Rest & Digest
Improving your digestion the Chinese Medicine way
Rest & Digest
In this month's newsletter we want to talk about how important good digestion is to your energy and wellbeing.
It’s true that we are what we eat but what we eat needs to be digested well to give us energy.
Improving Digestion the Chinese Medicine way
In Chinese Medicine, we focus on foods that are easy to digest. Rather than blaming food for bloating or IBS symptoms, we see digestive imbalance as the root issue. This means you rarely need to eliminate entire food groups.
Cooked Over Raw
We encourage warm, cooked foods over raw options like salads, smoothies, or sushi. Cooking breaks down food, making it easier to digest and preventing bloating and fatigue.
Breakfast Ideas
As we head into Autumn, swap smoothies for warm, nourishing soups like minestrone, congee, or miso. Many cultures eat rice, eggs, or leftovers for breakfast - balanced and easy to digest. Try these recipes:
● Congee
Coffee & Your Body
If you struggle with insomnia, anxiety, or skin issues, consider eliminating coffee for a few weeks. If symptoms improve, try gentler alternatives like chai or oolong tea. If you do drink coffee, always eat first as this will prevent your nervous system from feeling overloaded by the stimulating nature of caffeine.
Mindful Eating
It’s not just what you eat, but how much and how. Eat slowly, pause between bites, and listen to your body. Overeating leads to digestive overload. Enjoy leftovers instead of forcing yourself to finish every meal. Importantly, chewing is the first part of digestion. Try to be focused - avoid stressful conversations or screen time while eating.
Gut-Friendly Foods
● Root veggies (sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots)
● Bitter greens (spinach, silverbeet)
● Broths & miso (great probiotics)
● Legumes, nuts, and cheese in moderation
● Make sure you include protein in every meal
Food Combining
Too many vegetables at once can strain digestion. Instead, limit meals to a few veggies, as seen in traditional Cantonese cuisine.
Afternoon Slump? Rest Instead of Sugar
Instead of reaching for coffee or sweets, try a short rest, a walk in the sun, or a stretch. For a simple Qi Gong practice, try this exercise.
Rest to Digest
Resting is vital to calming our nervous system. If we are constantly on, our body can't hold onto nutrients. Symptoms of this are constipation or loose stools or tiredness in the morning.
Lately we've been seeing lots of patients who are tired and overwhelmed. We’ve been asking patients to CLOSE their eyes for a minute a few times a day. Find a safe place you can do this and just gently pull those eyelid blinds down. We spend so much time looking at a screen, at people, looking out. This can be a little exhausting. Try doing the opposite. Close the eyes, and take a few deep breaths.
Try these over the next month and let us know how you feel.
In Other News
Due to popular demand we are now offering combined Bodywork & Shiatsu sessions by Louisa. These sessions involve a mix of shiatsu, cupping & acupressure and are aimed at calming the nervous system while assisting with physical tension.