PERSONAL TRAINING: NUTRITION 201: Healing The Gut
Rest for the Gut
Concurrently with healing the gut, you must give it a reprieve from the shouldering the full burden of the digestive process. The digestive tract needs intermittent recuperative time just like you need vacation – once or twice a year for about two weeks. Luckily, giving it a rest is a great deal easier and cheaper.
Supplements That Work To Improve Digestion
HCl and Digestive Enzymes
Our ability to assimilate nutrients decreases with age, stress, and other factors. This phenomenon occurs as a result of decreased production of gastric hydrochloric acid (HCl) and digestive enzymes. If you do not produce proper amounts of these substances, nutrients cannot be broken down, and you cannot make progress. Enzymes have unique properties – some are better at digesting fat, some protein, and some carbohydrate. At Physiqology, in New York City, our personal trainers and strength coaches make individual recommendations for digestive enzymes to each client, based on his or her unique needs.
Probiotics
Probiotics are naturally occurring healthy bacteria that reside in the small intestine. They assist in digestion, and are part of healthy gut flora. They are the natural watchdogs of the gut. Probiotics keep yeast and harmful bacteria in check. The use of antibiotics, alcohol, and refined carbohydrates cuts down on their population and effectiveness. As part of a gut protocol, they must be replaced.
To compete as a professional or amateur athlete, or to recover from injury or surgery, you must have gut health. In order to heal the gut, you must repair the damage, eliminate food allergies, give the digestive tract an opportunity to rest, and adopt a long term plan to stay healthy by rotating foods regularly. (See the 4-Day Rotation Diet.)
