Having a healthy digestive system is good for your overall well-being and, come on, nobody enjoys the painful bloating, diarrhea and heartburn that can come along with an unhappy gut. Keep everything moving and grooving normally with these gastrointestinal friendly foods.
1. Bananas Packed with fiber which keeps your intestines clean and in tip top shape, bananas have the added benefit regulating bowel movements while being gentle on the stomach.
2. Whole Grains Whole grains are another great source of fiber. Stock up on brown rice, oats and wheat (unless you have sensitivities) to make sure you’re getting enough fiber in your diet.
3. Chia Seed Yes you can grow a funny green hair on a clay pet with Chia, but it is also an amazing source of fiber – just 1oz has a whopping 11 grams dietary fiber!!
4. Water Staying hydrated is key to keep everything moving properly – drink the recommended 8 glasses a day for a normal digestive function.
5. Spices & Herbs Ginger, turmeric, peppermint are the best way to ease an upset stomach. Add a little bit to hot water or tea and sip to help calm your tummy.
6. Probiotics Probiotics are the good bacteria that are essential for battling the bad bacteria in your gut. Get your daily dose of probiotics from sources like vegan yogurt, miso, tempeh & sauerkraut.
7. Prebiotics Prebiotics produce the fiber that probiotics feed off of so they are crucial in keeping the healthy bacteria thriving. Prebiotics are found in foods such as asparagus, onions, lentils and whole grains.
8. Flax Seed Flax contains a balanced level of soluble and insoluble fiber that help cleanse and detoxify your intestines. In recent studies flax seed oil has also shown the ability to heal the inner lining of inflamed intestines.
9. Avocados Another food high in fiber and easily digestible, avocados are also an excellent source of monounsaturated fat (the good kind) that helps turn beta-carotene into Vitamin A which is essential for a healthy intestinal lining.
10. Sweet Potatoes High in fiber, easy to digest and shown to have a calming effect on irritated stomachs, sweet potatoes are one more food that aids in a healthy, happy gut.
Now that you’re armed with a slew of things to eat for good digestion, be sure to avoid the following foods which aren’t so belly-friendly: spicy foods (can trigger acid reflux), caffeine (can help with constipation, but also causes acid reflux), saturated fat (causes diarrhea & heartburn), alcohol (induces inflammation of the stomach) and dairy (leads to bloating).
