by Lorraine Carter

Created on: September 20, 2011   Last Updated: September 21, 2011

More and more people are working toward being healthier. They are changing the way they eat, taking vitamins and supplements, exercising and losing weight. Parents are now teaching their children early on the benefits of good nutrition. Everyone’s body functions, for the most part, the same way, and yet each person has uniqueness to their chemical, physical and mental makeup.

There are so many different websites, books, forums and health clubs with such a plethora of information that it can often get confusing. Eat this, don’t eat this, exercise this way, exercise that way, lose 10 pounds, lose 20, lose just 5, try this supplement or try that supplement. No wonder it is easy to get confused.

Everyday new diets, new research on foods, new exercises and new weight loss programs are being formulated. The one part of the body, though everyone really needs to pay attention to is the digestive system. This is the system that will digest the food, draw out the nutrients, and send the waste to be eliminated.  If the digestive system doesn’t work right, the body will not get the nutrition it needs, and other organs cannot function the way they were meant to.

Waste products need to be eliminated from the body in order to maintain health. If the digestive system doesn’t function right, waste can build up and cause other medical, functional and physical problems. It is like a chain reaction, once it stops working correctly, then the colon will not function right, the liver may have problems, and the kidneys may decline.  These are just a few of the things that can go wrong if you don’t have a healthy digestive system.

Feeling sluggish, fatigued and gaining weight are a few other things that come with a messed up digestive system. This can lead to other problems like heart disease, thyroid problems, and lung disorders.

Here are a few tips to help keep a healthy digestive system working the right way.

Eating Meat: Beef, pork, poultry and fish all have proteins and minerals that the body needs. Be sure to eat small portions, trim off any fat or skin, and avoid frying in fatty oils and margarine.

Whole Grains: Fiber is important for digestion. Brown rice, whole wheat and other grains can also contain large amounts of carbohydrates, which can cause excess sugar in the system . Limit the amount of processed sugar and sweets.

Water the Body: Water helps digestion by helping to flush waste products through.  8 glasses is the recommended

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