ALTERNATIVE VIEW
MEAL HABITS Try steering clear of cold drinks while eating; keep liquids at room temperature (not cooler). Limit drinking during meals altogether. Some foods are digested faster than others, so you don’t want to eat them just after you’ve had slower-digesting foods as they will mix, which can lead to fermentation, which can lead to indigestion. Slowest to digest are animal products, especially meats, followed by complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains. After that comes simple carbs, refined grains, and then fruits, which are digested the quickest. Same goes for processed carbs or other sugary stuff.
DIET Okay, so we want less sugar. And less refined carbs. Which means we want something better, like a nice balance of gut flora. If you must use antibiotics, consider taking heavy doses of probiotics. Now for the good part, say yes to fermented foods! They contain naturally produced probiotic bacteria, which are amazing for your gut. Think sauerkraut, miso, kimchi, pickles, fresh sourdough bread (free of bromine and preservatives). Supplement with probiotics and digestive enzyme supplements as needed. Fresh fruit smoothie may just be your new best friend. Loaded with nutrients, they can help cure heartburn while cleaning the intestines, aiding digestion, eliminating toxins, and soothing the intestinal lining. If you’re experiencing abdominal pain, try one or more of the following fruit smoothie combos. To prepare these juices, chop the fruit/veggie, add water, and blend. No sugar added! • Apple, cucumber, and lettuce • Lettuce and orange • Celery and red grape • Celery, ginger, and pear • Aloe vera, orange, and spinach • Broccoli and papaya • Mint and pineapple
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REMEDIES When trying to tackle indigestion, ginger is a goodie, unsurprisingly. Cut fresh ginger into small slices and sprinkle with salt. Chew the slices as often as you can during the day. (Or add them to your foods!) Another way to do ginger is to grate it and mix a teaspoon with a teaspoon of lime juice (some recommend adding black pepper to the mix). The ginger-lime remedy should be done twice a day after a meal. Also, try blending a piece of fresh ginger to extract its juice. Mix the extracted juice with a glass of warm water and a bit of sugar; try drinking this for stomach pain relief. (Ginger shouldn’t be given to children under two years, and expectant women should take no more than one gram of ginger per day.) Aloe vera juice—unadulterated, unsweetened, non-irradiated—is a wonderful remedy to have on hand for digestive problems and for so much more. Kind of like a miracle plant juice, it’s anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-cancer. Apple cider vinegar makes it to this list too. It can relieve heartburn, upset stomach, flatulence, and cramps. Combine two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with two cups warm water and a pinch of baking soda. Stir to dissolve and drink up right away! (You can add a dollop of honey if you’d like.) Fennel seeds provide an easy way to facilitate good digestion—just chew some after eating. These are offered in Indian restaurants as a kind of after-dinner mint. Fennel tea is a good option as well. Coconut water is loaded with tannins, which have antibacterial properties and can soothe the inflamed stomach lining that’s often behind bloating, nausea, or loss of appetite. Added to that, the soluble fiber in coconut water can relieve constipation, while offering hydration in the case of diarrhea. Next time there’s stomach trouble brewing, try this great drink: Thoroughly blend one cup apple cider vinegar and one cup raw honey (rich in vitamins, minerals, and enzymes) with ten cloves freshly minced garlic (high in anti-inflammatory allicin), then pour into a glass jar and refrigerate. Take two tablespoons of the mixture first thing in the morning (mixing it with a bit of water or apple juice is okay). For maximum potency, use within five days.
