There are many things to learn about when it comes to nutrition and its impact on your body. The basic concept is “What goes in must come out.” Your body is like a machine: it takes what it needs from what you feed it and gets rid of the rest by urine and the bowels.
The first step is finding out if there even is a problem. First, you should see how many bowel movements you have daily (BM). If you have one per day, it’s not a problem; however, it is better to have 2 to 3 BMs a day and more if you eat more often. But if you find you are having one per week or a few times per month, you have a problem.
Regularity is a subject less talked about as is personal. You can tell a lot about the state of health with an individual and their bowels. If you aren’t regular and don’t have a movement at least once a day, you are likely constipated. Irregularity can mean your diet is lacking fiber and other nutrients. This lack of fiber can be responsible for high cholesterol levels and affect energy levels believe it or not. You want to think of your digestion as a circle that should always continue to flow. If there is a backup, it can affect your performance and also impact your immune system for the worse. If you notice you have a problem with elimination, you should take it seriously, see a doctor. Many people have this problem. Pay attention to your movements and the hue or color; it can be severe to your health. Darker matter can mean several things, including too much bile production from a fatty diet or your transit time is taking too long.
It’s also a lesser know fact that your immune system resides in your gut. If your stomach and digestion are not healthy, then you are not healthy. Poor digestion can negatively impact your health with a depleted immune system, feeling tired or lethargic throughout the day, and trouble losing weight or even weight gain. One of the most common reasons people are irregular is they don’t eat enough cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, and bok choy, are a few examples. You should have green vegetables with about every meal, especially if you currently lack fiber in your diet. If you are looking for a trick, it would be to eat many raw fruits and vegetables, steamed beets, and use digestive enzymes with your meals. Do whatever you can; it will be beneficial to you.
I have just lightly touched on the subject, but you should start adding these changes to your diet if you have irregularity. You’d be surprised what a healthy diet can do to reverse a bad diet. Your body and bowels will thank you for it. You will notice an increase in energy, increased mental clarity, a feeling of being lighter or less bulky. You will also see your midsection might start to lean out, and that stubborn fat is starting to trim down. I challenge you for 30 days to include green vegetables with every meal you have. At the end of those 30 days, see if you don’t notice the difference in how you look and feel.
You can also supplement your diet with fiber such as psyllium husk and chia seeds as examples. Just make sure you drink adequate water with extra fiber intake.
If you need help putting together a comprehensive nutrition plan that fits with your lifestyle then email [email protected] or call 214-303-1002. I am a Dallas personal trainer that will get you results!
