Digestion is a natural process, but an unbalanced diet and stress can leave our systems confused.
Do you know that our digestive system influences both our body and mental health?
That is right!
A healthy digestive system is a lot more than just eating and eliminating waste. It is crucial for our overall well-being.
Statistically, around 60 million Americans are diagnosed with digestive disorders every year.
Would you like to know how you can attain a healthy digestive system?
Let us discuss the habits you should adopt in your life to keep things running smoothly.
How can you improve digestion naturally?
To ensure the wellness of your GI tract, you must have a strong understanding of your digestive system and the steps you can take to improve your diet and lifestyle.
Try following these simple recommendations to maintain your optimal digestive health.
1. Schedule your meals
It is not enough to count calories – you must also schedule meals throughout the day to help your digestive system function more effectively.
The best practice is to eat your meals at the same time every day.
Skipping meals may cause your hunger levels to fluctuate, draining you of energy and leading you to binge on unhealthy snacks.
Besides, research shows that being irregular with your meals can negatively impact your sleep patterns, which in turn affects your gut health.
2. Include high fiber in your diet
Incorporating fiber in our daily diet aids in the gastrointestinal functions of our body.
Fiber is an indigestible part of plant foods, classified into two types depending on its solubility – soluble fiber and insoluble fiber.
Good sources of soluble fiber are oats, barley, apples, legumes like red beans and peanuts, carrots, cucumbers, oranges, and zucchini. Whereas grains like oatmeal, nuts, seeds, beans like chickpeas and lentils, and some fruits and vegetables are rich in insoluble fiber.
3. Drink enough water
Water accompanied with fiber acts like a broom to sweep your colon clean. The fiber absorbs water into the colon, making the stools softer and easier to pass. You need to consume a good quantity of water and fiber-rich foods to maintain a healthy circulation.
Insufficient water intake and lack of dietary fiber in your body may result in sluggish digestion, bloating, as well as cramping episodes if you have constipation.
4. Limit the consumption of high-fat food
Fat takes longer to digest than other nutrients, which keep you feeling full for a longer duration. Eat healthier by cutting down on sugary, high-fat, and fried foods such as doughnuts, fries, pizza, or chips.
5. Replace fatty meat with lean meat
Meats are a part of a healthy diet, but their fatty cuts can cause discomfort in your digestive tract. Hence, we advise you to choose lean cuts of meat such as pork loin and skinless poultry and limit serving size.
6. Maintain a consistent exercise routine
Research shows that regular exercise stimulates circulation, aids in food absorption, and helps the food in your digestive tract to follow its course smoothly.
7. Minimize your stress levels
Stress and anxiety can overstrain our digestive system. It is necessary to become aware of the manifestations of stress, which sometimes are easy to recognize but often go unnoticed. Practice the stress-reducing activities you cherish for a happy life and healthy gut.
8. Curb the urge for unhealthy consumption
Caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco are addictive substances that can cause long-term health problems. Their consumption makes it harder for your digestive system to function normally and may cause severe conditions like ulcers, fatty liver, cancer, and more.
Takeaway
Proper digestion is integral to good health. A variety of factors, including poor food choices, stress, inadequate sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, and excessive alcohol consumption, contribute to faulty digestion, which needs remedy.
Improving your digestion efficiency is a gradual process that happens over time by maintaining a constant balance of nutrients and healthy habits.
Boost your gastrointestinal health significantly through simple dietary changes, such as consuming more lean proteins, whole grains, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables.
Need to consult experts for your digestive issues? Our certified professionals will help you bring your digestion back on track. Call us on to book an appointment.
