Digestion and weight loss are two factors linked through the role played by the intestinal microbiota and therefore the bacterial flora in the metabolism and immune system. In fact, digestive problems tend to indirectly reduce metabolism, causing problems in the assimilation of key nutrients to support it, for example mineral salts. And at the same time, intestinal symptoms can be a sign of hormonal or health problems that reduce the metabolic rate.

Therefore, boosting digestion can be a way to lose weight by acting on these factors.

• A greater assimilation of nutrients leads to a lower sense of hunger.

  Often a body that is undernourished of some substances requires more food.

• Stomach bloating and intestinal fermentation cause water retention and regularity problems.

  These problems compromise the health of the intestine, reduce the quality of life, cause an increase in body weight from inflammation.

• Those with frequent intestinal problems tend to move less without noticing it.

  This reduces both the level of daily physical activity and the Neat, that is all those actions not related to physical activity that we perform daily. The result is that if I don’t feel comfortable I will tend to laziness.

• The imbalance of intestinal bacteria, in addition to being linked to disorders such as candida, heavily influences our preferences at the table.

  Those who have more bad bacteria in their gut will also tend to make less healthy choices.

• Studies have found that intestinal disorders occurred in most obese people.

DIGESTION AND LOSS: HOW TO ENHANCE THEM IN 6 STEPS

Let’s now see the 6 tips of doctor Kahina Oussedik-Ferhi, expert in molecular and food biochemistry and author of the book “The magic of digestion “, published in France.

1. Consume foods in the rawest and most natural form possible, reducing those that are packaged, processed and refined.

   According to the doctor, our digestive system has remained unchanged since primitive man. This means that he is more inclined to digest natural than refined foods, which are not fully “recognized” as food, triggering a greater feeling of hunger. Furthermore, sweets, biscuits, snacks often contain both complex, starchy carbohydrates and simple sugars, making intestinal work more difficult. The former are digested slowly, the latter quickly. This divergence causes inflammation and swelling. Simple starches and sugars should not normally be mixed.

2. Learn to associate foods better.

   As we have seen, if you digest everything when you are young, after the age of 30 digestion becomes complicated and it is easier to be overweight due to poor digestion. To avoid this, let’s learn how to combine foods better.
   For example, as we saw in the first point, starches and simple sugars don’t get along well according to the doctor.

   So honey and fruit for breakfast can be combined with a whole Greek yogurt, but not with rusks. Otherwise you can make desserts with stevia, which are dry, such as donuts and biscuits. We can add chocolate or nuts, but not dehydrated or fresh fruit, honey or jam. So a slice of donut sweetened only with stevia and made from wholemeal flour can be paired with milk or yogurt. Otherwise a bruschetta of bread with a little oil and a cup of tea or coffee without sugar.

   At lunch , we can combine vegetables with pasta or brown rice, but don’t finish the meal with fruit or a sweet. Maybe with two walnuts or some almonds. Same thing if we eat pizza or bread or legumes or potatoes. No fruit or sweets. We can therefore eat fruit as a snack or as a substitute for starches at a meal.

   For example, meat and vegetables plus a fruit. But the doctor warns: better limit yourself to two fruits a day, preferably between meals and never in the evening.

3. Don’t use lemon and vinegar with vegetables.

   The doctor claims that these substances are indigestible when combined with vegetables, which should only be seasoned with oil and aromatic herbs.

4. Eggs, vegetables, and dairy products are neutral foods.

   We can associate them with pasta or other starchy foods, sugary foods or vegetables. So yogurt and honey in the morning are fine.

5. We reduce simple sugar as much as possible.

   On this it is useless to explain.

6. Eat organic vegetables, but if you can’t steam them.

   Pesticides cause intestinal inflammation. Better to buy organic vegetables, but if not possible, steam the vegetables. A technique that allows you to get rid of most pesticides.

   See also: improve digestion for weight loss.