03 May It doesn’t matter what you eat!
Every week there’s a new diet that promises to finally be the answer to your health concerns. Paleo. Low carb. Ketogenic. Intermittent Fasting. Blood Type. Eat fat to lose fat. IGG Sensitivities. Gluten free….. For those of us who want a quicker fix, there’s an endless selection of miracle supplements to choose from which promise the same. All of those diets and supplements did work for somebody and the challenge is to know which approach is going to work for you.
Most of our patients have tried various diets and supplements before they come to our clinic. Naturopathic doctors treat the patient as an individual, and believe that food is a powerful medicine. Every patient gets a nutritional plan that is customized to their genetics, blood type, lifestyle and age. In addition to this, nutritional needs change if you are pregnant, change your activity level, or take certain medications. In fact, your nutrition should even be adjusted seasonally.
What if you are doing everything right and it’s not working? What if after endless diets and supplements you continue to struggle with symptoms of weight, fatigue, cholesterol, and blood sugar?
It doesn’t matter what you eat! It matters what you digest. And what you absorb.
Our digestive system is like an assembly line with various organs taking turns releasing digestive enzymes to break down our food into energy. Digestion starts when you chew, which releases enzymes to digest your carbohydrates. After you swallow, the food enters your stomach where you digest proteins, then it enters into the small intestine where your liver and pancreas release enzymes to digest fats and carbohydrates (yes, again). The timing of your digestive problems and the description of your stools can be very useful to determine which part of your digestive system is not functioning.
Digestive enzymes are made by the body, but are also found in seasonal raw foods. Our ability to make enzymes declines with age, and is about half the amount by middle age. As Canadians, digestive health is also affected seasonally because our foods are imported or preserved in the winter, and do not contain enzymes. Using herbs and spices such as ginger, turmeric, and peppermint can stimulate digestion, and food combining is a way of combining or separating foods in a way to help digest better.
Probiotics are the many beneficial microorganisms which line the inside walls of your intestines. They absorb your food so that it can enter your bloodstream, and they are a big part of your immune system. Probiotics first entered our body when we were infants, and are an important benefit of breast feeding. However, our probiotic status is easily reduced by intestinal infections, antibiotic use, and various medications. Fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut contain high amounts of probiotics.
Look at your stool! Your stools are the end product of your digestive system and it is very useful to observe them. They should be easy to pass, medium brown, formed like a curved banana, not much odor, and no visible blood, mucous or undigested foods (except corn).
At Bronte Natural Health Clinic, we offer a variety of tests to assess your nutritional state and digestive functions, so you can become the best and healthiest version of yourself!
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