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It seems that nowadays almost everyone is dealing with some digestive issues.
Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease and dozens of other digestive tract conditions have created new industrial sectors producing gluten-free, sugar-free, lactose-free foods and many other types of “free-from” foods.
So what is the reason people fail to cure these conditions and therefore must follow strict diets or face unpleasant consequences?
Today we look at the real reasons behind most digestive system diseases.
1. Imbalance of intestinal microflora
One of the main reasons you are unable to properly digest food is an imbalance of the gut microflora in your digestive tract.
The ideal ratio for healthy gut microflora is 85% beneficial bacteria and 15% harmful (which are commonly present in the environment, not necessarily just accidental contamination).
With that ratio, the good gut bacteria thrive and are able to do their job in digesting starches, fiber and sugars.
Unfortunately, the use of antibiotics, large amounts of sugars, alcohol, toxins, preservatives, artificial colorings and other harmful substances has disrupted the microflora balance in the intestines , which is necessary for proper digestion.
To regain this balance, consider consuming foods that destroy bad bacteria, such as garlic, onions, oregano, cloves and ginger.
At the same time, however, you must take probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics in the form of fiber (food for beneficial bacteria). Include foods in your diet such as sauerkraut, kefirs, organic plain yogurts or kombucha.
You can also take probiotics in capsule form, preferably for 1 to 2 months, which is the time needed to restore the balance.
2. Lack of enzymes
Enzymes play a very important role in our body – they allow us to properly digest food and utilize all available nutrients from it.
If our diet does not contain enough enzymes, we thereby put extra pressure on the pancreas to produce its own enzymes. These in turn enable not only proper digestion of food, but also the breakdown and elimination of toxins from the body.
If the pancreas is overworked for a long time, it will wear out over time and may not be able to keep up producing enough digestive enzymes.
To ensure your body has enough enzymes, try to eat as much raw fruit and vegetables as possible, especially pineapple, papaya, bee pollen and fermented foods. In cooked meals, enzymes are usually destroyed.
Also, chew your food thoroughly, because digestion begins in the mouth. Saliva is essentially an enzyme too (ptyalin), whose main role is the digestion of starches.
It is also recommended to take enzyme-containing supplements.
3. Magnesium deficiency
Until recently it was believed that magnesium was needed in approximately 325 enzymatic processes.
However, according to the latest research that number is approaching 800. That makes magnesium an extremely important element for our digestion.
In addition, magnesium deficiency disrupts proper muscle function, including those located in the lining of the digestive system. The result is slow movement of food through the intestines, irregular stools and increased gut toxicity.
Therefore consider supplementing magnesium either through diet or nutritional supplements. Suitable highly absorbable forms of magnesium are citrates, malt extract or lactates. Less suitable are oxides.
Foods rich in magnesium include leafy greens and all kinds of nuts, which it is advisable to soak for a few hours before consumption to deactivate substances that inhibit enzyme activity.
4. Stress
Stress creates a whole range of health problems, including digestive issues. It also depletes many important vitamins and minerals in the body (especially magnesium and B vitamins).
Furthermore, stress contracts muscles, slows the passage of food through the intestines and hinders the absorption of enzymes and probiotics.
To keep stress in check use, for example, chamomile or medicinal mushrooms (oyster mushroom, maitake, shiitake, reishi). Practicing acts of gratitude, meditation and exercise also help.
5. Heavy metal poisoning
The function of the intestines is disrupted by many substances, but most likely by various heavy metals.
Heavy metals enter our bodies through various routes, usually food (mercury in sea fish), but for example also through vaccinations where mercury is used as a preservative or from amalgam dental fillings.
This then creates an excessive burden not only on organs such as the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys or brain, but heavy metals also kill beneficial gut microflora and cripple digestion.
Detoxifying the body from heavy metals is a complex process that should typically be supervised by a healthcare professional when, for example, chelation is performed.
However, you can also consider detoxifying foods such as chlorella, cilantro or spirulina, which bind to heavy metals in the large intestine and help carry them out of the body.
