A healthy digestive system is the foundation of one’s health. In Traditional Chinese medicine, healthy digestive health equals optimum spleen and stomach functions.
However, the definition of this Chinese spleen covers above and beyond the anatomical spleen organ and known functions in Western medicine.
Spleen and stomach are the two major heavyweight team players in this picture. Plus small intestines continue to absorb nutrients from processed food particles. And large intestines absorb water before final elimination.
The spleen is the boss though while the other three organs do the strenuous dirty jobs. What spleen does, in TCM definition, is distributing absorbed nutrients and liquids to nourish other major organs and the rest of the body.
This is why digestive health is so important. Wants to lose weight? Check digestive health. Wants to stay youthful? Works on digestive health first.
Below is a list of common poor digestive health symptoms.
How Many of These Do You Have?
Always thinking or worrying
Burping, uncomfortable fullness after meals
Cold hands and feet
Craving for sweets all the time
Diarrhea, frequently soon after meals
Dizzy spells frequently
Droopy or swollen upper eyelids in the morning
Dull complexion with pale lips
Eat a lot but not gaining weight
Eat very little but keep gaining weight
Foods taste bland
Forgetfulness
Foul breath
Hair thinning
Heartburn
Heart palpitation after meals
Heavy or scanty periods
Insomnia. Poor sleep quality
Large belly
Muscles tone disappearing
Poor appetite
Shortness of breath
Sleepy after meals
Weak limbs
Digestive Health Can be Improved
Although some symptoms from the checklist above don’t seem to relate to digestion at first. But the root cause is.
Don’t worry. It is possible to nurse digestive health. The essential key is to limit the intake of cold foods and drinks. This is simple yet may be difficult to do. I know it’s hard for me to say no to ice cream or refreshing salads.
Many are puzzled about why the temperature of foods and drinks makes the difference. I will furnish another post to explain why. Please stay tuned