonderful nutrients in your healthy meal.
There are many things that irritate the digestive system and hinder absorption. The short list is things like caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and artificial ingredients, medications, artificially hydrogenated fats, genetically modified foods, and foods that have been pasteurized, refined and processed to the point of almost being sterile. Any combination of these things or more can set the stage for unpleasant and uncomfortable digestion and ineffective absorption. A misfiring digestive system can lead to things like food allergies, food intolerance, gas, bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, ulcers, leaky gut syndrome and potentially cancer especially in the colon.
Choosing raw over processed, chemical free over chemical laden, high fiber over low fiber, healthy fats over trans fats, complex carb over simple carb, and complete protein over incomplete protein could help to point you in the direction of a healthy comfortable digestive experience with maximum absorption.
Sounds too challenging? Katie Hammil, our Certified Nutritional Practitioner, can guide you in the right directing, setting up an easy, (small) step by step plan based on your needs and lifestyle.
