Newsletter Signup »
HERBSTALK
  • Home
  • Mission + Values
  • Apply
  • Event Info
  • About
  • Virtual Wintergreen
  • Press
    • Kind Words
  • Blog
  • Community Partners
  • Contact

7 Ways to Improve Your Digestion

4/7/2014

 
Submitted by Katie Munn of Anchor & Rose Apothecary.

The digestive system is one of the most import systems within the body. Keeping your digestion in tip-top shape is essential to health and well-being. Below are some tips on how to maintain healthy and happy digestion.

Mindfulness is Magic: Being mindful while eating sets the tone for your entire digestive process. Being mindful could include simple things such as saying a prayer before eating, blessing your food, or just taking a deep breath before eating. It doesn’t matter what you do, just do whatever helps you become present and relaxed while eating.

It’s the Way you Chew: Chewing your food thoroughly is so important for a number of reasons. Chewing your food well coats it with your enzyme-rich saliva, which aids in the digestive process. Combined with this the chewing process breaks down your meal into smaller pieces which is much easier on your stomach. So next time you eat make sure to slowly chew and savor your food.

Bitters for the Belly: Bitters are amazing for digestion. Bitters are foods or herbs that we commonly consume. Some examples are dandelion, greens and even coffee! Humans evolved eating bitter foods but sadly today’s normal diet is lacking in bitters. Bitters are important because they help stimulate the digestive process by producing digestive enzymes and balancing HCL in the stomach. So next time before you eat take some bitters to get the process jumpstarted!

Ginger Tea for You and Me: Herbal teas are wonderful for your stomach. Ginger tea is one I especially love due to its warming qualities. Ginger stimulates the digestive “fire” helping the stomach release enzymes to assist in the digestion process. Along with this it is anti-inflammatory and helps with nausea. So next time before you eat brew yourself a cup of ginger tea!

Fermentation is Fun: Many cultures around the world eat fermented foods on a daily basis. The reason for this is that fermented foods are full of “friendly” probiotic bacteria as well as enzymes. Some traditional fermented foods include sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha and even miso soup. Fermented foods are known to improve digestion, balance the bacteria in your gut and even boost your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients from the foods you eat. So invite your friends over and make a big vat of sauerkraut–your belly will thank you!

Exercise is Essential:  That’s right, movement is amazing for your digestive health! Exercise has been shown to help speed up digestion, increase blood flow to your organs, and even stimulate muscles in the GI tract. So this spring make sure to get out there and move your body!

Let’s Talk about Stress Baby: Stress can wreak havoc on the body–especially on the digestive system. Keeping your stress in check is key to maintaining a happy digestive tract. Preventive care is the best so do those little things everyday that help you de-stress and relax. It could be yoga, meditating, taking a walk in nature or drinking tea and doing a crossword puzzle. Whatever that “thing” is that helps you relax make it a priority for your health.

If you like these tips and want to hear more I’ll be giving a talk on digestive health at this year’s Herbstalk. Thanks for reading and many blessings to everyone this spring.


Katie Munn is a clinical herbalist and Reiki practitioner. She graduated from the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism with over 2000 hours of course work in Western Herbalism and Nutrition. When not teaching classes you can find Katie seeing clients or growing herbs on the organic farm she lives on. You can learn more about Katie on her website, Anchor & Rose Apothecary.

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Angelica
    Anxiety
    Aromatherapy
    Artichoke
    Autumn
    Ayni Institute
    Ayurveda
    Bath Salts
    Becoming An Herbalist
    Beltane
    Bitters
    Black Cohosh
    Blue Vervain
    Botanical Crafts
    Botanical Dyeing
    Cacao
    Calendula
    Cancer
    Canine Nutrition
    Cannabis
    Chaga
    Chamomile
    Chickweed
    Chinese Medicine
    Cleavers
    Climate Change
    Community
    Connection
    Cultivating
    Curandismo
    Dandelion
    Deserts
    Digestion
    Doshas
    Earth Healing
    Ecological Herbalism
    Eco-printing
    Educational Gardens
    Elder
    Eleuthero
    Elixirs
    Energetics
    Essential Oils
    Ethnobotany
    Events
    Evergreens
    Fall
    Farming
    Flower Essences
    Folk Traditions
    Food Plants
    Free Clinics
    Fungi
    Gardening
    General
    Gentian
    Ghost Pipe
    Gifts
    Goldenrod
    Groundwork Somerville
    Growing Herbs
    Guide To Herbstalk
    Hawthorn
    Healer's Path
    Herbal Education
    Herbal Energetics
    Herbalism
    Herbal Marketplace
    Herbal Oils
    Herbal Salves
    Herbs For Pets
    Herbs Of The Enneagram
    Hibiscus
    History Of Herbstalk
    Holidays
    Holy Basil
    Honey
    Imbolc
    Immunity
    Interviews
    Lammas
    Liver
    Living With An Herbalist
    Local Classes
    Local Plants
    Lyme
    Marshmallow
    Meadowsweet
    Medicinal Mushrooms
    Medicinal Uses
    Meet The Herbalist
    Meet The Herb Farm
    Menstruation
    Milky Oats
    Mimosa
    Mint
    Motherwort
    Mugwort
    Mullein
    Mutual Aid
    Natural Dyeing
    Nettles
    New England
    Nourishing Herbs
    Oat
    Passionflower
    Permaculture
    Phytochemistry
    Pink Lady Slipper
    Plant ID
    Plant-of-the-year
    Plant Profile
    Podcast
    Poisonous Plants
    Psychological First Aid
    Queen Anne's Lace
    Recipes
    Reciprocity
    Reishi
    Rhodiola
    Rose
    Rosemary
    Samhain
    Schisandra
    Seasonal Cycles
    Seasons
    Seeds
    Shen Tonics
    Skullcap
    Snow
    Social Justice
    Spring
    St. John's Wort
    Summer
    Survival Herbs
    Tea Blends
    Tincturing
    Tonics
    Traditional Chinese Medicine
    Trauma
    Travel
    Tree Medicine
    Tulsi
    Urban Gardening
    Urtication
    Vata
    Vervain
    Violet
    Water Hemlock
    Wheel Of The Year
    Wildcrafting
    Wild Edibles
    Winter
    Wintergreen
    Yarrow

    RSS Feed

Copyright © Herbstalk 2020