Digestive Troubles? Try These 3 Smoothies That Aid Digestion, Alkalize Your pH, And Boost Absorption Of Bone-Building Nutrients

Absorption of bone-building vitamins and minerals is crucial to rejuvenate bones, but if your digestion is compromised, your nutrient absorption will be, too. Unfortunately, digestive problems are more prevalent today than ever before. Prescription drug use for disorders like GERD, Crohn’s Disease, IBS, constipation, and others continues to increase.

Of course, Savers want to avoid taking drugs as much as possible. So here’s some wonderful news: smoothies made with key ingredients can help aid your digestion, thereby boosting nutrient absorption.

The three delicious, easy smoothie recipes I share today are chock-full of bone-healthy, digestion-friendly ingredients that will be a fantastic addition to your daily bone-building nutrition.

But first, let’s take a look at…

Why Digestion Matters To Your Bone Health

The Medical Establishment is set up to compartmentalize the various body systems. There are specialists for just about every part and function of the body, and that tends to foster a sense of separation between the various functions. But the fact is, your body works as a whole, and each system influences the others in various ways.

Digestion does matter a whole lot when it comes to osteoporosis. It’s a complex process that involves nutrients, enzymes, and various digestive “juices” produced by the body. The point of it all is to deliver nutrients where they need to go, and that includes your bones. If your gastrointestinal tract is not functioning properly, then your bones will be starved of the nutrients they need to rejuvenate.

In addition, poor digestion sets the stage for putrefaction, which greatly hampers nutrient absorption and produces toxins in the body.

Because, as mentioned earlier, digestive troubles are increasingly common, the drugs to “correct” them are also prescribed at an alarmingly high rate. The most popular class of drugs is the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec.

These drugs carry their own risks of hampering digestion by greatly decreasing the stomach acid necessary to properly break down food into usable nutrients. In fact, research has shown that PPIs increase the risk of fractures.

A 2010 review published in the peer-reviewed Gastroenterology and Hepatology draws a clear connection between gastrointestinal disorders and osteoporosis. The review notes that:

“Osteoporosis is common in GI diseases, particularly those associated with malabsorption and maldigestion,”¹

In fact, the review goes on to state that:

“Osteoporosis may also be the only presenting finding for a GI disease in an otherwise asymptomatic patient.”¹

In their conclusion, the researchers point out that controlling inflammatory bowel disease and supporting the body nutritionally “play a key role” in reducing the risk of osteoporosis.¹

To complicate matters, doctors generally do not consider osteoporosis to be a symptom of a digestive disorder; instead, they prescribe drugs like bisphosphonates that can cause pain and damage to the esophagus. More often than not, to control this side effect, the doctor writes another prescription for a bone-damaging PPI.

Delicious smoothies with key ingredients are an excellent solution to this destructive cycle. They deliver nutrients and healthful digestive enzymes in an easy-to-digest form, and you can pack a lot more nutrient-rich foods into a smoothie than you can a traditional meal served on a plate.

The following recipes each make two servings, and all of them have the same simple directions: place all ingredients in a blender and whirl at high speed until smooth.

3 Smoothies That Help Digestion

1. Pectin-Rich Smoothie

Pectin is very soothing to the digestive tract, helping to ease inflammation.

• 1 organic apple, cut in quarters
• 3/4 cup fresh pineapple cubes
• 1/2 cup chamomile tea
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 1 cup plain yogurt, preferably organic
• 1 teaspoon honey, preferably raw and organic

2. Colorful Smoothie

This delightfully colorful smoothie contains apple cider vinegar (ACV), an alkalizing form of vinegar that is excellent for digestion. It helps stimulate the production of stomach acid, soothes heartburn, and is rich in enzymes, amino acids, and other hard-to-obtain nutrients that boost digestion. This smoothie is a palatable way to get a healthful dose of ACV.

• 1/2 cup red beets, cooked and sliced
• 1/2 cup carrots, shredded
• 1 cup plain yogurt, preferably organic
• 1 teaspoon honey, preferably raw and organic
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, preferably unpasteurized and raw
• A dash of cinnamon

3. Green Smoothie

This jade-green smoothie has anti-inflammatory, stomach-soothing foods such as ginger. It includes probiotic-rich yogurt, too.

• 1 cup cubed honeydew melon
• 1/2 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cubed
• 1/2 cup kale
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt, preferably organic
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• Dash of ground cloves 

These alkalizing smoothies make excellent snacks or even appetizers that improve your digestion and boost nutrient absorption.

Feel free to share your experience with foods that help digestion – or anything else pertaining to today’s article – by leaving a comment below.

Here’s to your bone-healthy, pain-free eating!

References:

¹ Katz, Seymour, MD, FACP, MACG and Weinerman, MD, FACP. “Osteoporosis and Gastrointestinal Disease.” Gastroenterology and Hepatology. August 2010. 6(8): 506-517.