Taking care of your digestive health can serve double-duty for those in recovery. It can help heal your body from the years of alcohol or drug abuse and it may improve your mood, too.
Scientists have found that gut bacteria regulate how people think and feel, playing a role in both anxiety and depression.
Scientists have found that gut bacteria regulate how people think and feel, playing a role in both anxiety and depression.
Prioritizing some healthy lifestyle habits may be all it takes to improve your digestive health – and some of these steps, like exercising and stress management, are likely already part of your overall recovery plan.
- Stick to a high-fiber diet. Incorporating fiber-rich foods, like vegetables, legumes, and fruits, into your eating plan can help prevent constipation and keep things moving through your digestive tract.
- Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water also prevents constipation, helping dissolve fats and soluble fiber.
- Load up on yogurt. Probiotics in foods like yogurt and kefir stimulate healthy digestive function and combat the effects of a poor diet and stress.
- Sprinkle on cinnamon. A recent study found that the spice lowers temperatures in the stomach, which can help lower the levels of stomach acid and pepsin in the gut. Stick to no more than a teaspoon per day, notes The National Institutes of Health. And, avoid cassia cinnamon (Chinese cinnamon), which contains coumarin, known to affect blood clotting and be toxic to the liver for some people.
- Scale back on bad habits. Coffee and cigarettes can interfere with the functioning of your digestive system and lead to stomach ulcers and heartburn.
- Make exercise part of your routine. Regular exercise can prevent constipation and promote a healthy weight – both key to good digestive health.
- Be mindful of stress. Yet another reason to add yoga or meditation to the recovery process. Stress and anxiety can kick your digestive system into overdrive.
Nutrition Planning at Complete Harmony
At Complete Harmony, we help our clients plan healthful meals to enrich their body and mind. By integrating conventional and holistic recovery approaches, we help restore balance to the whole person. To learn more, call: 866-930-4673.
At Complete Harmony, we help our clients plan healthful meals to enrich their body and mind. By integrating conventional and holistic recovery approaches, we help restore balance to the whole person. To learn more, call: 866-930-4673.
