Tips to Help Improve Digestive Health
Our body works very hard to ensure the food we eat breaks down, the nutrients are absorbed and distributed, and the waste is eliminated. None of this would be possible without our digestive system.
But sometimes, the system malfunctions. For example, have you experienced bloating, heartburn, gas, or an upset stomach? These problems are normal if they happen occasionally, but if you’re experiencing these symptoms regularly – it could be a sign that something’s wrong.
The good thing is we can take steps to ensure the system is good and running smoothly. Today we’ll discuss some great tips to improve your digestive health and keep your tummy aches at bay.
So, if you’re having digestive troubles, keep reading to find out what you can do about it.
Incorporate Probiotics
Bacteria are generally known as something bad for you, but our body is full of them: the good and the bad. Probiotics are the good kind. In short, probiotics are a kind of bacteria that help you keep your gut healthy.
So how do probiotics help with digestion? Probiotics are microorganisms that enhance nutrient breakdown, help speed up digestion, and reduce bloating. Moreover, probiotics also help relieve you of the other downstairs issues like diarrhea and constipation.
Even though you can include probiotics in your diet by eating foods like yogurt and kimchi, they’re also available in supplement form. Exploring a probiotic supplement is another option to enhance your digestive health. Bio X4 is a comprehensive 4-in-1 probiotic wellness supplement with numerous health benefits, including digestive support and immune health. Consider reading Bio-X4 reviews to determine if it aligns with your requirements. And although they’re considered safe to use, you should always consult your doctor before taking them.
Don’t Hold Back on Fiber
If you feel constipated often, odds are you aren’t taking enough fiber in your diet. But what is it? Fiber is the part of your food that your body doesn’t digest or absorb. It’s mostly found in foods like fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
There are two kinds, soluble and insoluble, which are important for our digestive health.
Insoluble fiber makes the bulk of your stool and promotes a smooth movement out of your system. You can find it in whole wheat flour, potatoes, and other vegetables. On the other hand, soluble fiber can dissolve in water to form a gel-like substance, preventing your stool from becoming too watery.
It also helps control cholesterol and blood sugar levels and can be found in apples, carrots, and oats.
Drink Lots of Water
We all know the countless benefits of drinking water. It’s a miracle drink that keeps our bodies working properly, and we’re made up of quite a bit of it. So, it only makes sense that drinking enough water helps improve our digestive health too.
When things get backed up, water can be your biggest hero. This is because it helps moisten and soften your stool, making it easier to pass along and out of your digestive tract. If you’re constantly dehydrated, you risk constipation – no one wants that.
Although how much water you should drink depends, most adults need 11-15 cups daily. But what should you do if you don’t drink that much? You could try flavored water or green tea.
Stay Active
Regular physical activity is not only good for your general wellness, but it also helps keep your gut healthy and running smoothly. When you’re on a regular workout schedule, it stimulates the digestive processes and helps to make constipation go away.
It even reduces inflammation, so it can be helpful to those with IBS. Even 30 minutes of light exercise most days of the week will guarantee you’re on the right path.
Interestingly, different kinds and intensities of physical activity can impact digestion differently. For example, short bursts of low to moderate-intensity exercise might speed up digestion, whereas longer bursts of high-intensity exercise can slow it down.
It all comes down to finding the right balance for yourself. An easy way to speed things up is to have a walk after a meal – take a buddy along to help!
Keep Your Stress in Check
Have you ever noticed that your gut starts to act up when you’re stressed or anxious? That’s because gastrointestinal function can be affected by your stress hormones. When we suffer from stress, our body’s natural reaction is to go into fight-or-flight mode.
Unfortunately, it takes a toll on our digestion, causing abdominal pain and gas, and can trigger symptoms from conditions like irritable bowel syndrome.
So, to keep our stress in check for our digestive health, we must participate in mindful activities like yoga or meditation – anything that helps calm us down.
This might vary depending on the person since everyone has things that they enjoy doing. But if you can’t figure it out, getting professional help from mental health experts can benefit you.
Cut The Bad Habits
There are certain bad habits we might have that are secretly wreaking havoc on our digestive health.
Take smoking as an example. We all know that nothing good comes from lighting up a cigarette. Sure, it might make you feel cool for a moment, but it slowly destroys your body – including your digestive system. Smoking can trigger heartburn and even cause ulcers in your GI tract which can be dangerous.
Then there’s caffeine. Although occasionally having a cup of coffee can be good for you, it can do great damage when you start going overboard with it. The caffeine irritates your stomach and causes inflammation, which leads to acid reflux.
Alcohol works in a similar way and damages the lining of your stomach and might cause ulcers, too, so it should be avoided as much as possible.
Conclusion
The human body’s digestive system is nothing short of a miracle. When it’s working fine, we take it for granted, but even a single malfunction could lead to constipation, a belly ache, or some heartburn.
Although we can’t control certain factors, such as genetics, we can make plenty of conscious choices to promote better digestive health.
Listen to your body – and if something feels wrong, don’t be afraid to go to your doctor about it. And remember, a healthy gut means a healthy mind – so you’ll be surprised at how much better you feel once you start taking care of your digestive health.
