5 Key Ingredients for Better Nutrient Absorption – Updated Article

The bioavailability of the food we eat is the most important factor in whether your body will easily absorb its nutrients. Just because you eat healthy foods does not always mean you are getting all its value and effective nutrition. Furthermore, in a world where food has become so enriched and over processed it is becoming more difficult to get all the daily vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay happy and healthy. Bioavailability is determined by the processing of the food, the interactions of compounds and even the individual’s physical makeup. Below are five key ingredients that will help you absorb the nutrients in your food.

1. Enzymes

Digestive enzymes have many roles in the digestive process. They assist in removing waste from cells, breaking down food and helping to store excess nutrients. Raw fruit, raw vegetables and unpasteurized milk are a few examples of foods rich in enzymes. Cooked food, on the other hand, loses its enzymes in the heating process. While it is best to get your nutrients from foods, there are many digestive enzyme supplements on the market today.

2.Fermented Foods

Fermented foods use microorganisms to transform sugars into lactic acid. This process predigests food so that you are able to get more nutrients from it when consumed. Some examples of fermented foods include Miso, Yogurt, Kefir, Tempeh and Sauerkraut. Fermented foods like Yogurt contain probiotics, live bacteria that helps regulate your digestive tract.

3.Piperine

What is piperine you ask? Piperine is a compound most readily found in black pepper. It increases the bioavailability of food by decreasing activity in your intestinal tract and inhibiting the metabolism of certain enzymes. It has also been shown to increase the absorption of minerals such as Selenium and to increase your body’s overall thermogenic activities. So next time you cook add some black pepper. Your body will thank you.

4.Food Combos

I am not talking about value meals. Research has shown that combining certain foods assist in better digestion. For example, mixing vegetables with olive oil will assist in the absorption of certain nutrients such as lutein and beta carotene. Healthy fats are a key ingredient in increasing your foods’ bioavailability.

5.Chew Your Food

While this may not be an ingredient per se, chewing you food well is essential to proper digestion and bioavailability. In the hustle and bustle of today’s society, it seems that nobody has the time to properly eat their meals. Lunch gets squeezed in between meeting or inhaled at your desk. Chewing your food breaks down the particles so it is easily digested by your stomach and intestines. The saliva in your mouth moistens and alkalinized your food. Your body will then be able to absorb more of the nutrients in the food you eat.

For more information on key ingredients for proper absorption of nutrients click here.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.