Eating is not only one of the great pleasures in life, it’s also essential to your health and well-being. The foods you eat nourish your body, providing energy and enhancing the function of all your vital organs.
That’s why it’s important to maintain a healthy digestive system by consuming the right foods and adopting sensible eating habits.
For better digestive health, follow these simple tips:
Eat a high-fiber diet. One of the best ways to improve your digestive health is by maintaining a diet that is high in fiber and rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains. This keeps the normal process of digestion running smoothly, helping to prevent constipation and maintain a healthy weight. In addition, a high-fiber diet helps prevent or treat conditions such as diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and hemorrhoids.
Be sure you’re getting both soluble and insoluble fiber. These help your digestive system in different ways. Insoluble fiber – material in vegetable foodstuffs – can’t be digested by your body, but serves the purpose of adding bulk to your stools and thus enabling food and waste products to pass through your gut. Soluble fiber, on the other hand, draws in water and helps prevent stools that are too liquid. You can get insoluble fiber from wheat bran, vegetables, and whole grains, while foods such as oat bran, nuts, seeds, and legumes provide soluble fiber.
Minimize your intake of foods high in fat. Fatty foods tend to slow down the digestive process, which can lead to constipation. Nevertheless, you do need some fat in your diet, so try to pair these fatty items with high-fiber foods to make them easier to digest.
Select lean meats. You need protein as part of a healthful diet, but you also need to avoid fatty cuts of meat that tend to make digestion difficult. Choose lean cuts of meat, such as skinless poultry or pork loin. It’s not only better for your digestive tract, but also more heart-healthy.
Add probiotics to your diet. These are microorganisms that are the same type of healthy bacteria naturally present in your digestive tract. Probiotics help keep your entire body healthy by counteracting the effects of a poor diet, antibiotics, and stress. Consumed on a daily basis, they may also improve nutrient absorption, break down lactose, guard against IBS, and generally strengthen your immune system. Good sources of probiotics include low-fat yogurt or kefir, on a daily basis.
Follow a regular eating schedule. Dieticians and other experts agree that eating breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks around the same time each day allows for proper digestion of your food. When you don’t eat at consistent times, it causes your stomach to overwork, which often results in bloating and indigestion. Eat every 3 to 4 hours to allow your stomach to properly digest its contents.
Drink plenty of water. Keeping yourself hydrated is essential to your digestive health. That’s because fiber draws water into your colon to create bulkier yet softer stools, which allows them to pass through more easily.
Intercoastal Medical Group is a multispecialty practice specializing in primary care, and much more. With more than 85 doctors in eight locations across Sarasota and Manatee County, Florida, we make it easy to find a qualified doctor at a location that’s convenient for you.
For more information about our services or to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, please call Intercoastal Medical Group in Sarasota and Manatee County, Florida. You can also request an appointment online now.
