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Good For The Gut: 6 Foods That Are Good For Your Digestive Health

We recently wrote a post that looked at some of the foods that should be avoided if you are experiencing digestive problems. Food is often one of the main causes of digestive problems, so it’s essential that you avoid overindulging in certain foods. We discussed the problems that can arise from eating too much spices, fat, caffeine, processed food and chocolate,

However, it’s not all doom and gloom, what about the foods that you can eat? There are certain foods that actually help improve the digestive system! Here’s our guide to 6 of the best foods for keeping your digestive system ticking along nicely.

Yogurt

Did you know that you have millions of bacteria in your body that helps to digest the food that you eat? Well certain yogurts also contain some of these healthy bacteria, so eating it helps to regulate your digestive system and helps to improve your immune system. These bacteria are referred to as probiotics, and they are often found in a lot of dairy products. You are helping to maintain a balance of healthy bacteria by eating certain yogurts regularly.

Whole Grains

Whole grains, or whole-wheat food such as brown bread and brown rice, are extremely good for your digestive system. This is because they are an excellent source of fibre, which is important in your every day diet. Foods such as whole-wheat bread and rice can help you feel full which will mean you are less likely to snack on bad food during the day. Foods high with fibre also improve your bowel movements, and lower your cholesterol.

Bananas

If you want to eat food that is good for your digestive health, bananas are a good start.  They are brilliant at restoring your normal bowel function – particularly if you have been suffering from diarrhoea.  They are easy to digest, as the carbohydrates that are found in a banana are easily broken down into energy for all your cells.

They are also full of a prebiotic called fructooligosaccharides, which feeds friendly bacteria in the digestive system! They improve the balance of gut flora in the digestive tract, and are even more effective then the probiotics found in yogurts.

Ginger

Ginger is a spice that has been used for decades as a means of reliving the symptoms of illnesses such as vomiting, gas, loss of appetite, morning sickness and nausea.

However, it’s also been proven to improve gastrointestinal problems – alleviating discomfort and pain in the stomach. It relaxes the intestinal tract and helps eliminate gas.

Fish Oil

Large amounts of fish oil have been proven to have anti-inflammatory properties, which help to improve your digestive tract. The best way to get fish oil into your diet is through eating fish such as salmon and mackerel, but you may also be required to take supplements too.

People who constantly suffer with IBS might be doing so because of a lack of omega-3 fatty acids in their every day diet. Some studies have even shown that omega-3 can help manage symptoms of diseases such as Crohn’s.

Lean Meats

Protein in general is important for a healthy diet, but sometimes meat that is too fatty can lead to some uncomfortable digestive problems. Lean meats such as poultry and fish will be a lot better for your health, as your body can digest it a lot more efficiently. This is because red meat tends to contain more fat and therefore takes longer to digest. Studies have also brought up several links between colon cancer and red meat.

 

We hope that this post will help inspire you to make some changes in your diet, as introducing some, if not all, of the foods mentioned above will really help improve your digestive health.

Here at The London Gastroenterology Centre we are specialists in digestive health. Our doctors are all experts on gastrointestinal diseases, and can offer effective treatments for these.

If you’re suffering from digestive problems, and you think you need some expert advice, we offer a private colonoscopy in London that investigates problems such as diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain.

For more information you can contact us by ringing 020 7183 7965 and a member of staff will be happy to answer any questions.

We are available to see patients daily.

For a private consultation contact us on
020 7183 7965

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