Improve your Digestion, Improve your Life

Did you know 70% of the body’s immune system lives in the digestive tract? Have you heard me talk about the direct connection between our gut and brain? Maintaining a healthy gut and overall digestive health is crucial to overall health. Many people make the mistake of thinking that the only purpose of the digestive tract is to provide nutrients to the rest of the body and remove waste. While those are two important roles the digestive tract serves, it is connected and responsible for so many other parts of the body and can seriously impact our physical and mental health if it is not functioning properly.

In Ayurvedic medicine, practiced primarily in India as a sister science to yoga, it is believed that all health and longevity flows from the gut so that is where treatment begins.

Many digestive issues can be alleviated with natural solutions such as incorporating gut-healthy foods into your diet, regular exercise, staying hydrated, and supplementing with doTERRA products made specifically for digestive health. In this article, we’re going to cover solutions to help improve digestion and restore digestive health, along with my favorite doTERRA products you can start using right away to impact your life.

The Importance of Digestive Health

Digestive health is essential for overall health and well-being. The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients, which are necessary for our bodies to function properly. When the digestive system is not functioning well, it can lead to a wide range of health problems.

Nutrient Absorption: The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food into nutrients, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream and used by the body for energy, growth, and repair. If the digestive system is not working properly, it can lead to nutrient deficiencies and other health problems.

Immune System Support: The digestive system is also home to a large number of beneficial bacteria that help support the immune system. These bacteria help to keep harmful bacteria and viruses at bay, preventing infections and illnesses.

Mental Health: There is a growing body of research almost daily that suggests that the health of the gut and the health of the brain are interconnected. The gut-brain axis is a bi-directional communication system that allows the brain and the gut to communicate with each other. Research has shown that a healthy gut can lead to better mental health and that there are more pathways communicating from the gut to the brain than from the brain to the gut so it's a great place to start to address a myriad of health issues like brain fog, anxiety, stress, headaches, and more.

Overall Health: Digestive problems can lead to a range of health problems, including skin disorders, inflammation and pain, autoimmune disorders, and even cancer. By maintaining good digestive health, you can significantly reduce your risk of these and other health problems.

There are many things you can do to promote digestive health, including eating a healthy diet that is high in fiber and low in processed foods, getting regular exercise, managing stress, and staying hydrated. It is also important to avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, both of which can have a negative impact on digestive health.

Symptoms of Poor Digestive Health

Poor digestive health can manifest itself in many different ways, and the symptoms can vary depending on the underlying cause.

Symptoms of Poor Digestive Health

• Bloating

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Heartburn

• Abdominal Pain

• Nausea and Vomiting

• Fatigue and brain fog

• Unexplained Weight Loss or weight gain

• Skin disorders like eczema

• Excessive gas or cramping

Gut-Friendly Foods to Include in Your Diet

Fiber-rich Foods: Fiber is essential for promoting healthy bowel function and maintaining a healthy gut. Good sources of fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.

Fermented Foods: Fermented foods are rich in beneficial bacteria that can help support the immune system and promote healthy digestion. Good sources of fermented foods include yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and miso.

Probiotic Foods: Probiotic foods contain live cultures of beneficial bacteria that can help improve gut health. Good sources of probiotic foods include yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and pickles.

Prebiotic Foods: Prebiotic foods are rich in fiber that cannot be digested by the body but provides food for the beneficial bacteria in the gut. Good sources of prebiotic foods include onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, and bananas.

Bone Broth: Bone broth is rich in nutrients and collagen, which can help promote healthy digestion and reduce inflammation in the gut.

Healthy Fats: Essential fatty acids also play a vital role in gut health supporting cell membrane integrity. Good sources including avocados, coconut oil, and nuts as above.

doTERRA Essential Oils for Digestive Health

Here are a few of the most commonly used oils:

• Peppermint: Peppermint essential oil is known for its ability to support healthy digestion. It can help reduce gas and bloating, soothe upset stomachs, and support healthy bowel function. Peppermint oil can be taken internally, applied topically, or diffused for aromatherapy purposes.

• Ginger: Ginger essential oil is another oil that can be used to support healthy digestion. It can help reduce nausea and vomiting, support healthy bowel function, and soothe upset stomachs. Ginger oil can be taken internally, applied topically, or diffused for aromatherapy purposes.

