Despite the prominence of milk and other dairy products in the modern diet, many people are lactose intolerant and experience uncomfortable digestive symptoms from not digesting them properly. Fortunately, there are some simple measures that can make lactose intolerance much less of an issue.

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose which is the form of sugar found in milk and the dairy products derived from it. As many as 75% of adults worldwide are believed to be lactose intolerant and symptoms can range from mild to severe and include flatulence, bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In addition, undigested lactose can allow undesirable species of bacteria and fungi to proliferate in the intestines and lead to an imbalance that can compromise digestive function and overall health.

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Digestive issues have become extremely common and are often a result of the typical modern lifestyle. Unfortunately, most people perceive digestive issues as nothing more than an inconvenience and fail to recognize that they can easily lead to compromised health and disease.

Digestive issues range in form and severity from mild cases of gas and bloating to severe cases of Crohn’s disease or diverticulitis which can require that sections of the intestines be surgically removed. Mild digestive issues are so common that most people consider them normal. However, they’re an undeniable indication of compromised digestion, and over time, can progress to more serious issues including food sensitivities, toxicity, susceptibility to illness, and autoimmune diseases, all of which can effect the entire body and initiate a downward spiral of poor health.

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Probiotics have become a popular health topic, and although a lot of people are taking probiotic supplements, many of them don’t know what probiotics actually are, why they’re beneficial, and what the best sources of them are.

The term probiotic, meaning “for life” in Greek, was originally intended to identify the microorganisms that support good intestinal health. Probiotic supplements have become so common that they have now become the more dominant definition, but this doesn’t mean that they’re the best or only source.

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Heartburn, abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea are just a few of the immediate problems that can result from poor digestion. Long term, this can lead to intestinal damage, nutrient deficiencies, and food sensitivities that may cause much more significant problems. Fortunately, there’s a simple but often overlooked measure that everyone can take to improve their digestion and prevent these conditions.

With the fast pace of modern life, many of us rush through our meals and practically swallow our food whole. Although most of us know that we should chew our food thoroughly, few of us actually do it.

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If you think it’s an exaggeration to say that something as common as sugar or refined carbohydrates can ruin your life, perhaps you should give more consideration to the excessive amounts of it that many people are consuming and the harmful effects that it can have on one’s health.

It only takes a quick look through most major grocery stores to notice the overwhelming selection of processed and packaged foods and the much smaller selection of natural whole foods such as unrefined meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Much of this processed food contains unhealthy amounts of sugar and refined carbohydrates as well as unnatural additives that are potentially harmful. Because processed foods are cheap to produce, have a long shelf life, and are specifically designed to taste good, they’re favored by both the food industry and the general public. The overwhelming abundance and availability of these foods is a clear indication that they’re a staple of the modern diet, and this is very likely to be a major factor in the prevalence of many life altering health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, depression, heart disease, and cancer.

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Whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds are widely recognized as healthy foods, but without taking a few important precautions, they may not be nearly as healthy as you think.

Most people buy grain products that are heavily processed and nuts that are roasted and salted. The processing involved reduces the nutritional quality of the food and usually involves the addition of unhealthy additives. If it’s not enough that people eat these processed varieties on a regular basis, the problem is made worse by some of the undesirable substances that exist in grains, beans, nuts, and seeds when they’re not prepared properly. As such, it’s best to buy these foods in their natural and whole form, or as close to it as possible, and prepare them yourself. If that’s not possible, you should at least buy from companies that have already done the work for you.

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