Lifestyle
Digest better to feel better about yourself: naturopathic advice from Aurélie Canzoneri
If there are two things naturopaths question when consulted about illness, it's the quality of our diet and, by domino effect, the quality of our intestinal flora. And to take care of your digestive system, you need to understand it! Aurélie Canzoneri explains how it works and gives us tips on how to make daily digestion easier.
Intestinal flora: the key to an effective immune system
When you hear the word "digestive problems", you immediately think of bloating, stomach aches and the like... But did you know that other disorders and even illnesses can also result from a totally unbalanced intestinal flora? This can be the case, for example, with acne, psoriasis, eczema, chronic fatigue, inflammatory diseases... So, for our immune system to act effectively, it will depend on both the balance of our intestinal flora and the state of our intestinal wall. This duo constitutes our first barrier to the entry of bacteria and viruses.
The influence of food on our mental state
95% of serotonin is produced in our intestine, from its precursor, tryptophan. tryptophan. Tryptophan is present - among other things - in avocado, chicken, turkey, wheat germ, eggs, brown rice, bananas, lettuce, potatoes... This neurotransmitter, a precursor of melatonin, facilitates sleeprelaxation. The influence of our diet on our mind is therefore very important.
How can I improve my digestion?
- Chew well! It may seem obvious, but with our fast-paced lives, it's easy to forget ;-)
- Avoid eating under stress, in front of the TV... Eat your meals in a calm environment.
- Eat raw foods at the start of meals (juices or raw vegetables) according to your tolerance.
- Prefer gentle cooking such as steaming to avoid destroying vitamins and enzymes.
- Avoid refined, ready-made products wherever possible.
- Include fibre in your meals.
- Beware of bad combinations: eat fruit preferably outside mealtimes.
- Avoid drinking water with meals, as it dilutes digestive juices. Drink between 1L and 1.5L of water a day.
- Vary your protein sources.
- Cut down on stimulants such as tea and coffee.
- Add mild spices and herbs to your favorite dishes: thyme, rosemary, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon...
- Get regular exercise.
Plants for healthy digestion
- Plants that help the digestive system and therefore the intestines: mallow, marshmallow as well as flax, psyllium and chia.
- To support the liver: desmodium, milk thistle, chrysanthellum americanum.
- To drain the liver: rosemary, dandelion, artichoke, black radish.
- To avoid self-medication withpre- and probiotics, please contact Aurélie Canzoneri for more information.
Would you like to know more about your diet? Join our naturopath every Sunday evening live on our Instagram account for the duration of the lockdown!
Photo credits: 1. © Marta Bevacqua 2. © The Merrythought. 3. © Golubka Kitchen
