11 Foods Good For the Gut
While your digestive tract is able
to digest just about any type of food you eat, certain processed foods and
preparations (think fried food), not to mention lifestyle habits (think
sedentary) mean that our stomachs don't always react well to what we eat.
Certain foods, particularly fatty meat, should be avoided as they may cause an upset stomach. However, there are a number of
foods that you can eat to promote good digestion and keep your system running
smoothly.
Here are 11 foods you should include
in your diet that are good for your gut:
1. Apples
Apples'
vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, potassium, and phosphorous content make them a
wonderful food for your digestive tract, offering a wealth of benefits from
easing symptoms associated with constipation, to improving satiety. In
addition, apples contain the compound pectin, which helps raise good
bacteria in the gut, promoting the proper functioning of intestinal health.
2. Bananas
For
proper functioning of bowel movements, snack on a banana. They alleviate
symptoms associated with diarrhea and help restore the number of electrolytes
and potassium lost during the passage of stools. Bananas are packed with fiber
too, an essential nutrient for good digestion.
3. Beans
For
a great source of fiber, look no further than a handful of beans. Health
guidelines recommend that on average, you get up to 25 grams of fiber each day
- and just one cup of beans serves up about 19 grams. Beans are low in fat too,
making them an excellent food for your digestion.
4. Blueberries
Blueberries contain a natural
aspirin that helps reduce the tissue-damaging effects of chronic inflammation,
thereby lessening pain. Blueberries also act as an antibiotic, blocking
bacteria in the urinary tract, thereby preventing infections.
5. Cabbage
Cabbage
contains anticancer and antioxidant compounds that help the liver break down
excess hormones. Cabbage also helps cleanse the digestive tracts and
neutralizes some of the damaging compounds found in cigarette smoke.
6. Carrots
These
vibrant-colored root vegetables are good for your skin and your gut. They are
packed with arabinogalactans - a powerful probiotic that supports good gut
bacteria.
7. Chlorophyll-rich greens
Green
fruits and vegetables rich in chlorophyll, promote healthy digestion. They help
cleanse the colon and detoxify the liver. To reap the benefits, opt for leafy
greens like spinach, cabbage, celery, sea vegetables, leeks, and peas.
8. Garlic
Garlic
helps cleanse harmful bacteria in the gut, intestinal parasites and viruses
from the body, particularly from the blood and intestines. To reap its health
benefits, opt for fresh garlic, not the powdered form.
9. Fermented foods
Fermented foods help offset the
damage to your gut flora caused by environmental chemicals, pesticides,
antibiotic drugs, processed foods, and other factors. Opt for foods like
kimchi, kefir and kombucha
tea.
10. Jerusalem artichokes
Jerusalem
artichokes are packed with a fiber compound called inulin ( a type of dietary fiber), which is also a
natural probiotic - in fact, between 14 to 19 percent of its weight is inulin.
11. Yogurt
Yogurt
is packed with live cultures and other foods that contain probiotics, essential
for a healthy digestive tract.
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