Ways to support your digestive system.

Honestly, I am always a little hesitant to offer advice around food. Firstly I am not a dietician or nutritionist, this information is from my own research, experience and study of Chinese Medicine.

If you have an active eating disorder or have disordered eating, it is best to seek professional help. These are general guidelines and it may not be appropriate for you, the less food rules the better. 

1. Eat mindfully and in peace

In my opinion of all the advice this is the most important one. If we are in a state of upset or stress our digestion is not the body’s priority. The body feels threatened even if we are not physically in danger. The body will direct blood to our limbs to prepare to run, there will be lower levels of stomach acid and enzymes to break down the food and motility will reduce so that foods won’t be moved through the gut or move too quickly for it to absorb. When the parasympathetic nervous system is dominant, which is our calm state,  digestion improves. 

2. Eat regularly

Our digestive system loves routine. It is best to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the same time every day if you can. And then you can have snacks in between. In Chinese Medicine it is good to leave 2-4 hour gaps between food to give it a break but not lengthy gaps. We want to keep the ‘digestive fire’ stoked so that it doesn’t go out completely. It is the fire of our digestive system that breaks down food and moves it through the stomach and intestines for elimination. Eating regularly also helps to balance blood sugar levels so that we do not feel weak, dizzy or unable to concentrate. Food is energy and we need enough of it for all our day to day activities.

3. Eat foods that are warm and cooked

In Chinese Medicine, we advise people to eat foods that are warm and cooked. It is more difficult to digest raw foods as the method of cooking helps break it down. Some people can eat some raw vegetables if they have strong digestion but it’s still better to eat mostly cooked foods as it can weaken the digestive system. During the Fire season of summer, people can tolerate more raw foods as the external environment is hotter which aids our internal fire that digests food.

As we want to keep the digestive fire stoked, it is recommended to avoid cold food and drink. The cold causes our stomach muscles to contract and reduce absorption and may slow down the movement of food. The body needs to essentially ‘heat’ up the substance ingested to the temperature of the body. 

4. Eat foods in season

It makes sense that it is best to eat foods that are in season in the country we live in. It means that the food is suited to the temperature and they are fresher. In the winter months, we generally crave more warm and heavy foods such as tea, ginger, potatoes and meat. These foods help to heat us up inside and are generally heavier which helps us gain a bit of weight to insulate us from the cold of winter. During the summer, we crave cooling foods like salads, lemons, light meat like fish and chicken and we drink more water. 

5. Eat according to your current state of health

What we eat is very individual. We all require different types of foods and portions. What is beneficial to one person may not be beneficial to another. For example, if someone has a lot of heat in their body which manifests in inflamed skin, headaches, red eyes and thirst it would be better for them to eat cooling foods like peppermint tea, quinoa, chicken, broccoli and kale. If someone feels cold, tired and has loose stools it may be better for them to avoid cooling foods and eat things like soups and stews, ginger, beef and garlic.