The human body is amazing! It regulates acid base balance, blood sugar, core temperature, sleep patterns, and body weight. It protects against infectious disease. It has detoxification pathways and antioxidant activity to fight free radical damage. And, it naturally eliminates toxins. If we want our bodies to be as good to us as they were created to be, we need to do our part to keep them functioning at optimal levels. One way to guard against sluggish results is to focus on supporting healthy elimination.
Our bodies have 5 systems for removing waste; the skin, bowel, lymph, kidneys, and lungs. In order to keep these systems running smooth, we need to adopt a few basic habits that will not only support healthy elimination, but will also improve overall health and quality of life. Take a look at the following goals and rate yourself on a scale of one to five; one being “needs lots of improvement” and five being “I’ve got this down.” It will be easy to see where to focus your goals to change.
Daily Activity
I drink 64oz or more of pure water 1 2 3 4 5
I eat 6 servings of non-starchy vegetables 1 2 3 4 5
I eat 3 servings of fruit 1 2 3 4 5
I eat 3 servings of whole grains, beans or legumes 1 2 3 4 5
I exercise for 45-60 minutes 1 2 3 4 5
If you are doing pretty well in these areas and still suffer from sluggish elimination, you may need to supplement with magnesium, enzymes, or a probiotic to improve your GI function. A registered dietitian or other healthcare professional can help.
