Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 8-28-20

Health
During the summer, you’re often stuffed with bbq meals, sweet desserts, and saturated with alcohol. Now what? You probably have new health reso- lutions to finish or at least start. A great way of renewing the body is doing a little internal cleaning.
Food Overload
Proper digestion is one of the most essential components in living a long and healthy life. Your digestive function is made up of numerous organs all work- ing together to break down, ab- sorb, and process all of the nutrients in the food you eat. Without healthy digestion, you can become malnourished and
toxins will build up in your body, leading to degenerative diseases and rapid aging down the road.
Indigestion is caused and made worse by overeating – es- pecially rich, fatty, spicy, acidic foods and alcohol. The following remedies will get your digestion on the right track:
Walk
After a large meal, take a 10- to 20-minute stroll. Aside from the proven benefits to your heart, walking is the perfect gen- tle exercise for promoting diges- tion and encouraging cleansing of the lymphatic system. Walk- ing helps food move along the di- gestive tract, improving
digestion and absorption. For added benefits, walk while mas- saging your abdomen with your palms, in a circle around your belly button.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is tradi- tionally used to remedy digestive distress, support liver detoxifica- tion, normalize digestive juices and reduce intestinal bloating. Mix 1 tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar with 12 ounces of warm water, and drink in the morning on empty stom- ach. Feel free to add a little honey or maple syrup. Lemon water will also help.
Herbal Tea
Relieve that feeling of full- ness with herbal teas that target your digestion: Steep 1 teaspoon each of mint, rosemary, oregano, cilantro, sage and/or basil in a cup of hot water. Drink after each meal to soothe and prevent bloating. Peppermint,
chamomile, and ginger tea are other good choices for settling the stomach. Also, look for Chi- nese herbal formulas for diges- tive support and cleansing.
Ginger Tea
Ginger is an ancient Chinese remedy to minimize the symp- toms of hangovers. Ginger has been found to soothe the diges- tive lining and balance gastric juices, making it a great remedy for overeating, too. This remedy is even more effective if you drink it in between alcoholic beverages.
Drink up!
Umm, water, that is. Though this is hardly a secret remedy for combating a hangover, it bears repeating. Alcohol dehydrates your system, so drinking plenty of water will help combat some of your unpleasant hangover symptoms, rehydrate your body and flush out toxins. Drink a few glasses of room temperature, fil- tered water after a night of sum-
mer extravagance.
Eat Right, Eat Light
These meals will help your body recover from overindul- gence:
• Breakfast: Eat oat bran ce- real, brown rice, or any other whole grain cereal (as long as it is unbleached and does not con- tain any added sugar or chemi- cals). Pair with unflavored soy milk.
• Lunch/Dinner: Eat any combination of beans, brown rice, oat bran, vegetables, or- ganic chicken, turkey or soy- products.
• Super Cleanse Broth: Sim- mer any combination of the fol- lowing ingredients for an hour: collards, Swiss chard, kale, mus- tard greens, cabbage, dandelion, Brussels sprouts, daikon radish, watercress, seaweed, shitake mushrooms, cilantro, garlic, leeks, fennel, anise, fresh ginger, and turmeric. Drink 8 ounces twice a day.
Lemon Water
First thing in the morning, drink one lemon squeezed in 12 ounces of warm filtered water. Lemon activates your liver to re- lease toxins and helps to cleanse and move the roughage that stays behind in your intestines. Throughout the day, drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water to flush your system.
Detoxify With Tea
Chinese traditional medicine uses natural substances to help support the healthy functions of your liver, lymphatic system, bowels, urinary tract and skin. Try these herbs in teas to cleanse and prevent a buildup of toxins and wastes in your body:
• Chrysanthemum Flower. Traditionally used to cleanse the liver and neutralize toxins.
• Hawthorn Berry. Used to cleanse the blood of plaque and other toxins.
• Turmeric. Supports the detoxification process in the whole body by increasing bile production and releasing and eliminating toxins. Simply put a tablespoon of the spice in a pot and stir over medium heat for five minutes.
• Milk Thistle. Protects and restores the liver, due to its con- tent of silymarin.
• Dandelion Root. Enhances the flow of bile, relieving liver congestion.
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