5 Top Tips to Support your Digestive Health

5 Top Tips to Support your Digestive Health

1/ Drink more water

 When your system is well hydrated it is happier and everything works more efficiently. Drinking still water is the way to go as fizzy/sparkling water behaves differently in the body and isn’t as beneficial. For some people too much fizzy water will actually make their symptoms worse.

If you suffer from diarrhoea or constipation drinking water is particularly important. With diarrhoea you will be losing fluids when you go to the loo so drinking more is essential. With constipation your large intestine is absorbing water. If you are not sufficiently hydrated it will do its best to remove as much water as possible leaving the remaining faeces hard, dry and more uncomfortable and difficult to pass.  

2/ Move your body

Get active on a regular basis, not only does this support your overall health and leave you feeling better in yourself, it can help to keep you regular. Going for walks, stretching and being more active generally are all good. You don’t have to join a gym or overly exert yourself. Exercise to invigorate not exhaust yourself.  

3/ Eat a balanced diet of fresh, unprocessed foods

Fresh fruit and veg are a great source of fibre which helps keep your digestive tract healthy. If you are prone to bloating you may want to avoid the following although foods involved may vary from person to person:
* beans
* onions
* broccoli
* cabbage
* sprouts
* cauliflower

Grains can be very hard work for our digestive system so be mindful of not overdoing it. Many people find that by reducing their wheat intake they notice big improvements in their digestive health.  

4/ Relax 

Our digestive health is directly impacted by our stress levels. Taking time each day to relax and unwind is essential (having a glass of wine every evening doesn’t count as that’s putting more stress on your body). Taking time to make meal times relaxing can be really helpful. If the body is in a relaxed state when eating lots of digestive issues can be avoided.  

5/ Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera juice is amazing stuff. It calms and soothes the digestive tract. Many people who use it notice the benefits very quickly. It’s inexpensive and readily available in health food stores, Boots and many supermarkets these days. Ideally go for an organic version with as few ingredients as possible. You want the aloe leaf inner juice to have as high a percentage as possible when reading the ingredients.  

Bonus Tip

Tasty Teas. There are many teas available that are great supports for digestive health. Standard black tea doesn’t count and if you drink this tea close to meal times it actually leaches the nutrients from the foods you’re eating. Ginger tea on the other hand can help the absorption of foods, reduce bloating and nausea. Peppermint tea relaxes body and mind whilst reducing bad breath, supporting digestion and boosting the immune system. There are many other tea blends available that help support digestive health. Where possible aim for organic products and always check the ingredients as you don’t want a ‘flavoured’ tea, you want a tea that actually contains the herbs and spices or their extracts.

If you feel you could benefit from a more bespoke approach to supporting your digestive health get in contact or call me on 0794 113 4267.