Tips to Improve Your Digestive Health At Home

The digestive system is intricately linked to the health of the body. It is hence impossible to have physically well being without a well-oiled digestive system. An upset digestive system ends up not just affecting the body but is greatly disruptive as well.

Therefore, every one of us needs to take good care of our digestive health and take active steps to keep it strong. Apart from the obvious benefits of gut health, digestive system plays a huge role in the immunity of the body. Hence, a more robust GI system means less vulnerability to diseases.

The best part about taking steps to ensure gut health is that these steps are easier to incorporate and have a profound impact on the health of the person.

This does not mean that every gut problem can be resolved by dietary changes alone. Depending on the type and the severity of the disease, one might have to seek help from an internal medicine specialist in Lahore.

The following tips to better digestive health are useful for everyone, even the patients who can supplement them with their medications for quicker recovery.

1. Befriend Fiber

Processed food has a perpetual presence in our lives. Not only does it lack in nutrients, but most importantly, it lacks in fiber.

Fiber is important because it adds bulk to the food consumed and thus aids in its movement through the digestive tract. This in turn prevents constipation and the subsequent problems it brings like hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, anal fissures etc.

Therefore, consume foods rich in fiber and avoid too much processed food; take whole foods instead and replace all the white forms of carbohydrates with it. Moreover, fruits and vegetables are also a great source of fiber.

Added benefit of high-fiber diet is that it promotes a feeling of fullness. As the bulk gets added to the diet, it makes overeating less likely and thus promotes satiety.

2. Eat natural foods

While the lifestyle today has made shortcuts to cooking a rather easy and tempting alternative, however, what we save on time ends up greatly compromising our digestive health.

Not only do these processed foods lack in good nutrients, but they also lead to diseases of the digestive tract. They contain preservatives, sugar, additives, and trans fats in large amount, jeopardizing the health of the person.

Moreover, many people are under the misconception that the ‘diet’ or ‘low-calorie’ sweet foods that they eat are healthy. On the contrary, they tend to contain artificial sugars, which have a direct correlation with the digestive diseases. They also upset the balance of the gut bacteria, thereby reducing body’s immunity as well.

Hence, one of the most important fundamentals of healthy gut is eating natural foods. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, make your own meals rather than opting for unhealthier alternatives.

3. Stay Hydrated

One of the major reasons for constipation is reduced water intake, as it is water that helps soften the stool, making it easier for it to pass through the digestive tract. And constipation is not just painful and inconvenient, but harbinger of other diseases and poor immunity as well.

Hence, it is very important to drink plenty of water. An average of 2 liters should be taken by everyone, however, those living in hot climate should consume more as their body’s demand for hydration is greater.

Other forms hydration includes; fruits and vegetables with high water content like watermelons, tomatoes, oranges etc.

4. Probiotics are necessary

Not every bacterium is bad; probiotics are the beneficial bacteria in the gut that not only aid in digestion, but also boost immunity. In order to have good digestive health, the quantity of probiotics ought to be greater than the bad bacteria which result from poor eating choices.

Probiotics also help to alleviate the symptoms of digestive diseases and issues like diarrhea, gas, bloating etc. Yogurt and other forms of food that contain active cultures are good sources of probiotics.

5. Exercise

Sedentary lifestyle is not a friend of your gut. Therefore, it is important to take up regular exercise, as it helps the food move along through the tract. Moreover, exercise also helps to reduce the symptoms of digestive issues like IBS, and constipation.

You do not have to do rigorous exercise for it to be beneficial for the digestive system, even moderate exercise, done regularly, has a positive impact on gut health.

6. Balanced and moderate diet

Eating well is of utmost importance when it comes to health in general, but specifically the gut health. This includes taking everything in moderation; binge eating, and overindulging has to stop.

Moreover, eating a balanced diet is also important. Practicing portion control helps to prevent overeating and the subsequent weight issues that follow.

Taking these few steps can produce tangible differences in digestive health. However, more complicated cases may entail a visit to internal medicine specialist in Karachi.  Otherwise, people at home can make these slight changes and reap its benefits.