Your Digestive System: How to Have Better Digestive Health

Everyone experiences sporadic digestive symptoms such as an upset stomach, heartburn, nausea, gas, diarrhea, or dreaded constipation. Symptoms often go away on their own; however, they can cause major disruptions to your life when they occur frequently.

Fortunately, lifestyle and diet changes can have a positive influence on your gut health and some simple home remedies may ease discomfort.

In this article, we discuss a few ways that can help you to have better digestive health. Enjoy reading!

Relax (Manage Stress)

Anxiety and stress can affect the digestive system. Many people have a nervous stomach before a big event or important occasion, but sustained stress can affect the connection between the brain and the gut, causing continuing problems. There is a bond between physical and mental health, and reducing stress can positively impact both.

When you’re having a busy day, it can be tempting to rush your meals, but that can cause indigestion and stomach discomfort. Make the time to relax, especially before and after eating.

In addition, reducing stress by seeking support and making lifestyle changes may improve problems with digestion. It is well known that meditation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, acupuncture, and yoga have improved digestive symptoms.

Include Fermented Foods in Your Diet

Fermented foods are partially or wholly broken down by microorganisms such as bacteria. These microorganisms work to preserve food, and they can also benefit your gut health.

Bacteria occur naturally in the gut. There are good bacteria that help digest food, but there are bad ones that can cause problems with digestion if there are too many in the body. Furthermore, fermented foods contain good bacteria (probiotics) that may help you maintain a healthy digestive system. You can easily increase your probiotic intake by incorporating these fermented foods into your diet: probiotic yogurt, sourdough bread, sauerkraut, kefir, or miso.

Probiotic yogurt is particularly known as a good choice in a fight with gastrointestinal disorders. Moreover, it’s an easy way to meet your daily probiotics goal, and it contributes to healthy gut flora.

Stay Hydrated

Low fluid consumption is a frequent cause of constipation. Experts recommend drinking 50–66 oz. (1.5–2 liters) of non-caffeinated drinks per day to prevent constipation.

An additional way to help fulfill your daily fluid intake needs is to include vegetables and fruits high in water, such as cucumber, zucchini, peaches, tomatoes, melons, celery, strawberries, and grapefruit.

Chew Your Food

We all know digestion starts in your mouth. Your teeth break down the food into smaller pieces, and that way, they support the enzymes in your digestive system to also break it down better.

So keep this in mind next time you eat. Remember to chew your food slowly and make it ready for digestion!

To sum up, simple diet and lifestyle changes may help improve your digestion if you experience occasional, frequent, or even chronic digestive symptoms. In order to relieve some of these symptoms, try our suggestions from above. You will be surprised by the results!