Family dinners and cosy lunches should be memorable occasions. They should be remembered for good food and good company - not for digestive distress! A few lifestyle adjustments, however, can eliminate distress from your dining experience.

1. Refresh With Water
Drink at least eight glasses of pure water throughout the day. Water aids in the digestive process and helps in the absorption of  food. Water also carries nutrients and oxygen to the body's cells.

If your body doesn't get enough water, it will borrow from an internal source. Insufficient water can result in a sluggish colon. Limiting your intake of water will over tax your liver and kidneys.

2. Revitalize With Lemon And Ginger
A hot glass of pure water with lemon juice should be a morning ritual. This beverage will add vitality to your morning and your digestion. Lemon juice improves the flow of digestive juices. It helps to flush out the digestive tract. Enjoy a lemon drink at least 30 minutes before breakfast to derive the maximum benefits.

Ginger was even used in ancient Greece to help digestion. It increases digestive movement through the stomach. Ginger also stimulates digestive enzymes in the pancreas. Spice up a hot lemon drink with a touch of ginger juice. Enjoy an antioxidant ginger tea at any time of day. Ginger should not be used, however, in significant amounts with anti-coagulant drugs.

3. Re-Energize With A Balanced Diet
Certain foods interfere with the digestive process and slow your metabolism. Greasy, fatty foods irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Olestra, an artificial fat, and sorbitol, an artificial sweetener, can cause excess gas.

Processed foods and refined sugars can cause digestive distress. Caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated drinks are not kind to the digestive system. Balanced meals with lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will curb digestive distress.

4. Relax With A Healthy Meal
The digestive system aids the absorption of food. It also absorbs physical and psychological signals from the body. Stress keeps the digestive system from functioning at peak performance.

To ensure distress-free digestion, partake in leisurely meals at regular intervals. Dine in calm, serene settings. Take the time to enjoy, savor, and chew your food. Chewing is the first step in digestion. It signals the digestive system to begin its process.

5. Recharge With Walking
Regular exercise helps to keep your digestive system on the right path. The movement encourages normal intestinal function. Exercise decreases the chance of bloating. A normal body weight also decreases the possibility of stomach acid refluxing into the esophagus.

High impact exercise may not be the best activity if you are prone to heartburn. Yet walking can work wonders provided that you clear it with your physician. Home or gym treadmills can be used to get in walking minutes. Opt whenever possible, however, to walk outdoors. Walking can be a family or social outing.

Every day people share delicious meals and make lasting memories. A healthy lifestyle will ensure that digestive distress will also become - just a memory!

By Mary Teresa Fowler