Dao Life Lunar Calendar Supplement Guide

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Digestion is the cornerstone of good health, extracting nutrients, vitamins, and energy from our food. When digestion is impaired, the whole body feels the impact. This blog highlights beneficial supplements to aid digestion. It also provides a list of foods that are gentle on the digestive system. These foods are suggested for Easy To Digest Days on the Lunar Calendar. These foods are suitable for other days of the Lunar Calendar that require a digestive break.

Most of the issues with digesting food, is that much of our food is processed. During the manufacturing and packaging process, the natural nutrients like enzymes and probiotics are removed from the food. This is done for long-distance travel and extended shelf life. Additionally, the soil our factory foods grow in is depleted. As a result, the nutrient levels in our foods have declined almost 50% over the decades. Very often, we have to add these beneficial digestive helpers back into our diet through supplementation.

Probiotics for Digestion

Poor gut health is a source of many health problems. Having a balanced, healthy flora in the intestines is paramount to wellness. One digestive supplement that is a must is probiotics. Probiotics help balance the gut microbiome, essential for healthy digestion, especially after anti-biotic use. Here’s a listing of helpful probiotic strains for digestion, highlighting their specific benefits and roles in digestion:*

• Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Benefits: Enhances the absorption of nutrients. It supports the digestion of dairy by breaking down lactose. It also helps maintain a healthy balance of intestinal flora.
  • Digestive Health: It is particularly effective in preventing and reducing diarrhea associated with antibiotic use. It can also help relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Bifidobacterium bifidum
  • Benefits: Supports the immune system. It helps control the growth of harmful bacteria within the intestines. It also improves gut mucosal barrier function.
  • Digestive Health: Plays a crucial role in breaking down complex carbohydrates, fats, and protein. These are turned into smaller components that the body can use more efficiently.
• Saccharomyces boulardii
  • Benefits: A yeast probiotic that helps fight diarrhea and other digestive problems.
  • Digestive Health: It is known to restore natural flora in the large intestine. It also helps in the small intestine. It is particularly useful in treating traveler’s diarrhea. It also treats diarrhea caused by antibiotic use.
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus
  • Benefits: Known for its ability to survive in acidic stomach conditions and thrive in the bile acids of the intestine.
  • Digestive Health: Helps treat and prevent diarrhea. It promotes the health of the gastrointestinal tract. It can also help prevent the occurrence of vaginal yeast infections.
• Lactobacillus casei
  • Benefits: Supports the immune system and helps in the digestion of dairy products.
  • Digestive Health: It is known to improve digestion. It also reduces lactose intolerance symptoms. Additionally, it helps in the treatment and prevention of diarrhea.
• Lactobacillus plantarum
  • Benefits: Produces its own antibiotic substances which can eliminate harmful bacteria.
  • Digestive Health: Helps maintain intestinal permeability, can improve the digestion of proteins, and boosts the absorption of vitamins.
• Bifidobacterium longum
  • Benefits: Breaks down carbohydrates and proteins, important for waste processing and toxin removal within the digestive tract.
  • Digestive Health: Helps maintain a normal digestive tract, inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria, and boosts the immune system.

Each of these probiotics plays a significant role in maintaining and improving digestive health. They balance intestinal flora. They also enhance nutrient absorption and support overall gastrointestinal health. They can be especially beneficial in managing and preventing conditions like diarrhea, constipation, and IBS.

Enzymes for Digestion

Digestive enzymes break down food into absorbable components, easing the digestive process. Check out this blog on Cautions for Using Enzymes. Check out this blog on food sources of enzymes and how to buy the supplements. Here’s a brief summary of enzymes.

