Healthy digestion isn't just the stomach's job. Running an entire digestive system is an "organized" group effort! This can be especially true for our digestive system, which does so much more than simply being a food processor.
In a sense, digestion actually starts from the eyes and nose. Seeing and smelling food, we start to secrete saliva in anticipation of being fed. Then, because our stomach lining contains such a massive neural network, scientists have dubbed it our "second brains," with a nervous system all its own.
All our cells and organs are constantly speaking to each other in a symbiotic and cooperative neurological spark-fest that keeps you alive and healthy. Without clear communication between cells, messages can become garbled, resulting in systemic malfunction and illness.
Although our second brain does not produce conscious thoughts—it doesn't plan our menu or cook our meals—it is connected to our thinking brain. Our gut's reactions to emotions and thoughts are crucial to our overall health, physically and mentally.
Use these mind and body exercises to relax your mind,
release stress and improve the symptoms of digestive imbalance such as Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS), constipation, diarrhea and other digestive ailments.
Optimize Your Body Temperature
When it comes to digestive fires, the hotter the healthier. While you don't need a raging inferno to burn calories efficiently, just one degree off your body's optimal temperature range can dampen your digestive fires causing sluggish metabolism. A great way to put a fire in your belly is with a
Solar Body Method workout to raise your Qi and ignite your innate energy healer.
Feed Your Natural Furnace
Eat
foods that boost your metabolism naturally, build muscle and promote digestion. Foods rich in capsaicin such as chili peppers, enzyme-rich papaya and pineapple, protein-rich lean meats and even organic green tea or coffee all can help your body burn through calories and heat up your metabolism.
Eat Mindfully
If everything is energy, it's especially important to realize that the food we eat to sustain our physical body is made of energy too. When we
eat mindfully not only do we better absorb our food's nutrition, we receive more of its life essence too. Some foods have higher vibrations than others, and we can sense this on a subconscious level. Take time to taste, feel and appreciate the food you eat so you can sense its healthy vibrations.
Stay Hydrated
The benefits of drinking plenty of water cannot be overstated. Water keeps your muscles and joints lubricated, your skin supple, and your body systems circulating. Drinking plenty of water also helps you maintain your
Water Up, Fire Down balance for more energetic digestion.
Tap Your Tummy
Tap your body all over, to release stress and improve overall circulation. Then concentrate on your abdomen and lower Dahn-jon by doing
Intestinal Exercises that stimulate and build heat in your core.
Meditate
Meditate on your entire digestive system. Close your eyes. Send warm and loving appreciation to every cell of your digestive track, from the tip of your tongue, down to your esophagus and stomach, through your small and large intestines, and finally, to your rectum. Finally, send the positive energy of loving life (Life Particles) to your stomach and intestines for
strongly flowing digestive Qi.
Just a few of these exercises a day will help your digestive organs keep the lines of communication clear and operating smoothly.