You've worked all day, you're starving and you can't wait to get home and eat. But when you're finished, you've got that painful, uncomfortable bloating and gas again! So what's going on? Probably just a little imbalance in your system.

The body is quite remarkable in the way it handles your food. Your digestive system breaks it down, extracts and distributes the nutrients and then discards the waste products. But if you upset the delicate acid/alkaline balance of your digestive tract, your body is going to let you know; hence the reason you feel uncomfortable after eating.

1. Chew your food at least 15-20 times before swallowing, the more the better. Your saliva is alkaline and it's the first step of the digestion process. Even if you are eating something like soup that doesn't require much chewing, still try to get some saliva mixed in before you swallow. This also forces you to eat slowly so you are not gulping down air.

2. It is best if you don't drink much with your meals. The liquids will only dilute the alkaline levels in your
mouth, thus preventing proper digestion.

3. Avoid chewing gum between meals. Chewing gum produces stomach acid that's not needed between meals. Adult acid levels start decreasing at around 38-40 years of age which results in digestive problems as we age. Limit your gum chewing to right before or right after a meal. Chew gum made from xylitol (natural sweetener); it will stimulate saliva production and is good for your teeth.

4. Drink room temperature beverages whenever possible. Very hot and very cold beverages will depress your enzyme production and can lead to adrenal exhaustion.

5. Try not to drink coffee with your meals. Its high acidity level causes the stomach to flush out the contents prior to proper assimilation.

6. Try to eat something raw at each meal. Raw foods have enzymes that help boost your digestion process. If you are eating mostly cooked and processed food, you might benefit by taking a food enzyme product.

7. Take a probiotic supplement. Probiotics are the "friendly" bacteria necessary for good colon health and they aid in the digestion and assimilation of nutrients. They can protect you from diarrhea when you travel or help with constipation as well. Always take a probiotic after taking antibiotics, which completely deplete and destroy our friendly flora.

I have used these tips for the last year now and I can honestly say that I enjoy eating again because I no longer suffer from poor digestion. If you still suffer after trying these tips for a couple of weeks, consult your health care provider for more suggestions. Bon Appetit!

Barb Hughesian, creator of HealthyChoices4Life.com, offers useful suggestions to help you develop a healthier lifestyle, by taking it one step at a time. To find ideas and tips on better nutrition, reducing the toxins in your life, managing stress, weight loss and much more, visit http://www.healthychoices4life.com