Women's Health: Digestion, How Are Your Pipes Working?

Hello Fit-NOW Friends!


We all want to be beautiful on the outside, but 99% of the time we don't even think about what our insides look like or how our pipes are working! Until we don't feel good, then we wonder what happened?

From the Women’s Health website part of an article from November 2006 shares, “Your gastrointestinal (GI) tract deals with the dirty work of your body: digesting food for nutrients and sending out the trash. This noisy, smelly, squishy system includes the esophagus, a 10 inch-long tube; the stomach, a fist-size bag of muscle; 20 feet of small intestine; and 6 feet of large intestine (aka the colon).“  I know it sounds disgusting, but several studies show the topic of our digestive system is becoming more the norm, which is good for our health.  I find it intriguing that our bodies are such amazing machines!  Digestion is such an important piece of our health and many take it for granted.  Are you taking it for granted?  Perhaps you are thinking, “Out of sight, out of mind.”  Unfortunately, that doesn’t cut it my Fit-NOW friends, we have to take action today to change that lack of thought process for our pipes inside.

First step is to start with what you eat. What are you depositing into your body?  Ladies Fitness Training can help you with starting with our Done-For-You  Nutrition online program.   It’s simple, easy and you don’t have to think about counting calories or what to put on the grocery list, our online program does it ALL! 

Great, now that we have you on track with what you are eating, let’s take a look at some tips that you should take into consideration for your digestive health.  I found an article 5 Tips for women’s digestive health on sheknows.com written by Michele Borboa.  The article goes on to share if you are suffering from constipation and diarrhea on a regular bases, it’s possible you are suffering from a digestive issue.  Studies show that women suffer more than men with digestive issues; however, it is estimated that women are better at going to the doctor more often and can communicate their symptoms to the doctor.  With that said, it is important to pay attention to your body.  If you are experiencing abnormal bloating, bowel irregularities, IBS, heartburn, indigestion or abdominal pain then it’s time to look further and take care of yourself before it escalates into a digestive disorder. If you address the issues early, generally you can kick it in the butt early and be back on the road to recovery and be able to enjoy life to its fullest without having to worry about any of the embarrasing side affects of unhealthy digestive tracts!

The very number one tip recommended is up your intake of fiber.  There are a number of ways to do this through your diet.  To name a few items that you could add to your daily menu are fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts, and whole grains.  The article does share a daily fiber quick tips:
Here are some quick tips to up your daily fiber intake:
  • Have a bowl of oatmeal, bran cereal or another high-fiber cereal for breakfast.
  • Top hot or cold cereal with fruit and nuts.
  • Mix whole wheat pasta and lightly cooked vegetables for lunch or dinner.
  • Combine brown rice and black beans for a savory meal.
  • Add a side of Brussels sprouts or another high-fiber veggie to dinner.
  • Nosh on air-popped popcorn for a late night snack.
  • Always choose whole grain bread with at least three grams of fiber per slice.”
A couple of other suggestions are switching your coffee for green tea. That’s tough one for some of you, but the benefits are astronomical!  Another tip, make an appointment with your doctor once a year and keep a dialog with them about your health. You have to be your own advocate and stay on top of your doctors recommendations, do you own research to make sure it’s right for you.

One of the tips struck close to home for me, managing your stress. Wow. I have a feeling stress is going to be a common thread in all of our discussions through our section of Women’s Health.  We recognize as women that this is a daily struggle and we will not be able to eliminate all of the stressors in our life; however, we can learn how to manage our reactions to those stressors. Don’t even know where to start? That’s ok, just start with taking 10 minutes of your day to stop and stretch. Also make a conscious effort to breath. Take a deep breath through your nose for 5 seconds and then exhale through your mouth for 5 more seconds. Being aware that you are breathing (or not if you were stressing and going a hundred miles an hour!) can make a huge difference on your stress level.  Did you notice your shoulders relaxed a little after that exercise? No? Then, re-read this paragraph and try it again until they do.

Finally, the final tip in relation to improving and maintaining your digestive health is to exercise daily.  Again, don’t know where to start? Well, guess what, we can help with that too!  We love being helpful to you ladies to help you get on a healthy track!  Check out our Boot Camp locations to start your commitment to adding exercise to your daily routine.  At the Boot Camp link you will find all of our locations, times, pricing, and success stories of ladies that have taking that step to better their health, and most of them unknowingly bettering their digestive health too.  If nothing else, take a moment to read these amazing women’s stories of transformation.  Are you ready for your own success story?

Next time your stomach gurgles or you feel bloated or you are not sure if your deposits are regular enough, it’s time to look more into your digestive health ladies. 
 


Until Next time!
Keep healthy, keep safe and keep going!
Have an awesome day!

♥Fit~NOW~Girl♥

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