If your digestive health isn’t where you want it to be, try these 7 activities to improve your digestive system and feel better!
Today we have another guest post by Morgan. Morgan is an aromatherapist, yoga instructor and I’m so thankful she’s sharing her knowledge with us today. You can find more information about Morgan at the end of this article.
7 Activities You Didn’t Know Are Beneficial For Your Digestive System
Our digestive systems are pretty neglected these days. Many of us are under stress and we live fast-paced lives which leads to irregular diet, lack of hydration and physical activity. This can lead to issues such as not digesting food properly, which further can lead to many other health issues. The symptoms of problems in the digestive system are constant belch, bloated stomach, and even excessive flatulence. This can cause some stomach pains and plenty of discomforts. So, if you want to do yourself and your digestive system a favor, there are certain things you can incorporate in your everyday life.
1. Eat a High-Fiber Diet
According to many doctors, eating food that is high in fiber can improve your digestive health significantly. Such foods include whole grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes, and our stomachs need them. Food that is high in fiber keeps food moving through your digestive tract and it can make you less likely to get constipated. Plus, such foods can prevent various digestive conditions, including hemorrhoids, IBS and diverticulosis.
Additionally, you should incorporate foods with both insoluble and soluble fiber into your diet. Insoluble fiber can’t actually be digested by your body, but it does help with adding bulk to the stool. On the other hand, soluble fiber draws water and can prevent stool that is too watery. So, make sure to add insoluble fiber such as wheat bran, whole grains and vegetables, and solubles such as nuts, seed, legumes and oat bran.
2. Avoid Foods High in Fat
Food that is high in fat can generally slow down your digestive process, which leads to constipation in most cases. However, you cannot completely avoid fatty foods, even though you should take it easy on them. Instead, you can mix fatty foods with high-fiber foods which will make them easier to digest. Also, you should opt more for lean meats in order to avoid some of the fatty foods. Protein is really important for our health. So, make sure you eat enough of the lean meat cuts, including pork loin and skinless poultry.
3. Exercise Regularly
Besides making some major changes in your diet, you need to get physically active in order to have a healthy digestive system and reduce the chances of constipation. Also, exercising will help you maintain a healthy weight which is also great for your digestion. There are plenty of great exercises that can help with your digestion and overall health. These include crunches, brisk walking, running, cycling, yoga, and even regular rope jumping will bring you plenty of benefits. So, make exercise a part of your daily routine and your overall health will improve, as well as your metabolism and digestion.
4. Stay Hydrated
Water is our biggest friend, and it will provide good health to your digestive system. Since fiber pulls water into your colon in order to create bulkier and softer stool, you will need to drink plenty of water during the day. Make sure you’re drinking at least 10 glasses of water every day and it will make some significant changes to your digestive tract and help you get rid of toxins.
You can also rely on lemon water, which is super convenient to drink in the morning. You can simply squeeze a bit of lemon in a glass of water and drink in on an empty stomach which will ease your digestion and provide a good start of the day.
5. Incorporate Probiotics
Probiotics are healthy bacteria that is naturally found in our digestive tract. They help with maintaining our bodies healthy and they play a significant role in combating effects of antibiotics, stress and poor diet. Plus, probiotics can enhance the absorption of nutrients and help with breaking down lactose and they can improve your immune system. Foods that are rich in probiotics and that should definitely be part of your daily meals are yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi or kefir, and your stomach will be thankful to you.
6. Manage Stress
Stress is something that every one of us experiences on a daily basis. Some go through this more and some less, and we all deal with it in different ways. However, no matter how stressed you are, you need to learn how to manage it. Too much stress can cause your digestive system to go into overdrive and it simply puts too much pressure on it, which then leads to various different issues. Your job here is to find an activity that will reduce your stress and help you relax and enjoy, and you should find time for this every day. Otherwise, you are only disrupting your digestive system, as well as your mental health and overall wellbeing and health.
7. Skip on Your Bad Habits
There is also physical stress that we are probably causing to ourselves. This type of stress is hiding in your bad habits, such as smoking, drinking too much caffeine and alcohol. These three are interfering with the functions of your entire body, especially the digestive system and they can lead to various problems. Not to mention other impacts, such as dry skin, too high or too low blood pressure, and many more.
In order for our bodies to function properly, our digestive system has to be fully functioning and healthy. It is the one that can suffer the most due to stress, poor diet, lack of water and constant sitting or laying. It’s your job to keep your digestive tract healthy and you can easily do it by incorporating these simple activities in your daily life.
AUTHOR: MORGAN ROSE ELLIOT
Morgan is an aromatherapist, yoga instructor, animal lover, a happily married mother of three. She enjoys reading biographies and writing poems, sunny days on the beach and any shape and form of vanilla. Crazy about the ’80s, her favorite band is Duran Duran (although kids prefer Franz Ferdinand, and the husband Blink182) and she is obsessed with Netflix original Stranger things. You can follow Morgan on Twitter.
