The importance of a proper function of digestive system for effective weight management and good overall health is indisputable. However, very frequently our life-style, bad habits, food preferences and unhealthy nutrition harm our digestive system to a great extent. This can be very dangerous and can jeopardize our chances to achieve a healthy weight. That is why prior to starting any weight management program, it is essential to get rid of bad habits and eliminate all the factors that affect our digestion. Below, you can see a list of the most powerful enemies of your digestive system. Read the rest of this entry »

We all love fruits, those healthy natural deposits of vitamins, water, nutrients and other useful elements. I personally love oranges and cherries the most, and I can gladly eat 3-4 pounds of apples a day. In many cultures, it is traditional to eat fresh fruits for a dessert after meals. However, not many people are aware about the fact that eating fruits at the end of lunches or dinners can be quite harmful. Specialists suggest being careful on this point and following some easy rules, which can help us to rip maximum benefits from eating fruit.

1. Do not eat fruits after meals. It usually takes about 20 minutes for fruits to digest and move to the small intestine where further absorption of the nutrients occurs. However, when we eat fruits after other meals, especially the ones with a high content of proteins or starch which usually take much longer to digest, the fruits get blocked in our stomach and start fermenting or even getting rotten. In such case, no positive nutritional effects will be received. Instead, the meals will not be digested completely, the fruits will get broken right in our stomach and our digestive system will be affected and upset.

2. Do not eat fruits together with other meals. The same effect will take place in the stomach, when the fruits are mixed with other meals. Toxic effects of rotten fruits in your stomach can cause great discomfort and even serious diseases. For example, eating kiwis, cherries or berries together with meat, potatoes or other foods containing lots of proteins, starch and fats, can cause various problems with digestion, colitis, diarrhea, and even pains in liver.

3. Make a habit of eating fruits on an empty stomach. This habit will bring more good to your health. Your stomach and digestive system will not have to use additional mechanisms to balance the process of digestion. It is also very good to eat fruits after doing physical exercises or any sort of outdoor activities.

The best time for eating fruits:

• in the morning, 20-30 minutes before having breakfast;
• in the afternoon, 3-4 hours after lunch
• before the bedtime, 3-4 hours after having dinner.