Written by John Immel, Asheville, NCDid you know that digestion takes up to 60% of your daily metabolism? Most of the energy and fluids used for digestion are supplied through your blood. Thus, digestion is only as strong as your blood and circulation to digestive organs. Work, emotion, stress and even conversation pull blood from digestion. That's why you should relax when we eat. Some foods, like cold drinks, cause restricted blood flow to the stomach. You should avoid all activities that divert blood from the digestive tract.

The first fifteen minutes after eating are crucial. A massive increase of blood flow to the digestive tract brings fluid to acid-producing glands lining the stomach. Very little blood remains for other organs, including the brain, which slips into a food-coma after a heavy meal. It's important to relax during this time of sleepiness, even to the point of reclining on the left side. Humans should yield to digestion, giving the body the time, space and blood it needs to properly digest food. After the stomach fills with fluids, blood will be released for other activities. Energy and alertness will return to the mind. Then alas, the afternoon siesta ends and you are ready to reclaim the day.

Blood deficiencies weaken digestion. Indigestion makes it impossible to extract the energy you need from food. That's why weak digestion also makes the blood deficient, leading to a downward spiral. To prevent this downward spiral, blood and digestive health should be carefully guarded. Anyone with a blood deficiency should be cautious not to eat foods that are difficult to digest. Instead, concentrate on easy to digest foods and follow the foundations of healthy digestion. Examples of blood deficiciency include dehydration, low blood sugar levels, metabolic disorders & anemia.

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