​GETTING BETTER - GETTING TO THE CORE OF GOOD HEALTH 
Raw foods contain an abundance of enzymes to support digestion. However, most of us don’t live on a raw food diet. When we cook our food, the enzymes in the food are destroyed and our body has to make them in order to digest our food.

3 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR A HEALTHY DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

1. DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
Digestive enzymes deficiency signs:

• gas and bloating
• diarrhea (which is typical of malabsorbtion)
• abdominal pain
• nutritional deficiencies
• anemia (due to iron deficiency)
• steatorrhea (gray or tan, fatty, greasy, foul-smelling stools that float)
• weakness
• lack of appetite
• early satiety (feeling full after eating a small amount of food)
• nausea, vomiting 
• fatigue​

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2. PROBIOTICS
​There are trillions of bacteria living in or on your body, and many of them play a role in keeping you healthy. Your gut alone is host to hundreds of species of both beneficial and potentially harmful bacteria, which are part of the intestinal flora. To maintain everyday intestinal health, it’s important that the beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria are in proper balance. 
Using probiotic supplements can help ensure you have enough beneficial bacteria to create an ideal environment for healthy digestion. Not only does a healthy digestive system greatly reduce the likelihood of physical discomfort from gas, constipation, bloating, or occasional diarrhea, it also facilitates consistent waste elimination from the body through the regular passing of stool and normalization of stool consistency.

Factors that promote intestinal bacterial imbalance:

• age
• stress
• illness
• antibiotics and/or certain medicines (corticosteroides drugs which suppress the miiune system and permit the overgrowth of bad bacteria)
• decreased digestive secretions
• impaired liver function
• autoimmune disease
• poor diet and hydration
• lack of rest
• harmful environmental conditions 
• alcohol consumption

Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium: 

• are two families of bacteria strains that have been identified as part of the healthy, normal gut microbiota.
• Lactobacillus strains are primarily found in the small intestine, while bifidobacterium are needed in the large intestine. 
• promote a natural balance of beneficial microflora in the gut.
• may also play a role in sustaining healthy immune function. More immune cells are concentrated in the gut than in any other region of the body
• can help strengthen our natural defences by modulating the cellular immune response.

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3. FIBERS
Because of poor eating habits, many people only get one-half to two-thirds of the fibre necessary for optimal  health. 
First, we need to consider what fiber does inside our bodies. By definition, fiber is all of the parts of a plant that our body cannot digest or absorb.Fiber is divided into two general categories - water soluble and water insoluble. 

Insoluble fibers:

• is a subclass of dietary fiber, and is considered "insoluble" because its main components do not readily dissolve in water and are not metabolized by intestinal bacteria. 
• do not dissolve in water, so they pass through the gastrointestinal tract relatively intact, and speed up the passage of food and waste through your gut.
• the main ingredients in insoluble fiber are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignans, which form the structural parts of plants.
• plays a vital role in digestion. 
• are promoting better regularity, so may help relieve constipation 
• are carrying out the waste products. 
• are mostly used to improve the quality of bowel movements
• are considered gut-healthy fiber because they have a laxative effect and add bulk to the diet, helping prevent constipation. 

Soluble fibers:

• dissolves in water.
• sometimes called viscous fiber, expands and forms a gel when it encounters water in the digestive tract, creating a sense of fullness. 
• can reduce the absorption of cholesterol and enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. 
• might actually slow the digestive process, its bulk promotes regular bowel movements and well-formed stools.
• delays the emptying of your stomach and makes you feel full, which helps control weight. Slower stomach emptying may also affect blood sugar levels and have a beneficial effect on insulin sensitivity, which may help control diabetes. 
• many types of soluble fiber also act as prebiotics, feeding healthy bacteria in your gut, thereby further contributing to colon health.

YOU ARE UNIQUE and you need a personalized health regimen that works just for you.