Top tips for a healthy digestive system.Our bodies are amazing things and can process quite a lot of...

1. Digestion: The low down - TV3 Xposé Entertainment
Top tips for a healthy digestive system.
Our bodies are amazing things and can process quite a lot of what we put it through pretty easily.
But we shouldn't take it for granted, particularly our digestive system. Poor digestion can leave us
feeling quite sick, so it's a good idea to take care of it and make sure you are eating the right foods
for your body to break things down properly.It's a good idea to try and eat more fibre as a diet rich
in it can help digestion and prevent constipation. For a healthy bowel be sure to eat wholemeal
bread, brown rice, fruit and vegetables, beans and oats. However avoid grains such as wheat, barley,
and rye which are very inflammatory, and they can cause damage to your intestinal lining.It goes
without saying that you should go easy on fatty foods to have a healthy gut. So try and cut down the
amount of chips and fried food that you eat. It could also be worth reducing the amount of dairy you
consume. That's because the two proteins found in milk, casein and whey, are common allergens and
conventional dairy products are pasteurized, which removes many beneficial bacteria and enzymes.
These products are also loaded with antibiotics and added hormones. However if you would struggle
to cut it out completely, just stick to raw, fermented grass-fed dairy, such as cheese, yogurt, and
kefir. Fermented dairy is a great way to implant your gut with good bacteria if you can tolerate
dairy.There are healthy fats that you can have though. Coconut oil, olive oil, ghee, and avocados are
just some examples. Coconut oil is great for digestive healing. It's anti-inflammatory and has
antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial properties. Healthy fats really help promote digestion,
and they're needed to absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. They also provide great flavour to
foods.Drinking plenty of water is also a somewhat obvious suggestion but not one that should be
ignored. It encourages the passage of waste through your digestive system and helps soften stools.
Fibre acts like a sponge, absorbing water, and without fluid the fibre can't do its job and you could
end up constipated. A good way to make sure you are getting enough fluids is to drink a glass of
water with every meal. Avoid fizzy drinks or caffeine as the former can lead to bloating and cause
heartburn.
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