When we talk about “getting our sexy back,” bloated tummies and gas are the last things that come to mind! Gas is a normal part of the digestion process. However, excessive gas and bloating can occasionally interfere with daily activities or cause embarrassment. The good news is symptoms of bloating and gas usually don’t mean there’s a serious underlying condition that has long-term negative effects on your health. In fact, there are simple lifestyle measures to relieve bloating and gas you can take advantage of, supplements being my favorite. My two go-to supplements that aid with digestion, bloating, and gas are: digestive enzymes and probiotics.
Probiotics
The most overlooked reason our digestive tracts are critical to our health is because 80 percent of your entire immune system is located in your digestive tract! Many people with health issues don’t realize that a great percentage of issues originate in the gut. The most common issue: gas and bloating. That’s when probiotics come into play.
Probiotics are living microorganisms that can be consumed through fermented supplements. They are essentially the “good” bacteria that line your digestive tract and support your body’s ability to absorb nutrients and fight infection. Taking a probiotic supplement allows you to cancel out any bacterial imbalances that might be occurring in your gut and, in turn, help reduce bloating and gas.
Digestive Enzymes
Enzymes are one of the most essential elements in our bodies. They are responsible for breaking down the larger packets of sugars, starches, proteins and fats into small amounts your body can use.
Our system is compromised of certain conditions (food intolerance, age, etc) making some foods particularly challenging to digest. This is where digestive enzymes come in; they basically speed up the breakdown of macronutrients. When food is sitting and rotting in your stomach it causes gas. Taking an enzyme will help break down and metabolize most of the food sitting in your stomach so your body can absorb the nutrients. The remaining food will then be disposed of naturally as waste.
I have people who come to me worried because they swell up or begin to experience indigestion after everything they eat. These are the signs of a sluggish digestive system. In the Green Smoothie Cleanse community we’ve realized the benefits of taking these supplements on and off the cleanse and they’ve become a staple in our program. Until next time…
-xo JJ