Fight back by fixing your digestion, naturally

April 9th, 2009

3427231579 79dffae442 o Fight back by fixing your digestion, naturally

This topic has been on my mind a lot lately. People hesitate to tell you about their gas or constipation, but take look in any grocery store and you will see evidence that a huge percentage of people suffer from digestive troubles. Brands like Immodium or Pepto Bismol would be out of business otherwise.

Actually, I’m sure these brands are doing just fine. The economy can only be good for sales of antacids and heartburn meds! Here’s an ad from Pepto Bismol speaking to exactly that:

pepto bismol Fight back by fixing your digestion, naturally

So, what are we to think? We are broken people should be grateful to medicine for allowing our lives to be comfortable? Or maybe, just maybe, something is off. Even the simplest creatures must eat food and digest it. Why should so many people be suffering from trying to do the same?

On a recent trip to the grocery store, I counted 15 different types of fiber supplements, 16 kinds of laxatives, 10 ways to get relief from gas, 17 anti-diarrheal medications and a whopping 36 antacid/heartburn relievers! In each category there was at least 1 product dedicated especially to children or infants.

Really? Even kids can’t poop properly?

Since our digestion is so tied to our energy levels I thought I’d point out that the store also carried 2 kinds of medicine to keep you awake (and countless sodas and coffees.) But, oh, take too much of those? Well then there was 5 kinds of sleep aids.

Something is wrong here.

I took a stroll through the rest of the store. All in all, a pretty nice store with a good selection albeit nothing organic. They had 15 kinds of dried beans. 13 different varieties of apples. They even had 8 types of fresh dark, leafy greens. But there definitely was not 36 varieties of any fiber-rich whole food.

I’m not saying I know anything about grocery store stocking but imagine a world with 36 types of kale on the shelf. Is that the same world that uses medications to aid digestion day in and day out?

My point is that is is possible to have a healthy, functioning digestive system and medications are not the answer. The Standard American Diet is to blame. Cleaning up your diet will take you much closer to happy digestion than any box of pills.

I was popping Tums and Pepto and running for Immodium fairly often prior to changing my eating habits. And heaven knows there is a time and a place for medicines like these! But I’d prefer not to consume more man-made chemicals than necessary. I’ll just be over here, eating some kale instead.

There are lots of ways to remedy a pissed-off digestive track. And it could take some time and trial and error. This is a big area I work with clients on. Everyone is different but please know that what you eat is the biggest factor in how well your digestion works. Other factors may include: physical activity, emotional and mental health.

Here is an idea for a natural remedy for diarrhea that even the cleanest eater might need during say, flu season.

3379386653 18cb47d1b8 o Fight back by fixing your digestion, naturally

Ume Plum Tea
1 cup water
1/2 umeboshi plum
1 heaping tsp. kuzu, diluted in 1/4 cup cold water
a few drops soy sauce

1. Bring water and plum to a boil. Simmer 3 minutes.
2. Add dilution of kuzu, stirring to break up lumps.
3. Bring back to a boil. Add soy sauce and let simmer 4 more minutes.
Drink while hot. Leaving out the kuzu, this drink is also good for nausea and heartburn.

This post is proudly part of The Kathleen Show’s Prevention, Not Prescripton Tuesdays and Food Renegade’s Fight Back Fridays.

pixel Fight back by fixing your digestion, naturally

19 Comments beans, digestion, groceries, public health

  • http://www.fakefoodfree.com Lori

    You make such a great point. I see all those meds on the shelves, but never compared them to the produce aisle. The same can probably be said for vitamins. I’ve never understood why people would rather resort to a pill/med than eat real food. I’ve had my time with multi-vitamins and supplements in the past, but learned that if we would just eat real, healthy food with variety we’d have everything taken care of from a nutrient perspective. That is what food is for, right? Nutrition and enjoyment. Yeah, I thought so. ;)

  • http://www.happylotus.com Nadia – Happy Lotus

    I agree with you 100%. It is amazing to me that we have so many kinds of medicines and vitamins. Vitamins should come from our food, not in a tablet.

    I think we have lost sight of how natural life is supposed to be. I am always amazed when people think that when you get older, you will have to take so many pills to stay alive. My grandmother lived to 86 and looked 20 years younger without taking any pill and she did not have any kind of plastic surgery. Natural is the way to be!

    BTW, the idea of 36 kinds of kale would be awesome! Great post, Michelle! :)

  • http://www.joyfuldays.com/ Daphne @ Joyful Days

    Michelle,

    Hats off for writing about a potentially sensitive topic with such easy frankness. Digestion is truly the problem nobody wants to talk about. I find that when I get enough fibre, everything takes care of itself. You did some great research for this post!

    I love the look of your blog – I don’t remember the green leaf on top last time I was here. Did you tweak the design or am I just forgetful?

  • Nicole Baird

    This is exactly why I’ve stepped up my “whole foods” diet. I always thought I ate fairly healthy–tons of fruit and veggies, mostly whole grains; but when I’m pregnant, I experience an added level of constipation and the additional problems that go with that. (I’ll spare you the details) So 2 months ago, I decided to do something about it and committed to not consuming white flour at all. What a help! Your website has been fun to get recipes and “straight” talk. :)

  • http://localnourishment.wordpress.com/ Peggy

    I started a post on this last night! Great minds think alike!

