how to have a HEALTHY DIGESTION

When we're younger we eat whatever we please whether it's another cup of extra rice, another round of beer, another slice of our favorite cheesecake or another stick of that exotic street food. Suddenly, something's amiss, we feel bloated and uneasy. We now have the same sentiment as our folks when they used to say they were having a hard time digesting food ("mahina na panunaw") that's why they eat slowly now. Oh well, life happens...

10 TIPS FOR A HEALTHY DIGESTION by Willie Ong MD

1) Eat more slowly. Take your time and don’t rush.

2) Chew your food. For the elderly, you can cut your food into little pieces.

3) Eat more fiber, like vegetables, fruits, and cereals. Vegetables and fruits contain healthy fiber, which is good for digestion. Fiber promotes bowel movement and helps prevent bowel cancer. A common bowel disease called diverticulosis results from eating too little fiber. Vegetables like okra, kangkong, and cabbage are rich in fiber. Fruits rich in fiber are apples with the skin, and oranges with the membrane in between.

4) Eat five or six small meals a day. Eat regularly and on time.

5) Sit down when eating. Eat in a relaxed and peaceful environment.

6) Don’t believe in fad diets and avoid binge eating. Choose healthy foods over junk foods.

7) Drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day. The correct way to drink water is to sip it little by little throughout the day. Don’t gulp down two glasses at once.

8) Take a stroll after eating. It’s good for your digestion. After a full meal, take a 15-minute leisurely walk. By staying upright and helping gravity push the food down, you are helping in your digestion. You’ll also avoid becoming a victim of the bangungot syndrome, which is probably due to acute pancreatitis.

9) Do regular exercise to help promote the movement of food in the digestive system.

10) Finally, be careful with what you eat. Know who prepared your food and check whether it’s clean or not.

(Source: http://www.philstar.com/author/Willie%20T.%20Ong,%20MD)