The Fundamentals to Good Health – Part 1
Few people are kind to their digestive systems.
Digestion begins in the mouth – enzymes in your saliva mix with our food and begin to work on it, particularly on carbohydrates. Chewing increases the surface area of our food making it easier for our enzymes to do their job further down the digestive tract. Chewing also alerts the digestive system further down the line, getting the pancreas and gall bladder ready. So if you chew your food well it gives your whole digestive system a head start.
Here I should mention about chewing gum – chewing gum alerts your digestive system and certain things are set into motion, but the digestive system is fooled, no food! I have come across many people who constantly chew gum and have digestive problems. Once they give up chewing gum, more often than not their digestive problems disappear.
Many people confess to gulping down their food, hardly stopping to chew or taste their food. Often paying little attention to what they eat or how much they eat. It is a difficult habit to break and will need a conscious effort.
The health of your mouth and teeth is so very important at any age, as it is vital to be able to chew your food properly. As we get older it is even more important that we look after our teeth and gums. Find a dentist you like and trust, paying them regular visits is very important, I would say that you need to do this every 6 months. A good dentist can even alert you to any health problems just from the state of your gums.
Many people have over the years got into the habit of not chewing well, for many different reasons. You are not going to chew your food properly if you have painful or sensitive teeth, sore gums or indeed if you have broken or missing teeth. You could be making poor food choices, purely due to the state of your teeth.
Many people grind their teeth and have no idea. The dentist can detect the tell tale signs of wear and tear. This grinding can cause people to have jaw aches, headaches, neck aches or many times just have sore teeth and gums making them sensitive to everything you eat or drink. Having a mouth guard can eliminate this problem for some people. Get a mouth guard made especially to fit your teeth and mouth it’s much more comfortable if you do, so when you grind your teeth there is a cushioning to reduce the impact and pressure. Calm your anxieties with herbal teas and try to avoid caffeine as it can heighten your anxieties.
However, for most people the problem isn’t their teeth – its being too busy, or having too many distractions, eating on the run etc.
These are some of the things you need to consider. Do not eat –
a) while standing
b) while reading
c) if you are angry
d) while watching television
e) while on the phone
f) while driving
Concentrate on what you are eating, chew well and savour your food. In truth few people pay much attention to how much they have eaten or to what they have eaten, as they are too busy doing something else while they eat. The small amount of extra time needed is well worth the investment, it will make a big difference to your digestion and ultimately your health. It really is only a little extra time and effort.
Drinking lots of water with meals is not a good idea as you dilute your digestive juices, but drinking water 20 to 30 minutes before a meal is really good for the digestion.
Saliva also helps to neutralize acidity in the mouth (protecting teeth) from acid foods and drinks that most people consume most of the time. Then saliva also prevents infections by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth. A dry mouth can be very uncomfortable, disturbing sleep, causing a sore throat all having a direct or indirect effect on your digestion and food choices. There are several causes of dry mouth like certain diseases, however, the most common being a side-effect of medication in particular anti-histamines and diuretics (in simple terms these drugs dry up the body). Other causes are dehydration, from chronic (more than short lived) vomiting, chronic sweating, chronic diarrheal and fever. If you have a dry mouth you need to consider making some life-style changes and get alternative help coming off medication, and sorting out these conditions.
Herbs – Sage or Thyme, the herbs found in your garden, or dried from supermarkets and can be made into a natural mouth wash. Take 1 tablespoon of sage or thyme per mug of boiled water – allow it to stand for 10 minutes then strain, do not swallow. This strong infusion can be used for bleeding gums, infections, and mouth sores. Once the infusion is made keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days only. The fresh leaves of sage can be rubbed into the gums for gingivitis.
Vitamins – take 1000mg of vitamin C each day, to prevent infection and bleeding gums, maintaining healthy blood vessels.
Foods – we all know that sugary foods and drinks are detrimental to your teeth and general health. Foods that strengthen your teeth and bones, and at the same time maintain a good acid-alkaline balance are any dark green plants/herbs/vegetables.
Buckwheat is a seed that is used like a grain. It contains a compound called rutin. Rutin is an antioxidant, vitamin-like substance that protects against capillary fragility and bruising (typical of many people with high blood pressure), as well as bleeding gums. Buckwheat flour can be used to make great pancakes. ‘Crepes’ made in Brittany where traditionally made from buckwheat. This flour is gluten-free flour.
Avoid drinking black tea with food as it will hinder the absorption of minerals like calcium, iron etc due to its high tannin levels. Taking calcium carbonate supplements will act like an antacid, which reduces digestion and hinders absorption - part two will explain what happens further down the digestive tract. Important to your fundamental health and well-being.
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