Digestive System

FitRedhead · May 6th, 2008, 02:50 PM

Hey everybody, what are you all doing for your digestive system? Do any of you take supplements for it or incorporate it into your diet somehow with certain foods?

**mooshue** · May 6th, 2008, 05:01 PM

what kind of problems are you having? You should get everything you need from eating clean with some fiber.

**tooncesthecat** · May 6th, 2008, 07:15 PM

Might get in the habit of including some probiotics. Acidophilus is one good one.

**pliny_2001** · May 6th, 2008, 08:44 PM

Agree w/ above. I do drink kefir, though.

**wildstang** · May 6th, 2008, 10:57 PM

i get mine from yogurt even though im not overly fond of the taste i still choke it down....lol

**torofuerte** · May 6th, 2008, 11:17 PM

Yogurt is my friend

I'd also suggest regular intake of papaya. If that's not available, then pineapple. They both have enzymes that help the digestive process, specially with meats.

**wildstang** · May 7th, 2008, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by torofuerte

Yogurt is my friend

I'd also suggest regular intake of papaya. If that's not available, then pineapple. They both have enzymes that help the digestive process, specially with meats.

im lactose intolerant so unfortunately i have to take lactaid everytime i have dairy so i never got to grow up eating much yogurt and dairy back then.

**Carnitas** · May 7th, 2008, 02:07 AM

I will sometimes take a teaspoon of Fiber sure, which gives 5 grams of fiber per spoonful, along with my normal diet.

**torofuerte** · May 7th, 2008, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildstang

im lactose intolerant so unfortunately i have to take lactaid everytime i have dairy so i never got to grow up eating much yogurt and dairy back then.

I'm sort of lactose intolerant, but you can work it out gradually. The thing with yogurt is that the lactose is already broken down by the healthy bacteria in it. So you could start by eating 1 tablespoon in the morning and 1 at night (you can safely keep 8oz of yogurt in a sealed plastic container in the freezer for 3 days.) One or two weeks after, increase to two tablespoons in the morning and at night. If it causes problems, scale back and try again a week later. And you repeat and increase.

Once you have a good, healthy gastric fauna, yogurt shouldn't be an problem - I've been eating 8 to 32oz of yogurt every day for several years now... before that, just smelling it would give me gasses.

When worst come to worst, you can take accidophilus bacteria (what's in the yogurt) in capsules, thus avoiding the yogurt itself. Perhaps you may want to supplement with accidophilus for a month or two and then assess your lactose intolerance.

Funny thing, when I grew up in Nicaragua, I used to live off dairy every day. I kid you not that I'd drink the milk right out of the cow. We'd milk it into a glass and drink it straight. The most problems I would get would be some gas and that's it. That, and eating red meat w/o problems.

Then, when I came to the US (back in 1999), just drinking milk would give me diarrhea, and I couldn't eat red meat for years until recently w/o getting constipated. I dunno, but I blame the hormones or whatever they pump into the cows these days.

I usually drink soy milk, but can drink whole milk as well. Yogurt from whole milk what I use to start my day

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Oh, and what Carnitas said. Fiber. I try to have at least 1/4 cup of oatmeal a day, in addition to two chewable fiber tables.

FitRedhead · May 9th, 2008, 01:57 PM

I agree that yogurt is kind of tough to get down sometimes, especially the plain flavor. I try to find new fiber options all the time. Have you guys ever heard of LiveActive foods? They use prebiotics in their foods(which do not include yogurt) that work with the good bacteria already in your body.

**bouncer** · May 17th, 2008, 07:43 PM

We just recently started using kefir. It's suggested for use with autistic kids (my youngest) and after doing research, I keep it ready in the fridge for everyone. It's even great on cereal. Best of all, it has all the live cultures that aid in digestive health. I'm now mixing my whey protein powder with it. It really kicks it up nice and I'm pretty sure that the kefir helps you assimilate more of the protein!

**Belsicilia** · June 2nd, 2008, 12:03 AM

Hi there

I am a naturopathic doctor and often get asked this question. I also commonly see many patients with digestive concerns.

what I normally suggest for overall health is to make sure our including an EFA supplement: ie flax and fish oil combo is great.

also include enough fibre , nturally found in fruits and veggies, also oatmeal, bran cereal, and fibre green supplements on the market.

I would also highly reccomend you buy a HIGH QUALITY pro biotic! this is so cruical, as we encounter many things that wipe out the good flora in our systems. so introdducing some back into the body will help you enormously.

PM me for more, just ask about more if I ahven't answered your concerns.

Piera

**Italianangel** · June 2nd, 2008, 05:04 PM

Kick ass PIERA ROCKS..............you now know once everyone here gets wind of your profession..............you are so going to be bombarded.............but this is great, you are perfect, a nice fit here with your experience and knowledge!!!!!
Keep up the great work!
I am going to start a new thread in the womens section asking about mangosteen, come an answer it!!!!
Linda

**Belsicilia** · June 2nd, 2008, 08:54 PM

hey Linda!

thanks so much, it was a very long 4 year program, but the hard work paid off, I am really enjoying my practice and believe 100% in what i do. Will check out your thread on magosteen!!

Piera

**linemanpaul** · June 2nd, 2008, 09:59 PM

Try chia seed, among it's many great benefits, it might help with your issue

**Italianangel** · June 2nd, 2008, 10:02 PM

never heard of it, so take it like when I eat peppers or cook it with the peppers????
Linda

**A1food4U** · June 3rd, 2008, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linemanpaul

Try chia seed, among it's many great benefits, it might help with your issue

It may help, but boy, when the chia sprouts your hair's gonna look funny!!!!

The next in a line, Chia pet, chia lifter? sorry, just kidding...

Breezy11105 · June 3rd, 2008, 09:16 AM

I use Stolle Micromune at Stolle Wellness. This hyper-immunized bovine milk has studies showing the improvement on the GI system by helping to reduce inflammation. Its also combined with some good probiotics.

I have gastritis and this has really helped me to keep it under control.

**Italianangel** · June 3rd, 2008, 03:05 PM

chia like the chia pet, I always wondered if you could eat those.........wow, so you can. I will have to look around the health food store.

**linemanpaul** · June 3rd, 2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Italianangel

chia like the chia pet, I always wondered if you could eat those.........wow, so you can. I will have to look around the health food store.

Just do a Google search for chia seeds, I found great information about the benefits of this wonder food, from weight loss to muscle growth and the list goes on and on. I started using chia seeds as a supplement to my diet about a three months ago and have dropped my body fat by 2.5% and increased my skeletal muscle by 1.5% and this is someone that does not work out just works hard. I found a good website to purchase chia from, but I do not know if I am allowed to post it?? I could email some information about it if that would help