• Fennel: Fennel essential oil is often used to support healthy digestion. It can help reduce bloating, support healthy bowel function, and soothe upset stomachs. Fennel oil can be taken internally, applied topically, or diffused for aromatherapy purposes.

You will notice that these oils are used in many of the products discussed below.

Natural Solutions for Better Digestion

1. Zengest Essential Oil

Zengest (Digestzen in the US market) is a proprietary blend of essential oils that can help reduce bloating, gas, and digestive discomfort. It contains oils such as ginger, peppermint, anise, caraway, coriander, and fennel, which have been shown to promote healthy digestion. These oils are believed to have a calming effect on the digestive system. Husbands love this blend as they often complain of stress and digestive related issues.

ZenGest can be used aromatically, topically, or internally. When used aromatically, it can be diffused or inhaled directly from the bottle. When used topically, it can be applied to the stomach or abdominal area, either alone or in combination with a carrier oil. When used internally, it can be taken in a vegetable capsule or added to water or other beverages.

This blend is even safe and gentle for babies, puppies, and cats. Take one drop of Zengest and a squirt of fractionated coconut oil into your hands, rub hands together, and then rub the mixture onto the abdomen. If you massage in a clockwise direction, you'll be following the digestive tract route so this can also be relieving of discomfort and I just love incorporating as much touch as possible when supporting pain or discomfort.

You can use this oil in a variety of ways ... just smelling it can relieve nausea from car sickness, apply a diluted drop over the bridge of the nose (stay away from the eyes) to relieve nasal congestion, apply and massage directly to the abdomen or upper chest for relief of heart-burn, add a drop to a 1/2 cup of warm, not boiling, water for a calming tea after a meal, or take 2 drops in a vegetable capsule to address the entire digestive tract and ease deeper gut discomfort.

2. PB Assist+

PB Assist is a probiotic supplement. It is designed to support healthy digestive and immune system function by providing a blend of beneficial probiotic bacteria to the gut.

The probiotic strains in PB Assist include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, which have been selected for their ability to promote digestive and immune system health.

PB Assist is formulated using a unique double-layer capsule technology that helps protect the probiotics and prebiotics from stomach acid, allowing them to reach the intestines and colon where they can provide the most benefit.

PB Assist is designed to be taken daily, preferably with a meal, to help support healthy gut function and immune system health.

3. TerraZyme

TerraZyme Digestive Enzyme Complex is a proprietary blend of active whole-food enzymes and supporting cofactors that are often deficient in cooked, processed, and preservative-laden foods. The powerful combination of digestive enzymes found in ZenGest TerraZyme supports the body’s constant production of enzymes critical for healthy biochemical functions, including healthy digestion of food nutrients and cellular metabolism of nutrients to energy. TerraZyme includes a variety of whole-food enzymes that help with the digestion of proteins, fats, complex carbohydrates, sugars, and fiber. It's designed to help you get more nutrition from your food by helping to break it down.

I remember a really neat demo I observed once where a Terrazyme capsule was opened and added to chocolate pudding and the other cup remained unaltered. Within a minute, the Terrazyme pudding was like a chocolate milk consistency having helped break down the sugar and milk proteins in the pudding. Pretty cool!

Unrelated to the digestive system, TerraZyme contains metabolic enzymes which are responsible for cell growth, cell repair, and cell maintenance. This means that TerraZyme can also help to heal wounds more efficiently by promoting cell growth.

TerraZyme is such an amazing product that I have an entire article written about it. You can read that here: How to Use doTERRA TerraZyme | Why You Need Digestive Enzymes Daily

4. Peppermint Softgels

Peppermint Softgels are a convenient way to take peppermint oil. The capsule that the peppermint oil is contained in, is what makes the softgel a little bit different than taking just Peppermint oil. The coating on the Peppermint Softgels allows the Peppermint Oil to pass through the stomach acid and into the lower GI Tract.

Peppermint oil is known for its refreshing, invigorating, and cooling properties, and has been traditionally used for a variety of health benefits.

