How wonderful it feels to poop! Let’s be candid in saying that going number 2 is actually number 1.
It feels relaxing and the stomach infact feels lighter, even shrinks sometimes!
Constipation, gas, acidity are often interconnected.
Points to note for a stomach cleansing diet :
Air and water are freely available and hence not valued! 8-10 glasses per day sets the right pH and moisturizes the bowels to facilitate an easier passage.
While a hot cup of chai/tea is a stimulant to the toilet trip in the morning for many, too many cups of tea or coffee are actually dehydrating and sometimes also lead to heartburn or acidity.
It is amazing this bounty of nature which has different colours, forms and tastes! Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables everyday. The different colour elements are called flavonoids which are heart and skin healthy; immune boosters too! The soluble and insoluble fiber in these foods have their own important functions to cleanse the gastric system.
Too much insoluble fiber like in salads for instance can actually cause gas and bloating! Other sources of insoluble fiber are whole grains, brown rice, nuts and oilseeds, whole pulses, skin of fruits or fruits which are eaten whole like rasberries. We have evolved and our guts too! Our cavemen ate everything raw but today we need to look into what is on our plates and if the food we eat is not digested well.
We are no more left with one idiot box (television) like in the past but there are several idiot boxes like ipads/computers/other gadgets which are indispensible to our daily living. Peristalsis or the natural movement of our intestines are also influenced by activity. Sedentary lifestyles are linked to chronic diseases and increasing activity along with your diet can help cleansing your stomach.
Stress and anxiety can cause acid reflux and sometimes increased acid secretion in the gut too! Stress is known to cause constriction of the vagus nerve leading to constipation. Sometimes diarrhoea even. A healthy mind and a healthy gut are two sides of the same coin.
To sum it under one umbrella, hydration, fiber intake, activity levels and a stable mind play a vital role to clean your gastric system. It is important to highlight that too much water and fiber intake will complicate matters instead of helping!
Lets say you need a quick fix for constipation; Eat a banana just before sleeping and consume soaked raisins around 4 hours before eating the banana. Follow it up with warm water with lemon and honey in the morning along with a 10-15 min walk.
For gas, mix a pinch of ginger powder, a pinch of rock salt, a pinch of hing (asafoetida) to a cup of water and drink it. Lying down on your stomach with a hot bag also helps to relieve your stomach of extra air!
Mansi is a registered dietitian practicing in Antwerp and online. Her practical No-Diet Approach has easy solutions for obesity and medical conditions. www.dietwithmansi.com