• Protease (breaks down proteins)
• Bromelain (from pineapple, aids protein digestion)
• Lipase (breaks down fats)
• Amylase (breaks down carbohydrates)
• Pectinase (breaks down pectin in fruits)
• Cellulase (breaks down fiber)
• Lactase (breaks down lactose in dairy)

Herbs & Supplements for Digestion

Some herbal supplements can support digestion by reducing inflammation and improving enzyme activity. Here’s an overview of each, their benefits, and recommended daily doses:

• Ginger
  • Benefits: Helps alleviate nausea, stimulates saliva and bile production, and aids in the digestion of fats.
  • Digestive Health: Effective in treating nausea, including morning sickness, motion sickness, and nausea caused by chemotherapy.
  • Recommended Dose: Typically, take 1-3 grams per day. Divide this into multiple doses. For nausea, take 250 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
• Peppermint Oil
  • Benefits: Known for its ability to relax the smooth muscles of the digestive tract and promote pain relief from IBS. Caution for males – it lowers testosterone & can impact fertility.
  • Digestive Health: Used to alleviate symptoms of IBS such as bloating, gas, and abdominal pain.
  • Recommended Dose: For IBS, 0.2 ml to 0.4 ml of peppermint oil three times a day in enteric-coated capsules to prevent heartburn.
• Licorice Root
  • Benefits: Has anti-inflammatory properties. It can soothe gastrointestinal problems by coating the stomach lining with mucus. This coating relieves heartburn and stomach ulcers.
  • Digestive Health: Often used to treat issues like stomach ulcers and heartburn.
  • Recommended Dose: The typical dose for deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) extracts is 250 to 500 mg three times daily before meals.
• Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Benefits: May help improve stomach acid levels which aids in digestion; some use it for heartburn relief.
  • Digestive Health: Commonly used as a home remedy for indigestion or sluggish digestion.
  • Recommended Dose: Take 1-2 teaspoons (5-10 ml) to 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml). Dilute in a large glass of water. Consume daily before meals.
• Turmeric
  • Benefits: Contains curcumin, which has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
  • Digestive Health: Can help manage digestive disorders by reducing inflammation associated with digestive tract lining.
  • Recommended Dose: 500 mg of curcuminoids per day. It’s often recommended to take it with black pepper (which contains piperine) to enhance absorption.
• Aloe Vera
  • Benefits: Has natural laxative properties and can soothe and heal the lining of the stomach and intestines.
  • Digestive Health: Helpful for treating constipation and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  • Recommended Dose: For constipation, take 100-200 mg of aloe juice daily. Alternatively, use 50 mg of aloe extract as needed. It’s important to use aloe products labeled as purified or decolorized, as unpurified juice can be unsafe.
• Slippery Elm
  • Benefits: Forms a soothing film over any mucous membrane it contacts, which helps protect irritated tissues and promote healing.
  • Digestive Health: Used for protecting against ulcers, gastritis, colitis, and other inflammatory gut conditions.
  • Recommended Dose: Typically, take one tablespoon of powdered bark and add it to water. Drink this slurry up to three times a day. It can also be taken as capsules or lozenges as per the packaging instructions.

These doses are general guidelines. It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen. This is especially true if you have underlying health conditions or are taking other medications.

If you have chronic digestive health issues, holistic methods recommend going on an elimination diet. You can also eat Easy to Digest foods for a short time, like a fast. This can give your system a break or a little reset. Here’s a quick summary. Choose Easy to Digest foods if you are not fasting. These foods help when you want to be gentle on your digestive system. They are ideal for the digestive breaks on the Lunar Calendar.

Summary: Top 15 Easy-to-Digest Foods

• Bananas
• Rice (white)
• Applesauce
• Toast (white bread)
• Chicken breast (skinless and boiled)
• Oats
• Eggs (poached)
• Sweet potatoes (baked)
• Avocado
• Pumpkin (steamed)
• Broth (chicken or vegetable)
• Yogurt (low-fat)
• Cottage cheese
• Papaya

On Easy to Digest Days of the Lunar Calendar, use your intuition to guide you. Enjoy some easy to digest food. Experience the energy and mental clarity that comes from a healthy digestive process. This blog provides a one day menu with easy to digest foods. It also includes a shopping list. This will get you going on Easy to Digest Days on the Dao Life Lunar Calendar. (2, 5, 8, 14, 19, 23 & 25)