HOW you eat is just as important as WHAT you eat.

Here are some ideas to make sure your body is better able to benefit from every bit of goodness your food has to offer:

• Avoid liquids around meal times. Liquids dilute the digestive juices and make your digestion less efficient at breaking down food.
• Chew, chew and chew some more. Nature hasn’t provided teeth inside our digestive tract, so you only get one chance to break your food down well enough for it to be digested. You need to ‘puree’ your food with your teeth before you swallow it.
• Chew slowly and mindfully and pause between mouthfuls. This not only aids digestion but also gives your brain the opportunity to tell you when your body is full.
• Enjoy the taste, smell and look of your food. This gets your body prepared for digestion. Concentrate on what you’re eating and avoid being distracted by reading or watching TV.
• Get your zinc levels checked with a simple taste test with your beauty therapist, local pharmacy or health food store.
• Eat small, regular meals so you don’t overfill your stomach and digestion is easier. Overeating strains the digestive system and can result in indigestion.
• Try to eat at around the same time each day – your body will anticipate when it needs to prepare for digestion.
• Chamomile tea soothes mucous membranes and contains a bitter principle to aid with digestion.
• Peppermint tea after meals aids digestion and reduces flatulence and bloating
• Avoid eating after 8pm at night – your digestive system is closing down for the night.
• Don’t eat within two to three hours before sleep.