How I Got Rid Of Digestive Issues Naturally

Hi guys, hope everyone is having a wonderful day! I thought it would be interesting and informative to share with you today how I was able to reverse digestive related issues altogether. I cannot remember the last time I had any upset of stomach, vomited or any similar symptom. It has been YEARS!

When I think back some years ago, I am surprised at the amount of health issues I had (but I didn’t think I did). You see, when you are living an unhealthy lifestyle you think that illnesses are just part of life and you accept them as such. You don’t question it; you don’t wonder why…you just ride along with it thinking that after all “everyone gets sick”.

Let me tell you it doesn’t have to be that way.

A HISTORY OF BAD EATING

Since I have memory, I always suffered of digestive–related issues. I used to vomit all the time at home, in school; in the car…you name it! I was the VQ (Vomiting Queen, I know very attractive). Even though a lot of this was due to the fact that I had motion sickness, the other aspect was because I was eating badly. As a child, it wasn’t entirely my fault. I ate what was given to me and that’s why I believe parents should try to make healthier choices for their children so they don’t have to go through all of this.

I recall going to the doctor many times and the first thing he would ask me is if I was eating a lot of fried foods. I would say yes and then get lectured about how fried foods are bad for my body etc. I ended up at the doctor’s office so many times that one day he saw me again, shook his head and said: “Why do you keep doing this to yourself?”

I continued eating bad foods for years. So if you are reading this and you are in the same boat as I was, don’t worry I know exactly what you are going through. I am not here to judge your food choices but merely share with you my personal experience and what helped me in my journey to health.

Shall we get started, y’all?

HYDRATE, HYDRATE AND HYDRATE!

I live in the Caribbean and as you can well imagine, it is very hot every single day.  I need to ensure I drink enough water throughout the day so I don’t get dehydrated. This is definitely my number one challenge because I know I do not drink as much as I need,  but I am working hard to ensure I drink enough fluids to keep my body healthy and strong.

Sixty-percent of our bodies are made of water so it is not surprising to realize that it is a very critical element for proper digestion. It helps things move along smoothly, clears away all your toxins and helps with the process of elimination. Once you are well hydrated, you don’t have to worry about constipation (that can lead to hemorrhoids), bloating, etc.

How do you know if you are well hydrated? Simply, through your urine. It should be crystal clear and painless free. If it is yellow or dark yellow, you are not drinking enough liquids and you must increase your fluid intake.

I EAT LOTS OF FRESH VEGETABLES

Changing the way we think about food takes time. It is a process and a personal journey. When I decided to change the way I ate, everything started changing for the better including my digestion. I am very pleased with the results and I will be sharing with you in different blog posts some of the amazing things that are happening to me. Can’t wait to share it all with you!

First of all, I eat lots of fresh veggies on a daily basis. If you didn’t grow up eating many vegetables, I understand that it can be difficult. Perhaps you think you don’t like veggies or fruits. However, because I believe in positive thinking (and that every challenge should be faced with a smile 😉 ) may I suggest a couple of things that can help you get started?

Make a list of veggies that you don’t mind eating, if possible veggies that can be used in salads. I absolutely adore salads. I try my best to eat one with every single meal. I like lettuce-based green salads; I usually add tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, celery, corn, cucumbers, radishes, etc. I love colorful salads because I believe that once it looks good, it encourages you to eat it. If you need to add a little salad dressing in order to eat all those veggies, then go ahead and do it.

I EAT LOTS OF FRESH FRUITS

I start my day with fresh fruits and because they are so light, they digest very quickly. I like to make a fresh smoothie every morning. My favorite combination is bananas, mangoes and papaya. You can well imagine the smile on my face right now knowing we are in mango season here! I also eat lots of bananas as snacks (such a convenient fruit) and any other that might be in season. Strawberries and blueberries are extremely expensive here since they are imported, so they are a rare treat at home.

I DITCHED DAIRY

What? Yes, I did. Growing up I ate lots of cheese and other dairy products. I had a milk allergy since I was very young so my intake was rather limited. It was something like this: I would drink it straight from a cup, my tummy would hurt and I would run to the bathroom.  Every-single-time.

It is not surprising to see nowadays so many people who have become lactose-intolerant or many others who have problems digesting the casein from cow’s milk.  The undigested sugar found in it goes to our colon, and then we start getting cramps, diarrhea, bloating, etc. Why? Well, our bodies are not really meant to digest the milk of other animals. Mother Nature knows best. Cow milk is for calves.  You will not believe also the amount of hormones present in a glass of milk (and other unpleasant items that I will be blogging about soon). But don’t worry about it; there are other great alternatives such as almond and rice milk which are a much healthier option for us.

Shhhhh…the added bonus of getting rid of dairy? Your skin will glow! And don’t worry about calcium, there are many sources such as kale, broccoli, watercress, bok choy, white beans, almonds and the list goes on.

 I DITCHED MEAT

What about meat?  To be honest, it was only when I ditched meat that I realized how much constipation and bloating it caused to my body. It was unbelievable!

I always thought it was normal to eat a large meal, throw yourself in the couch and take a nap while caressing your own belly. I never thought about food as fuel. However, as time passed and I started researching more about healthier options I realized that I was doing something wrong. Food is supposed to give you ENERGY to continue your daily tasks; it is not supposed to make you sleepy, tired and ready to take a nap.

When I started eating real foods and got rid of the things that were causing me bloating, vomiting and digestive issues to my body, I started living.

Hope these simple tips can help you get rid of digestive-related issues. If you have any questions, please feel free to post them below. If you have any other tips to this list, please don’t hesitate to share it with me!