Do you experience gas? Bloating? Acid reflux? How about constipation? Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Hiatal hernia? Abdominal discomfort? Heartburn?

Do you know that these are symptoms that your digestive system is not working properly? A symptom is like the warning light in your car. It is your body's way of telling you that there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Poor digestive function plays a significant role in many health conditions. Why? Because your body needs essential nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals from food to function properly. If these nutrients aren't available to your body, either because they are not in your diet or because you are not digesting them properly, it's like asking a carpenter to build a house without wood or basic materials.

Daily, you are building a new body. Our bodies break down ongoingly, and provided the raw materials are present, it also rebuilds itself ongoingly. In fact, the body is broken down at a rate of 24 billion cells per day. Hopefully, 24 billion cells are re-made every day. But what happens if there aren't enough of those vital nutrients present and one day the body is short 100,000 cells out of this 24 billion, is it going to function OK? Yes it will. But what if that happens every day - day in and day out for months or years? "Degeneration" is when we break down faster than we rebuild.

Digestive problems that are covered up by a drug is like putting a Band-Aid over the warning light in your car - the problem is still there, you just can't see it anymore. If digestive problems are not addressed, over time additional health challenges will occur because the basic problem was never handled in the first place. Without proper digestion the body is unable to get the nutrients it needs to function properly because the body is not able to break them down in order to utilize them.

Fatigue, osteoporosis, poor thyroid function and immune system challenges are all prime examples of incompetent digestion effecting proper function. These are only a few of the nutrition/digestion-related health issues you can experience when your digestive system isn't functioning properly. Be aware, however, that sometimes your digestive system isn't working properly and you haven't yet experienced any obvious associated symptoms.

In an upcoming webinar, Overcoming Digestive Challenges, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, you will learn what the causes of poor digestion are and what you can do to begin improving your digestion and eliminating the associated problems. This is an online class that you can attend from the comfort of your own computer. Class fee is $5. RSVP: (208) 765-1994.

Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 32 years of experience. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic. Visit Carling's website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.