Peppermint Softgels are designed to promote healthy respiratory function and digestive health and can also provide a refreshing and energizing boost throughout the day. They can be taken before meals to help support healthy digestion and ease occasional stomach discomfort, bloating, gas, and reduce symptoms of irritable bowel situations.

5. Tamer Roller

Tamer is a blend of essential oils created for kids (obviously adults can use it too, but it is a mild formula so that kids can use it by themselves and is already diluted so a simple solution for pets). Tamer is pre-diluted with a carrier oil to make it gentle and safe for use on children. The rollerball applicator also makes it easy and convenient to apply to a child's abdomen, bottoms of their feet or their back. This blend smells AMAZING ! So spearminty and fresh.

The essential oils in Tamer include Spearmint, Japanese Peppermint, Ginger, and Black Pepper, which have been traditionally used for their digestive benefits, and are also known for their soothing and calming properties. This is another great option if you do not like the taste or aroma of DigestZen.

This could be a really easy add to your child's routine if they are experiencing stress or anxiety related to attending school. Practice at home and pop the roller in their backpack so it's at the ready when ever they need to quiet anxious thoughts or the upset tummy that can accompany them.

6. MetaPWR Advantage Collagen

MetaPWR Advantage Collagen combines the power of marine collagen, NMN, and 10 other synergistic ingredients to target cellular integrity and health-span.

This product can replace vital collagen your tissues need and support natural production of NAD+ in your body, helping you slow the signs of aging inside and out. The 12 synergistic ingredients in MetaPWR Advantage give your cells what they need to support cellular integrity.

MetaPWR Advantage is 12 times more bioavailable than other collagen products so if you've tried other collagen products and have been disappointed by the results for your skin or joints, you owe it to yourself to try Advantage. When a supplement or nutrient is easily absorbed and used by your body, it’s considered bioavailable. The number of grams you read on the label isn’t what determines how much collagen your cells will receive. Bioavailability factors in.

MetaPWR Advantage features those types of collagens, but it also includes seven other unique collagen peptide types. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, and there are 28 known types. Supplementing with a wide range of diverse collagen types helps promote joint mobility, tissue strength, and skin elasticity.

MetaPWR Advantage is delivered to you in hydrolyzed powder format for a more active and bioavailable delivery system at the time of taking it. Simply mix it with water immediately before you drink it. When you mix MetaPWR Advantage with cool or room temperature water, you’re consuming it as a liquid, meaning your body can easily absorb the stable, non-degraded nutrients without the sugar content that accompanies a prepackaged juice format or the value loss that occurs during pasteurization.

You can read more about MetaPWR Advantage and the whole MetaPWR Line here: MetaPWR Review with doTERRA | Supporting Metabolic Health Naturally

More Techniques to Support Digestive Health

In addition to a healthy diet, regular exercise and relaxation techniques can also support digestive health as stress greatly impacts digestion.

Exercise: Exercise can help stimulate bowel movements, reduce constipation, and promote healthy digestion. Any form of physical activity that raises your heart rate, such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming, can be beneficial for digestive health.

Yoga: Yoga has been shown to help promote healthy digestion by reducing stress and anxiety, improving circulation, and stimulating the digestive system. Certain poses, such as twists, can help massage the internal organs and improve digestion.

Deep Breathing: Deep breathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing or belly breathing, can help reduce stress and anxiety, which can have a positive impact on digestive health. Deep breathing can also help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for promoting rest and relaxation.

Meditation: Meditation can help reduce stress and anxiety, which can have a positive impact on digestive health. Meditation can also help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and promote a sense of calm and relaxation.

Mindful Eating: Mindful eating involves paying attention to the food you eat, being present in the moment, and savoring the experience. Mindful eating can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve digestion, and promote healthy eating habits.

Your digestive system is an important part of your overall health and wellbeing. When your digestive system is not functioning optimally, it can throw your whole system off balance. Using doTERRA’s essential oils and products can help provide relief and support digestive health. Additionally, making changes to your diet, incorporating gut healing foods and relaxation techniques, and trying some natural remedies can all help improve digestion. If you’re looking for an all-natural solution to support better digestion and digestive health, then doTERRA’s products are a great option.

I'd be delighted to provide you samples of whatever you'd like to try. Reach out and let's get started on feeling better !

Until next time,