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Natural Ways To Improve Digestion

By Padmapreetham Mahalingam

Digestion mashes your food particles into small components that can be absorbed into your body. Food is the basis of good health, while digestion is the tool that uses food to ensure our wellbeing. Many people believe that poor digestion is very normal. However digestive problems disrupt your body's health as it absorbs the nutrients from the food that you eat. Without proper digestion, the body will never receive nutrients, thus leading to health problems like fatigue, emotional instability and skin disorders.

Constipation, diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, nausea, intolerance and celiac disease are some of the major digestive discomforts that many people suffer every day. Improving your digestive system should be one of the most important priorities in your life if you want to perk up your health. Paying attention and making small changes can help the digestive system work smoothly and absorb the nutrients that are essential for a healthy living.

Any changes in your regular diet can definitely cause bloating, nausea, irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease. To improve digestion, slowly start including fibers, probiotics and water in your diet.

Here are some simple tips that can bring big changes in improving your digestive health.

Stay away from foods causing gas

Stay away from foods causing gas

The deficient absorption of nutrients by the digestive tract is the main cause of common digestive discomforts like gas. Avoiding foods like beans, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower that cause gas and poor digestion can help. In simple words, eating healthy is a natural way to improve digestion.

Consume bone broth

Consume bone broth

Homemade bone broth is economical and easy to make. This nutritious food has all the essential minerals such as gut-soothing gelatin and amino acids proline and glycine. The natural gelatine content in the broth eases the digestive tract and improves digestion.

Eat more fibre

Eat more fibre

Fibre is a carbohydrate that can be difficult for the body to absorb or digest. However it plays a major role in digestive health. Fibre has the tendency to move quickly out as a waste through the digestive tract. It removes the food out and the toxins along with it. Increase the intake of oatmeal, grains, bran cereal, berries, prunes and dried apricots for improving the digestive process.

Drink plenty of water

Drink plenty of water

Drinking eight glasses of water a day is essential. Water washes down from the body the toxins that cause poor digestion. Intake of fruits and vegetables with high water content helps in digestive health.

Exercise

Exercise

Exercise certainly helps in proper digestion. Walking, jogging and swimming push away the waste and the gas from the body. No movement puts a kink in the digestive process and makes it difficult for the normal digestion process to run smoothly.

Be a slow eater

Be a slow eater

Eat slowly as hurrying a large bite can make you gulp down a lot of air along with the food. This air turns into gas and causes inconvenience like stomach cramping and other kinds of digestive discomfort.

Eat small meals regularly

Eat small meals regularly

If you are suffering from heartburn or acid reflux, try to eat four to five smaller meals per day instead of three large meals. Eating big meals increase the possibility of increased gastric (stomach) pressure.

Drink Aloe Vera juice

Drink Aloe Vera juice

The enzymes contained in aloe vera juice improve digestive health. Aloe vera juice is a great cure for people suffering from tetchy bowel syndrome as well as acid reflux. It soothes and rinses out the digestive tract.

Avoid sugary snacks

Avoid sugary snacks

Poor digestion causes uneasiness that makes it difficult to focus on daily activities. Try to skip sugary snacks, processed foods and caffeine from your diet.

Reduce stress

Reduce stress

Weight gain, diarrhoea and constipation are caused due to heavy stress. These symptoms can give you ulcers in the long run. Practice yoga and meditation to help in digestion and handle stress.

Shun smoking and alcohol

Shun smoking and alcohol

Consuming alcohol and over smoking can cause nausea and can increase acidity in the abdomen. This in fact can lead to acid reflux and heartburn, so keep the cigarette and drink at bay as much as possible.

Story first published: Tuesday, September 24, 2013, 19:22 [IST]
Read more about: digestion disorder