By Christine Cheng, Pharmacist and Fred Cheng, Pharmacist
Eating is definitely one of the joys of life. This shouldn’t have to change as we age, but our bodies and physiology are continually changing with time. Such changes mean that the internal machinery we’ve relied on all our lives to digest and process foods will likely change for the worse… but no need to fret! There are great ways to maintain and augment the health of your digestive system to ensure proper digestion and absorption of nutrients.
We cannot stop the fact that, as we age, our tastebuds lose sensitivity, our digestive enzyme production decreases, our guts become more leaky, and diminishes in ability to absorb nutrients.
We can, however, supplement the body with natural building blocks to maximize the digestive system’s regenerative potential.
Of course, appropriate and adequate nutrition is an underlying assumption before moving on to supplementation; you must take care to have a well-rounded, nutritious, low-fat diet. A major challenge is to ensure we get enough high-quality protein from day to day. Health Canada recommends an RDA of 0.80g/kg/day (which works out to be about 35g for a 100lb adult). You can easily get this amount in, eg., 1 cup (140g) of stewed chicken (40g protein), half a chicken breast (25g protein), a 125g fillet of sole (30g protein), or 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese (28g protein). If you can’t manage that, then try a healthy protein supplement such as the water-soluble, hemp-heart derived OMEGA-PRO protein powder (in REGULAR or BLUEBERRY), which is 60% protein and gives you all the benefits of hemp hearts as well.
There are some very interesting amino-acids that benefit gut health. L-GLUTAMINE is available in capsule or powder form, and is naturally found in abundance in skeletal muscle, the lung, liver, brain, and gut tissues. Skeletal muscle acts mainly as the storage depot for L-glutamine, while the absorptive cells (“enterocytes”) of the small intestinal walls are the most active consumers of it. In fact, enterocytes have the ability to directly absorb L-glutamine rather than waiting for it to be delivered via the bloodstream. L-glutamine is also involved in controlling the permeability of the intestine in preventing unwanted leakage of large proteins and bacteria into the bloodstream, thereby indirectly helping with immune function. N-ACETYL-GLUCOSAMINE supplementation can further benefit small intestine health due to its involvement in mucous production in the gut.
Since the aging process results in a decrease of chemicals and enzymes used in digestion, supplementation may become necessary in many people. BIO-GEST, and DIPAN-9 contain differing assortments of digestive enzymes for proper digestion of protein and carbohydrates as well as emulsification of fats. Lactose-free formulations are available for those who are lactose-intolerant. A broad-spectrum and high CFU probiotic such as ACIDOPHILUS ULTRA is extremely helpful in sustaining healthy bacteria levels, thereby maintaining bowel movements while boosting immunity. Restoring your digestion not only maintains adequate nutrient intake and prevent malnutrition and weight-loss, but will also alleviate certain symptoms such as gas, bloating, cramping, and heartburn.
It’s never too late to get healthy, stay healthy, and feel healthy, from inside out!
(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. Of course, before you begin any activity program or try any OTC supplementation, check with your physician and pharmacist.)
