11 Foods That Will Work Wonders For Your Digestion
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
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, 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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