Indigestion

Let's discuss another health concern that comes with all the Christmas lunches, dinners and get-togethers: Indigestion.

Some of the ways to prevent indigestion:

1. Chew your food well. As we all know, digestion starts in the mouth. The more you chew your food, the easier it is for your stomach to digest and absorb the food you eat. Chew up to 40 times before swallowing.

2. Eat plenty of fiber everyday. Fiber helps digestion aside from its many health benefits. Increasing your daily fiber intake is usually synonymous with eating healthier foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereals, and nuts, which contain plenty of fiber.

3. Lessen liquid intake during meals as it dilutes the digestive enzymes.

4. Don't overeat. Our stomachs can only take so much. Stop eating just before you feel full.

5. Avoid too much alcohol, carbonated drinks, and drinks or foods with caffeine.  

6. Exercise regularly but do not eat right before or after a heavy exercise. 

7. Quit smoking. The chemicals you inhale in cigarette smoke can cause indigestion.

8. Do not combine fruits with carbohydrates, since the enzymes that digest carbohydrates are different from those that digest fruits, except avocados.

9. Spread out your meals / eating times. Eat up to five times a day, but at a lesser quantity.

10. Do not eat when you're stressed.