Good Digestion — Key to Losing Weight

by Ellen Cutler DC

I believe that the most critical area that is overlooked when facing imbalances in the body, such as obesity¹, allergies, depression, etc., is that most people do not digest their food properly. Chronic health problems are the result of food allergies due to poor digestion. Under optimal conditions, the human body is capable of producing the necessary enzymes to digest food and to facilitate its absorption of nutrients. However most of us in the modern world do not live under optimal conditions due to a toxic environment, unhealthy habits and lack of exercise. Therefore, most people in our society suffer from digestive disorders, which when not treated, lead to further health challenges.

Even those who are conscious about our food choices are facing similar digestive issues. Many of us go to health food stores and buy expensive foods and supplements believing that we are doing the right thing. Unfortunately, more often than not that is simply not the case for through the sole act of eating right is not sufficient in maintaining the proper nutrients. Scientific research shows that as we grow older our bodies are not able to properly digest our food intake due to a shortage of enzymes. As a result, we are not assimilating the nutrients we are eating and our bodies starve. In addition, if we cannot digest and absorb those nutrients, they become as bad as eating junk food. Ultimately, when we don’t digest food properly, it becomes toxic. In that situation our bodies are not only in starvation mode, they are also dealing with a toxicity that can cause a breakdown in the immune system. Thus, our body is constantly craving nutrients but we continue to feed it what it cannot process. Before we know it, although we have the best of intentions, we may have gained a lot of weight causing our health to get off balance.