Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (262 page)

Taking in excess air will cause gas bubbles to form, so when you eat, take small bites and chew carefully, with your mouth closed. And don’t drink from a straw.

Get some fresh air. Go for a quick 10-minute walk after eating. Exercise helps gas to pass through the digestive tract more quickly, so you feel better faster.

Eat fruit by itself, and never for dessert. If you eat fruit straight after a high protein food such as turkey, fish, or meat, you’re guaranteed to expel noxious fumes. The same applies when you eat fruit at the same time as bread, rice, or potatoes.

Drink only warm liquids and no ice whatsoever. Drink these liquids before you eat, not with your meals. Drinking a lot of liquid with meals can make you bloated.

Commercial antacids neutralize stomach acid but, over the long term, end up causing the stomach to produce even more.

I developed digestive trouble after the stress in my life spiraled out of control. I was at the end of my tether searching for answers to why I felt so wretched all of the time, and after several frustrating visits to the doctor’s office and a few sessions with a local nutritionist, things started to become clear: the junky, high-carbohydrate food I was eating, coupled with the stress, was the problem! A friend then recommended Gillian’s book
You Are What You Eat
, and I haven’t looked back since; I’m more aware of my body, I’m eating a sensible diet, cutting out too many naughties, and managing stress.

INFLAMMATION

Inflammation is a self-protective mechanism of the body in response to injury, infection, or invasion with a potentially harmful substance (e.g., from a bite, sting, or pollen). Symptoms of inflammation include reddening, swelling, heat, soreness, and restricted range of movement, depending on the function of the afflicted area. Any area of the body can potentially become inflamed. Inflammation can be internal and external.

As a rule of thumb, if you have a condition that ends with “itis,” it means you have inflammation of that area, e.g., tonsillitis = inflammation of the tonsils.

CAUSES INCLUDE

Viruses.

Bacteria.

Allergies or intolerances.

Stings.

Bites.

Action plan

It is important to ascertain and address the source of the inflammation, rather than just suppress it. If it is a one-time injury, bite, or sting, that may be easy enough. However, much inflammation is from ongoing wear and tear, food intolerances, and imbalances in body function caused by unhealthy dietary and lifestyle habits. These must be addressed so that the body can deal with the perceived threat or heal the damaged tissue.

EAT/DRINK

Fruits and vegetables, which contain antioxidants that can reduce inflammation
and aid healing. In particular, eat blueberries and blackberries for their anti-inflammatory effects.