Have you ever thought about how much your digestive system does on a daily basis? It has a huge job!
After you eat, digestion turns your food into fuel for every cell in your body, keeping your organs and systems working. Healthy digestion helps you get the most of this fuel, but there’s more! It can also affect your weight, energy, skin and immune function.
Despite how important the digestive system is to our overall health and well-being, many people don’t take good care of it. Every day, things like poor diet, stress, lack of exercise and other environmental factors can impact the natural microflora – or balance – of the digestive system. This can lead to digestive issues.
Taking care of your digestive health is not that difficult. It all comes down to eating habits and lifestyle choices.
Probiotics
Your digestive system is comprised of tens of trillions of microorganisms. Altogether, this bacterial colony is called the “gut microbiome.” These bacteria keep the growth of other potentially harmful bacteria at bay, thus promoting healthy digestion and maintaining your overall health and well-being. They also help extract nutrients from food and help in the production of certain vitamins.
One way to support your digestive system is with probiotics. These beneficial bacteria are naturally found in your body, mainly in the gastrointestinal tract. While the idea of eating bacteria may not sound appealing or appetizing, introducing good bacteria into your system directly in the form of probiotics can help balance the composition of bacteria in your gut. Probiotics can be found in fermented foods, such as yogurt, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi and miso, as well as supplements.
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Fiber
Fiber plays a key role in digestive health, yet the average American falls far short of the daily fiber recommendation of 28 grams. Most people only eat about 14 grams a day, which means they may be missing out on the health benefits. A proper and balanced intake of the right kinds of fiber can help your digestive system with its most important tasks.
Soluble fiber is found in foods like apples, oats, barley and beans. It thickens and swells when it comes in contact with water and helps fill you up. Soluble fiber also functions as a prebiotic and encourages the growth of good bacteria by acting as a food source.
Insoluble fiber, also known as “roughage,” can be found in whole-grain foods, bran and certain types of vegetables. It keeps digested food moving through your digestive tract and promotes regularity.
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