The importance of obtaining nutrients is often overlooked when eating; indisputably, nutrient utilization is more important than just nutrient consumption. Think about it, you can eat all of the greatest and healthiest foods in the world, but if you are not digesting and utilizing any of the nutrients from those foods, do you really think they are having a positive impact on your body? No. In fact, quite the contrary, undigested foods are very harmful and damaging to your body.
How is your body negatively affected by undigested foods?
All raw foods contain enzymes in their natural state. Those enzymes are what break the food down small enough to be absorbed into your bloodstream, allowing your body to then utilize all the nutrients. However, ANY food that has been cooked or processed loses all of its enzymes. Enzymes cannot live in a temperature higher than 118 degrees.
So, whether your meal consists of a fast-food burger or a healthy chicken breast, there are no enzymes available to break down the food because it has either been cooked and/or processed. What does that mean for your body? Acid and indigestion! Oh wait… Acid Indigestion, sound familiar? Your gut recognizes the food that you eat, and knows that in order to break it down it must start to excrete acid. The acid takes action in breaking down that food; however, too much acid builds up in the body can potentially lead to many acid-based diseases such as Arthritis, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Cancer, etc.
How does poor digestion affect your game?
Our digestive system provides the basis for just about every function in the body; meaning, that if your gut is unhealthy, so are you. Our body’s energy, performance, and overall wellness are highly dependent on what is going on in our gut. Being that all athletes strive for optimal energy, performance, and health, it makes sense that you should take your gut’s health into consideration, right?
Let’s look at it this way: It takes time and a considerable amount of energy to play 18 holes of golf. That energy comes from the nutrients contained in the foods you eat. Have you been taught that if you eat all your food, you will be strong and healthy? That is not entirely true.
Once again, there is so much more that needs to happen than just chewing and swallowing. In order for your body to become strong and healthy from the foods you eat, it is required that you utilize the nutrients found in those foods. If you are not, your performance as well as your ability to repair and recover will not be up to par. Let’s not stop there, poor digestion can also negatively affect your game in a multitude of other ways. Often times, a lack of gut health lends itself to increased soreness, inflammation, and slowed recovery, which as we know, is every athlete’s nemesis.
So, what can you do?
Okay, so we painted a pretty grim picture of what happens with undigested, cooked and processed foods, but let’s be real… eating 100% raw is very difficult and we do not expect that from anyone. So, what should you do? You should supplement the digestive enzymes that were killed, through cooking or being processed, by taking an all-natural digestive enzyme supplement. Incorporating, the right nutritional supplements can improve gut health and nutrient utilization. Here are a few things that we recommend to anyone who desires to repair, rebuild, or simply maintain their health through proper digestion.
First and foremost, if you do eat cooked or processed foods, you will need a daily dose of probiotics, prebiotics and digestive enzymes,. This helps ensure proper digestion and defends against unnecessary increases in stomach acids. As stated earlier, eating raw foods is a great way to ensure proper gut health; however, keep in mind that you can still pull energy from unhealthy nutrients; so even with the occasional cheat meal to be sure use a supplement to break down your food and utilize its nutrients.
Extra recommendations for gut health
- Good fats such as: raw nuts, seeds, organic cold pressed flax seed oil, chia seeds, coconut oil, avocados, and especially omega 3 fatty acids
- Ionized Kangen Water ™ (electrically charged water has been shown in the Japanese medical literature to help proliferate good gut flora)
- Organic Aloe Vera 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup per day with Kangen water ™
- Organic fermented foods and drinks rich in probiotics (lacto-fermented sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha tea, kefir, pickles, and cultured condiments)
- Prebiotic foods like granny smith apples, apple cider vinegar, Jerusalem artichokes, onions and garlic
About Core Health Products
Core Health Products has been supplying health and nutritional supplements to people all around the world since 2008. Shan Stratton, founder of Core Health Products, has worked closely with hundreds of professional teams and athletes in the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL.. He has become an expert in providing a clear path to the best health possible to everyone from stay-at-home moms, weekend warriors, entrepreneurs, and professional athletes; after all, Shan did coin the phrase, “we are all athletes on our own field of play”.
We have spent 10 years stressing the importance of Gut Health because true health really does begin in the gut. Love your gut; it is your second brain anyway. Choose to repair, rebuild, and maintain by choosing the product that hundreds of sports teams and athletes have chosen to maximize their game. Happy Gut, Happy Golfing!
Our Digestive Health helps you to break down your food and utilize its nutrients, thereby restoring and recovering your gut health.
Visit www.corehealthproducts.com for additional ways to repair and rebuild your gut.