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110 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 SHAPE.COM

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Photograph by CLAIRE BENOIST

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Soak up

more

nutrie

you’rey

man

from

yo

Fol

your next m

By MARNIE SOMAN SCHWARTZ

intestine, which breaks down

fats and absorbs most nutri-

ents, which are ferried into your

bloodstream, says Julia Greer,

M.D., a professor and course

director of digestion and

nutrition at the University of

Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

But along the way, problems

arise: stress, dietary issues,

food sensitivities, and even

your workout can disrupt this

process, preventing you from

getting everything your food

has to offer. That’s why it pays

to be proactive about improv-

ing your digestion, experts say.

Making a few tweaks to how

you eat can add up to other

key health benefits as well,

including gaining energy, losing

trips. Thes

your healthy ea

Slow down

If you’re usually the first person

to clear your plate, there’s a good

chance you’re not chewing your

meals thoroughly. That’s key

because chewing breaks down

food and activates enzymes

in your mouth that help with

digestion, says Woodson Merrell,

M.D., an integrative medicine

specialist in New York City who

serves as a scientific adviser to

digestive enzyme manufacturer

Enzymedica. In fact, research

ABSORB ALL

THE GOODNESS

Eating fruit prop-

erly improves

digestion so that

you get the most

out of every bite.