The simplest way to improve your digestive health is to increase the number of fruits and vegetables you eat. Why? Because fruit and vegetables are the best sources of dietary fiber. There are two types of fiber, and a healthy diet contains plenty of each. Soluble fiber dissolves in water. It helps reduce cholesterol and lower blood sugar. And a soluble fiber-rich diet may reduce your chance of getting diabetes. Good sources of soluble fiber include oatmeal, beans, and citrus fruits.
Insoluble fiber, found in foods like whole grains and the stalks and skins of fruits and vegetables, doesn’t dissolve in water. Otherwise known as roughage, this kind of fiber can’t be digested by your body. That might sound like a bad thing, but in fact, it’s essential for a healthy gut. Roughage passes through your digestive tract intact, clearing your bowel of cholesterol and other harmful agents as it goes.