Best Foods for Digestion
Choose Fiber-Filled Foods
Fiber helps aid in digestion by forming bulk in the stomach and stools, keeping waste moving through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and speeding up digestion. Recommendations advise men and women to consume 38 and 25 grams of fiber per day, respectively. Fiber is found in plant-based foods and mostly found in whole grains, fruits and veggies, and, including the following high-fiber foods:
- Oats
Oats are considered a whole grain, supplying fiber, vitamins, and minerals refined and processed flours mostly lack. In fact, that morning staple burst with fiber, supplying four grams of cup per one cup cooked. From blueberry almond to coconut cream pie, transform oats into one of these delicious and nutritious overnight oatmeal recipes!
- Popcorn
Snack without all the guilt! Supplying 93 calories and three grams of fiber for a whopping three cups, air-popped popcorn is a beneficial whole grain to speed up digestion. The fiber mostly found in popcorn is insoluble, remains in its whole form, bulks stools, and promotes regularity. Including oats and popcorn, additional whole grain sources include barley, corn, millet, quinoa, rice, rye, and wheat.
- Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are much more than the filler in the old-school chia pets… The tapioca-textured seeds have shown to be highly beneficial to health, mostly related to its unique supply of mucilage, a type of viscous and gelatinous fiber extracted from plant roots and seeds.
- Beans
Beans are notoriously known for their fiber content, supplying an average of 15 grams per cup! They are also a plant-based protein sources, making their use valuable for individuals following a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. Beans are extremely versatile, including their use in soups, chili, tacos, casseroles, and rice dishes.
- Bananas
Though apples continue to be advertised to keep the doctor away, bananas can help improve digestion related to its fiber and potassium content. Potassium, an electrolyte, helps keep the muscle in the gastrointestinal tract moving while the fiber it supplies offers bulk and may promote a healthy gut.
- Water
Although not filled with fiber or technically even a food for that matter, water is imperative to keep fiber working efficiently and reducing the risk of constipation. General recommendations encourage healthy adults to drink a minimum of eight, 8-ounces glasses of water per day. Unsweetened coffee and tea can also contribute to healthful fluid intake, though their intake is encouraged to be limited to 400 milligrams per day.
Be Pro for Probiotics
Probiotics are live bacteria cultures that supports gut health by controlling the growth of harmful bacteria. Common probiotics include lactobacillus and bifidobacteria and require the support of prebiotics, or carbohydrates than cannot be digested and act as food for probiotics. Common probiotics include:
- Yogurt
Yogurt is basically fermented milk, undergoing the fermentation process with its natural carbohydrate source (lactose) and added bacteria (including lactobacilli and bifidobacteria). Greek yogurt is also extremely versatile, including its use in Greek yogurt coleslaw, cranberry Greek yogurt bark, and maple cranberry yogurt parfaits and offers these benefits, even beyond digestion!
- Kombucha
Kombucha is essentially a sweet tea fermented with yeast and bacteria cultures. A SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast), also known as a “kombucha mushroom” prompts its health benefits, including digestive health. If the craze of kombucha intrigues you, here’s what to look for when buying it.
- Kefir
Similar to kombucha, kefir is produced with a SCOBY, ultimately supplying its rich healthy bacteria for improving digestion. The fermented milk drink has been used to relieve a wide variety of intestinal disorders and helps reduce flatulence and bloating.
Complement the Diet with Herbs and Spices
Herbs and spices not only transform bland foods into tasty creations, but offer various health benefits. The following have shown to support good digestion:
- Ginger
The pungent and spicy flavor of ginger often compliments Chinese cuisine, though it also presents with a long health history. In fact, ginger has shown to help digestion and relieve nausea, with studies further demonstrating taking ginger can reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnant women.
- Mint
The use of mint for health and GI symptoms has been around for hundreds of years, as it helps stimulate GI muscles and allows painful digestive gas to pass. The muscle relaxation also allows food to move down the GI tract with more comfort and efficiency, even showing to improve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic condition that affects the large intestine and may cause cramping, abdominal pain, bloating and gas. However, indigestion symptoms related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) should not be treated with peppermint, as its use can exacerbate painful symptoms.
- Chamomile
Sipping on chamomile has been praised for the healthful benefits it offers, including it use in digestive complications. The herbed tea may improve gas, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, as well as motion sickness. Anti-inflammatory characteristics have further demonstrated the effectiveness of chamomile and gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders, including diverticular and inflammatory diseases.