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  • http://bonnenutrition.blogspot.com/ Sweta

    It’s sad to see how much we depend on pills for everything, when we can get everything from food with just the right approach!
    BTW,have you heard of isabgol(seeds of a plant native to India)-ancient texts in Ayurveda advised it for constipation.Now,the same is being used in many of the OTC products available here(Metamucil,Bonvit,Fybogel)

  • http://burpandslurp.wordpress.com Sophia

    wow. this post sure made me think. I also have a friend who suffers from constipation and frequently have to rely on laxatives. we are only messing up our bodies with all these pills and junk! natural is the way to go!

  • http://findyourbalancehealth.com Michelle

    @Lori – Nutrition and enjoyment, you bet. I’ve never enjoyed swallowing pills, have you?

    @Nadia – Agreed. I wish I had a garden or I’d start seeing how many kinds of kale I could grow :-)

    @Daphne – thanks! oh, i always love talking about pooping. haha! my clients are always afraid to talk about their gas or whatever, but i’m like, hey, I talk about this all day! And I have always had this dangling kale leaf, since I moved from my old blog at What Does Your Body Good? to here. That was the be redesign!

    @Nicole – congrats on finding some natural relief! Glad to hear that losing white flour did the trick and listen…I’m ALWAYS here for straight talk. :-)

    @Peggy – nice! post twins :-)

    @LocalNourishment – thanks for the link!

    @Sweta – I’ve never heard of that before but I have taken Triphala. Is it similar? LOVE to learn more about Ayurveda, keep the comments coming!

    @Sophia – So many people are just like your friend. I mean, laxatives are ok in a pinch but…well, you know :-)

  • http://www.naronja.blogspot.com/ Naronja

    Great post Michelle, I’m always a big fan of talking about digestion (and a long-term follower of your blog, although this is my first comment).
    I’ve recently started making my own kefir – fermenting milk using little cauliflower-shaped grains. It’s packed full of goodness and supposedly excellent for regulating the digestive system, even for those who usually have problems digesting dairy products. I’ve only been drinking it for 2 days, so I have yet to find out!

  • http://www.foodrenegade.com FoodRenegade

    Great post! It’s bizarre to me that people don’t connect digestive troubles with the food they’re eating.

    Thank you, too, for participating in Fight Back Fridays!

    Cheers,
    KristenM
    (AKA FoodRenegade)

  • http://www.foodforlaughter.blogspot.com Astra Libris

    This is SUCH an important topic!! Thank you for the great info!

  • http://ecoyogini.blogspot.com Lisa

    This was an interesting post. I have IBS (Irritable Bowel) and have suffered from digestive issues my ENTIRE life (my mother remembers what happened when she switched from breast milk to bottle…).
    I manage with my diet (for example dairy products are generally a no, I have to steam most of my vegetables and strawberries are BAD), but I also recognize that my IBS is closely tied to stress levels. So I manage my stress as well (i.e. saying “I’m sorry, I can’t do that” at work, doing yoga and NEVER taking work home with me). However, simply “eating well” would never “cure” my IBS. If I only ate what my stomach could handle I would be eating white pasta and mushy carrots. UGH.

    Also- I have found I really need to be careful about what kind of “fiber” i take in. For example- flax seeds and any sort of “grain” bread- multi grain, 16 grain etc, can be deadly (because of the way my digestive system works- and many individuals who suffer IBS also must beware= the seeds are prematurely ripped through the smaller intestines, causing internal bleeding; trust me a trip to emerg was my reward for trying to eat more fiber).

    I think your point about all the medications and drugs used to handle our poor digestion and conditions like IBS totally misses the cause. Dealing with something caused by stress with medications will NOT end the cause… stress and poor eating habits. Did you know that the number one prescribed drug for IBS is anti-depressants? A dietician actually recommended I mention this to my GP when I informed her I had IBS…. I told her I wasn’t depressed and didn’t want to flood my body with synthetic hormones and drugs thank you very much.

    Thank you so much for bringing out a topic that is natural and we shouldn’t be ashamed of :)

    Blessings!
    Lisa

  • http://ecoyogini.blogspot.com Lisa

    Oops! I mean to say: “I think your point about all the medications and drugs used to handle our poor digestion and conditions like IBS totally misses the cause” *IS GREAT!!*

    so sorry about that!! :) I liked your post :)

  • http://dietdessertndogs.com Ricki

    Great post, Michelle. And I (like all the other commenters) couldn’t agree more. As someone who also has IBS (or maybe I should say “had”–symptoms disappeared when I started eating right!), I know the power of good, clean eating for digestion!

    Also, re: your comment on my chia pudding post (sorry this is so late–we were away for the long weekend): thanks so much for the comment and for trying out the sweet potato frosting! I’m so glad you liked it and that it worked out for you. :)

  • http://www.soapandchocolate.com Diana (Soap & Chocolate)

    You are so right! I hadn’t thought of this before, but it’s so true that since I really started taking ownership of my eating, I rarely to never need something like Pepto. That’s motivation to eat well, if nothing else!

  • http://summertomato.com darya

    Good call! Amazing how much more effective whole grains are than Metamucil. Much better for you too.

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  • http://www.culinarywannabe.blogspot.com Culinary Wannabe

    Every time I see commercials for those yogurts that make you “regular” I think the same thing. I also think that having a cup of coffee a day can do wonders for ones digestion. :) On another note, it looks like things are going so well for you! I’m so excited to see all that you are doing!

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