We have high hopes and expectations that the foods and supplements we choose are going to better our health. While it may vary from person to person, many seek to reduce inflammation. In case you missed this week’s live version, catch it here.

Whether you want to reduce your blood pressure, improve blood sugars, lose weight, sleep better, improve your mood, or be free from food cravings and digestive issues, make sure you get your information from credible sources. Any regimen suggested to you should be doable, safe, and can be maintained so you reap benefits well into the future. 

We all strive to attain better health. If we have it, we want to keep it, and if we need it, there’s no shortage of tools out there to look for it.

To start, let’s clarify a common misnomer: the correct use of the word ‘anti-inflammatory’ with regard to food and supplements. Here’s some insider information: when you hear of food that’s anti-inflammatory, that food or supplement is really helping to enhance or promote a healthy inflammatory response. It’s not knocking out inflammation fires like a game of whack-a-mole; it’s working from the ground up by improving how our inflammatory system responds. Did you learn something new? Spread the word! 

Since our entire system works together, when looking for helpful foods or supplements, consider total nutrition. If you focus too narrowly on one aspect, you’re likely going to offset some other area and cause an imbalance.

Whether food or supplements, there’s something that needs to be in place for any of it to work.

Any guesses?

That’s right, it’s your digestive system.

If the digestive system is broken, it’s not possible to reap the benefits of targeted foods and supplements. You might be thinking: if a poor inflammatory response is the root of my problems, making my digestion worse, which comes first? Don’t I need to heal the gut with pro-inflammatory response choices? Sort of. Healing will first take place in the gut. Once the gut is healed, the rest will be healed, too. 

You can target digestion by making sure you’re getting the right kinds of fibers, pre and probiotics, sleep, antioxidant foods, and water. Just remember, before you can get foods and supplements to work their magic, you need to have a healthy digestive system in place.

Do you want to get a snapshot of your digestion? Reply to this email and comment ‘Quiz’ to see your beginning point. Until then, don’t forget to join weekly live topics on Facebook, Tuesdays, 1:00 pm CT.

In good health,