By Frederick Cheng, R.Ph. and Christine Cheng, R.Ph.
If you’re like us, it’s been a holiday season filled with lots of good food! Despite our best efforts to try not to over-indulge, most of us will have put on a few extra pounds. Instead of going along the “knee-jerk” path of going on a diet, this is the perfect time to develop healthy habits that can prepare us for those times when we want to have a little fun. In particular, we’d like to focus on the digestive system.
At the basis of every healthy lifestyle is of course a healthy diet. Canada’s Food Guide’s suggests that adults over 51 years of age consume 7 servings of fruits and vegetables, 6-7 servings of grain products, 3 servings of milk and alternatives and 2-3 servings of meat and alternatives. We’ve all heard this before, right? Alhtough this may seem like a lot of food, the important thing to focus on is the PROPORTIONS of each food group. In general, try to include fruits and/or vegetables at every meal. Frozen or canned fruits and vegetables come in handy when fresh options are not readily available. Choose lean cuts of meat and lower fat versions of milk and milk alternatives. As we age, it is important to make sure we get enough protein in our diets. Nutritional drinks can be useful to make sure you’re meeting your nutritional needs.
Sometimes, our digestive systems can use a little help doing their job. This is where digestive enzymes can come in handy. Look for products that contain a blend of enzymes to help you digest fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. If you find that you have trouble digesting the roughage in vegetables and legumes, look for a blend that also contains enzymes that help break down the tough cell walls of vegetables. A good example of such a blend would be AOR ZYMES. If gluten intolerance is a problem for you, then GLUTEN DEFENSE may be the answer to help you enjoy Holiday meals inside and outside of the home without fear of an unknown source of gluten.
Undergoing a detoxification can help our bodies to work more efficiently. Most detox kits will target the main organs of detoxification, namely the liver, kidneys, gut and sometimes even the skin. There are many options available on the market. Detoxifications that take longer, such as HEEL’S DETOX KIT or extended use of FLOR-ESSENCE LIQUID are usually more gentle. Consideration should be given to the format of the product as well as the duration of treatment. Keep in mind that many detoxification programs will encourage you to follow a certain diet; your desire to adhere to these limitations will also help guide your choice.
An important contributor to a healthy gut is healthy gut fauna, or the good bacteria and yeast that live inside our intestines as well as elsewhere on our bodies. Probiotics are supplements that contain these beneficial microbes. Benefits of probiotics include preventing diarrhea associated with the use of antibiotics, reducing the duration of diarrhea symptoms, helping with the digestion of lactose in those who are lactose intolerant, contributing to a healthy immune system and decreasing respiratory tract infections as well as urinary tract infections. For every day use, look for a product that has high amounts of multiple strains of bacteria such as ACIDOPHILUS ULTRA PLUS.
Of course, what goes in, must come out. Healthy habits include regular bowel movements. Keep in mind that the definition of “regular” will vary depending on the individual. What’s important is that it shouldn’t be difficult or painful to have a bowel movement. Incorporating fibre in the diet is not as hard as one may think. Fruits and vegetables are the obvious choice, but when we need a little extra help, consider sprinkling some tasty HEMP HEARTS or NUTRACLEANSE your morning cup of yogourt or oatmeal. If you prefer taking a pill, then APPLE PECTIN is a natural stool softener and PSYLLIUM HUSK capsules are available to help add some bulk. Exercise, even if it’s just going for a daily walk, can be extremely helpful in helping to keep regular as this can help stimulate the muscles in the walls of the lower bowels.
Developing healthy habits throughout the year will not only improve your overall health, it can help you gain better control of your cravings. Perhaps it’s too late for this holiday season, but there’s always next year! Happy Healthy Holidays.
Christine and Fred Cheng are a sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique family-owned and operated Pharmasave in Cloverdale, BC. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. They would love to hear from you! Contact them HERE.
