Many of my friends know that I have an interest in digestive health. So it was no surprise that in conversation with a few of them this week, one of them asked me what I would do to ensure a really healthy digestive system. I was taken by surprise. Let me explain why...

I have written so much about various aspects of healthy digestive health that I have not really stood back and thought about it holistically. What would I do if I had to put in place a plan for my own digestive system? I have since given this some thought and will reveal my thoughts below.

Firstly though, let's set some context. It is becoming increasingly evident that diet is critical to good overall health and well being. We all know that don't we? Perhaps what is often overlooked is that a healthy diet begins well before placing any food in your mouth. It begins with understanding what foods are good for you and what foods are not. Let me give an example.

I suffer from high cholesterol, so my diet needs to be low in saturated fats and low in sugars. I have been advised to eat more fish, particularly oily fish that are high in omega 3. So foods like eggs, dairy foods and fatty meat products are not ideal in my diet. Here's my dilemma. I also suffer from gout. Gout is caused by higher than normal acetic acid levels in the system which is brought about by consuming foods high in purines. So what foods are high in purines? Fish, meat, sweet meats, meat extracts etc. Dairy, eggs and other foods that are not suitable for one problem are OK for another. The point is that we all need to plan our diet to suit our own situation.

Then there is the question of an efficient digestive system. An efficient digestive system, at least from my perspective, is one that extracts the nutrients from the food we eat and effectively disposes of the waste products that we do not require. If either of these processes is deficient in any way, then it can lead to problems. For example, the rate at which our food travels through our system is important for nutrient absorption and constipation. If waste products move slowly through the digestive tract then more moisture is extracted which hardens the stools.

OK so let's get back to the question I was asked. What would I do. I want to make an important point here. I am not a doctor so am not qualified to give medical advice. What I am about to say is a personal opinion based on my own knowledge and may not be appropriate for all. As I said earlier, we are all different and should make a plan that suits our own situation.

OK. Here's what I would do.

Firstly, I would plan my diet. I would consider what foods are good for me and I would make sure that they are plentiful in my plan. Fruit, vegetables, grains and cereals come to mind. I would still eat those things that I just love but are bad for me but only in moderation. I have a sweet tooth and just love condensed milk for example! I would then cleanse my colon of any accumulated waste products using a colon cleanse. This will eliminate any waste clinging to my colon that could lead to complications later. Then I would supplement my diet with a reputable probiotic. Probiotics are important because they add good bacteria to the gut. Finally I would supplement my diet daily with a multivitamin to ensure that any flaws in my diet plan are covered.

I have written a lot about each of these topics in other articles. If you would like to know what colon cleanse and probiotic supplements I would use, then have a look at the links below (the manufacturers of these products offer free trial samples!). You must of course do your own research and find what works for you. Note that many of the products I mention have free trials.

So there you have it. My personal opinion on what I would do to optimize my digestive health. Don't forget to click the links below for more on colon cleanse and probiotic supplements.