Article summary:
- Digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome, are more common than ever before. But why is digestive health so important?
- Discover the benefits of a strong digestive system.
- Read on to learn 7 ways to achieve it.
A weak or inefficient digestive system impacts your whole life, leading to painful gas and bloating after eating. Your gut breaks down the food you eat into molecules that are then absorbed for use as energy and nutrients. It makes sense, therefore, to keep your digestive system in good condition.
With a healthy gut, you will:
- Feel energetic
- Have regular bowel movements
- Experience optimal nutrient absorption
- Find it easier to maintain a healthy weight
- Enjoy a clear state of mind
- Have a healthy immune system
- Experience better moods
Having a healthy digestive system is something you want to do. So let’s discover how to keep your digestive system healthy in seven simple steps.
1. Eat plenty of fiber
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.
2. Avoid these three types of food
You should also limit these foods if you want to keep your digestive tract strong and healthy.
Red meat
High red meat consumption is linked to various types of cancer and irritable bowel syndrome. And a diet high in red meat could lead to diverticulitis – a painful inflammatory condition. This is especially common in men.
Processed foods
Eating lots of processed foods is associated with higher incidents of inflammatory bowel conditions. Limiting such foods will also reduce your chance of being obese.
Alcohol
Consuming lots of alcohol affects your gut health. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause internal bleeding and lead to bacterial imbalances in your digestive system.
3. Exercise
Regular exercise not only helps you stay trim and energized but is also beneficial for your gut health. Physical activity is known to reduce symptoms in irritable bowel patients and Crohn’s disease sufferers. There are many ways to burn calories, and the important thing is to find something you enjoy. Whether it be hiking, cycling, running, or team sports, make sure you get up and move your body regularly.
4. Stay hydrated
It’s essential to stay hydrated to keep your digestive system in tip-top condition. That’s because water plays a vital role in digestion. Water helps dissolve the nutrients you consume, allowing them to be absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to where they are needed. If you suffer from constipation, you may simply need to increase the amount of water you drink.
But remember, some drinks are dehydrating. You might think you are quenching your thirst with a beer, coffee, or soda. But, in fact, the sugars and caffeine in your favorite beverages could actually dehydrate you. It’s okay to sip your favorite drinks. But be sure to also keep drinking water.
5. Cultivate good bathroom habits
Always listen to your body’s urge to go to the bathroom. How often you go varies from person to person, but regularity is key. If you find yourself resisting the urge due to work pressures or a busy life, you could end up constipated at the end of the day. When you delay the urge to go, your stool remains in your colon. Your body continues to absorb water, leading to dry, hard stools that are much harder to pass.
6. Manage your stress
It may sound strange, but high-stress levels are related to gut problems such as bloating and irritable bowel. That’s because stress can interfere with the natural connection that takes place between your gut and your brain. Stress can make you eat more unhealthy food and may affect the length of time it takes food to move through your body, leading to constipation or diarrhea.
Engaging in regular exercise, maintaining social contact, and getting plenty of sleep are all tried and tested ways of reducing stress. If these steps are difficult, join a yoga class, or learn meditation. You may actually improve your gut health if you do!
7. Take supplements
Lifestyle changes are all very well, but sometimes they take time. A good quality enzyme supplement such as Digest Infused can support your digestive system and enhance wellness. A colon cleanser like Cleanse Infused Plus contains oxygenated magnesium, which transports oxygen to where it’s needed most – your digestive tract.
Final thoughts
Keeping your digestive system functioning well is essential for your physical and mental well-being. The best way to do so is to adopt some healthy lifestyle habits. But when you need to quickly improve your digestive health, there are some excellent products to help you. Take the time to understand your digestive problems to find a fitter, more energetic you.
A complete digestive enzyme matrix for maximum digestion of proteins, carbs, and fats.
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788933/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28292654
- https://www.nature.com/articles/1602197
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1271/bbb.90231
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16611381
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26476634
- https://www.mylifeinfused.com/product/cleanse-infused-colon-cleanser/
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