I have known so many people who have had digestion problems, ulcers, hiatal hernias, GERD, gastritus, and stomach cancer. My Father had them all, and cancer, of course, won. My husband has GERD/gastritus, we try to keep his symptoms at a minimum. I don't want his to go any farther than it is. My family did not eat well growing up, probably why my Father had so many problems, he was also a very angry person. I think anger plays a big role in the digestion. We did not eat poorly on purpose, we ate the way those before did, and since my parents both lived through the depression, when things were available they had never enjoyed, they indulged. My Father loved french fries and ice cream, just a meat and potatoes kind of guy. No vegetables, no fresh fruits, and he loved Kentucky Fried Chicken when it came out. The vegetables we had came in a can, heated to process, losing all the vitamins and minerals. I suffered from constipation constantly, being stopped up is probably why I had gas pains in my side, the gas had no where to go.
had to learn how to eat to for my body, not my pleasure center. After watching my Father die in such a hideous way, other family members having so many heart, blood pressure, and cholesterol problems I decided there had to be a better way. Sure you gotta treat yourself, life's for enjoying, but on the days it's just work as usual, I can make better choices. After a while it wasn't hard at all. I grew to love seasonal fruit, fruit juices, and pies! I worked in other good stuff like brown rice, Chinese food is great over brown rice. Beans have as much protein as meat and half the fat, I learned to cook chili, burritos (vegetarian, without the lard), and easy casseroles, they were filling, and cleaned up my intestines to a shine! Exercise also helps my digestion.
I am not a health nut at all! I love desserts, cakes, pies, cookies, and ice cream, and sometimes I really overdue, but I have the cushion of all the good eating most of time so I can get a way with it.