“Death begins in the colon” ~ Bernard Jensen
As dramatic as that sounds, there is definite truth to the idea that the health of your entire body is dependent on the health of your digestive system. Your digestive system is where your body obtains its energy for food, absorbs essential nutrients, and eliminates waste products that would otherwise be toxic to the body. There is a direct correlation between the food you eat, and your digestive health. Several nutrients — including vitamins — work together to keep your digestive system healthy. The B vitamins, Vitamin C and Vitamin A are of particular importance in digestive health.
B VITAMINS
The B vitamins are very important for a healthy digestive system, and they assist your body in obtaining energy from the food you eat. The B vitamins are water soluble, which means you can’t store them in your body’s fat cells. Therefore, it is extremely important to include the B vitamins as a regular part of your daily diet.
Of particular importance:
- Vitamin B1. This vitamin, also known as thiamine, helps your body convert carbohydrates in your diet into energy for your cells. Thiamine also plays an important role in the regulation of appetite.
- Vitamin B3. Also known as niacin, B3 is important in the breakdown of carbohydrates and fats.
- Vitamin B6. The other name for this vitamin is pyridoxine, which assists the body in protein metabolism.
- Biotin. This B vitamin helps your digestive system produce cholesterol and process proteins, carbohydrates, and fatty acids.
B vitamins can be added to your diet by eating beans and lots of leafy green vegetables. Juicing greens is a great way to increase levels of these B vitamins listed above.
VITAMIN C
Vitamin C is essential in the production of collagen, a protein that helps hold the tissues of the digestive tract together. A diet rich in vitamin C can also lower your risk of cancers of the digestive tract, including mouth, throat, stomach and colon cancer. Most fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C, with strawberries, red bell peppers and citrus fruits being particularly good sources.
VITAMIN A
Vitamin A nourishes the mucosal tissues which make up the surface of your digestive tract. These tissues secrete compounds that help with digestion. Include pumpkin, carrots, spinach and kale in your diet in order to obtain adequate Vitamin A.
Ultimately, for the best digestive health, it is also important to drink plenty of water on a daily basis, eat adequate amounts of fiber, and be sure to get potassium, sodium and calcium into the diet – which help your digestive tract push food through your system. Remember, digestion is the key to health.
