When your gastrointestinal (GI) system is in distress, you can experience a wide range of highly unpleasant symptoms, from bloating to nausea and vomiting. Since it’s impossible to avoid eating altogether, the key to finding relief is to better manage your GI health.
Our team of licensed acupuncturists here at Family Wellness Acupuncture understands how GI problems can hijack your life. Our goal is to educate you about better managing your health through preventive care and acupuncture, which certainly applies to your GI health.
In this post, we review five tips that will help improve your GI health and your quality of life.
Many of the more common GI problems, such as heartburn and bloating, are triggered by certain foods, and we urge you to understand those triggers. For example, if you’re prone to bloating, you should steer clear of carbonated drinks. Or, if heartburn plagues you, avoid foods that have high acidic content.
The best way to approach your GI issue is to talk with your doctor about which foods to avoid and to keep a food diary of your own, recording what you eat and when a symptom develops. By doing this, you can avoid your triggers and your GI symptoms.
Among the most common culprits when it comes to disagreeable GI symptoms are processed foods. Your GI system is designed to process whole foods, such as plants, fruits, nuts, and lean meats. So, instead of snacking on overly processed chips, grab a handful of carrots instead.
Fiber is incredibly important for GI health as it helps everything to flow smoothly. If you’re experiencing GI symptoms like constipation, fiber-rich foods are your first line of defense.
Great sources of fiber include beans, broccoli, avocados, and apples. Of course, this list is just a start, and you can easily do an Internet search for more foods that contain ample amounts of fiber.
Water is extremely important for good GI health and helps your digestive tract to function smoothly while balancing the acids. A good rule of thumb is to drink eight glasses of eight ounces of water per day.
The role that acupuncture can play in your GI health is multidimensional. To begin, the goal of acupuncture is to free up any blockages you may have in your natural flow of energy and resources. By restoring flow and balance, your complex GI system gains the resources it needs for healthy function.
Another benefit of acupuncture is its effect on stress. Times are tough these days, and stress can have a direct impact on your GI health. Through acupuncture, we can address your anxiety, which reduces any physiological side effects like poor GI health.
To get on the road to better GI health through acupuncture, contact our office in Irvine, California, to set up an appointment.
