Slow Digestion - How To Improve Your Digestion System

Slow digestion is very dangerous to your healthy because it could lead to several health issues. This is particularly true because the majority of the common diseases such as colds and flu has been connected to unhealthy digestive system. Why is that so? Read on to find out.

With about 60% of the immune cells residing in the digestive tract, any imbalance in this part of your body is bound to throw your overall health out of balance because of compromised immune system.

So what does slow digestion have to do with the health of your gut? The truth is, if the food you eat is not properly digested, your body will not be able to absorb it or the vital nutrients in it; this could lead to nutrients deficiencies and other related ailments if it goes on for a long period.

Secondly, when food stays undigested in the bowel for a long time, it becomes a breeding ground for the harmful bacteria that cause colds, and flu, yeast infection and other illnesses. Chronic indigestion also causes constipation, bloating, gas, tiredness and allergic reactions.

Slow Digestion - Causes

The major cause of slow digestion is food. The era of fast foods is taking its toll on our digestive systems. Sugary foods, fries, burgers, and hydrogenated oils also known as trans-fats are the worst culprits behind unhealthy gut.

These unhealthy foods can stay undigested for hours and even when your body starts digesting them, the process takes ages and most often they are not completely broken down, thus hindering food absorption and the excretion of the unwanted waste matters.

Sedentary lifestyle is also another cause of slow digestion. We spend a lot of time on our butts these days - inactivity tends to slow down metabolism, which affects digestion negatively.

Slow Digestion - How Can You Solve the Problem and Improve Your Digestive System

Because poor diet is the major cause of this problem, the solution also starts with diet. Changing your diet to healthier foods such as fiber-rich vegetables, fruits, whole grains and nuts will alleviate slow digestion.

Dietary fibers stimulate the growth of the friendly bacteria, which break down the foods we eat. These fibers also called prebiotics help boost the rate of food absorption and promote bowel movement so that your body can get rid of waste efficiently.

You also need to be active in order to increase your body's metabolic rate - doing so will aid digestion and improve your digestive system as well as your general health.

Some of the foods that contain prebiotics are banana, raw onion, strawberry, garlic, cabbage, spinach, oat meal and kiwi fruit. Kiwi is one of the best prebiotic foods because it does not only contain soluble fibers, but is also rich in vital digestive enzymes and phenol. These unique contents work together to reverse slow digestion and boost digestive health.

However, most of these important nutrients are found in the skin of kiwi fruit and you need to eat at least 2 whole kiwi including the skin to really get the full benefits - kiwi skin doesn't actually taste good. So you may want to go for a quality prebiotic supplement.

The truth is, slow digestion can be prevented and can also be reversed; you just need to do the right things to get the right results.