Women's hormones, gut + metabolism

Pro-Digestion Foods vs. Anti-Digestion Foods

Are you shook?

Yup, the same foods that are pro-metabolic are also pro-digestion.

You see. Digestion requires lots and lots of nutrients and energy to do its job and keep that digestive fire burning.

If you metabolism is sluggish due to nutrient deficiencies then your digestion will be too whether it be bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, etc… it is always a metabolic issue.

The problem is when you have digestive issues the first thing you want to do is restrict food in hopes of feeling better which in the end is just contributing to more nutrient deficiencies.

By supporting your metabolism you are in turn supporting your digestion.

Bone broth, collagen + gelatin: supply the body essential amino acids that are therapeutic to the digestive tract and they bring down inflammation in a muscle meat heavy diet.

Fruit + orange juice: Easy to digest carbohydrates full of minerals like potassium and magnesium. Potassium helps send signals from the brain to the digestive system to churn and digest food.

Beets: stimulate bile flow to break down fat

Cooked mushrooms: help the intestines break down food, disinfect, suppress bacterial growth and absorb toxins plus they are aromatase inhibitors and help balance hormones

Raw Carrots: are anti-microbial and anti-fungal and help to clean the intestines of bacteria, fungus and endotoxins

Coconut oil: contains lauric acid which is antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal and easily digested

Dairy: “Besides being an ecologically favorable source of calcium, protein, sugar, and fat, the composition of milk causes it to be digested efficiently, supporting the growth of bacteria that are safe for the intestine and liver, and reducing the absorption of endotoxin.” – Dr. Ray Peat.

All the foods in the anti-digestion column are gut irritating, hard to digest, inflammatory and contain anti-nutrients that make them even harder to break down and assimilate nutrients from.

They are stressful to the digestive tract and it’s all about bringing down stress in the body.

Stress = less blood flow to the digestive tract.

At the end of the day support your metabolism so you in turn support your digestive system.

You Don’t Need To Trick Your Body Into Thinking It’s Full By Drinking Water

After seeing this water bottle trend, you know the one, that fancy gallon size water bottle with cute markers like “ you’ve got this,” “no excuses,” “keep drinking”…

I couldn’t help but wonder, where the hell did we get the idea that we should be drinking a gallon of water a day regardless of your size, what you ate that day, the outside temperature, your activity level and most importantly your metabolic rate.

If you are already showing signs of low metabolism like frequent urination, cold hands and feet, dry skin, anxiety, mood swings, poor sleep, skin issues, digestion probs then I would steer clear of drinking loads of water.

I remember years ago when I went on my health journey I was watching YouTube videos of fitness competitors to see what they would eat and drink. I distinctly remember them drinking a gallon of water a day and avoiding salt like the plague as a recipe for successful weight loss.

Some other tricks I was told to basically starve myself was that drinking cold water causes you to burn extra calories to warm the water up and that drinking a lot of water reduces your appetite.

I’m annoyed at myself for falling for this bullshit.

I also remember drinking so much water one time that I had to leave work because I felt so sick with a headache, nausea and diarrhea. Yes, OVER-HYDRATING is a thing. I remember thinking it was a badge of honor to have clear pee.

And over-hydrating can make you thirstier and actually dehydrate you more.

Here’s the deal. Drinking too much water can be a huge stressor. You are basically:

1. Creating severe mineral imbalances – you need sodium, potassium, + magnesium to absorb water and so much water without sodium will create hyponatremia.
2. Overworking your kidneys while they try to secrete all this extra liquid.
3. Lowering your metabolic rate. Cold hands and feet? Sucking down a shit load of water will only make you colder.
4. Putting out your digestive fire, hello heartburn, bloating, + gas!

Hydrate with salted water, coconut water, fruits, milk, fruit juices, + broths.

Drink when you are thirsty. If you are hungry- listen + eat. Don’t trick your body into thinking its full with a glass of water. 🙄