Even if you eat healthy food, it can be hard to digest if you make it unwelcome. If you?re rushed or stressed or preoccupied you can ruin even the most wonderful meal because your stomach will be in knots, denied the full attention of your muscles and circulatory system. So try to make the experience of eating a pleasurable and relaxed one, uncompromised by too many distractions. You need to indulge in your food.
Food That Aid Digestion
Apples
High in pectin, a soluble fiber that can help your body?s systems to function well.
Aloe Vera
A plant whose bitter juice, when heavily diluted, may ease all sorts of symptoms of Irritable Bowel Symptom and other digestive disorders.
Bananas
Another cheap, easily available fruit that can help soothe gastrointestinal ulcers, especially if the bananas are not overly ripe. Also high in fiber.
Celery
In raw or cooked form it?s high in fiber and aids digestion.
Licorice tea
Great for treating and preventing mild constipation and very yummy.
Linseed tea
Using linseed or flaxseeds in a tea is great for healing the bowel if you suffer from Irritable Bowel Symptom.
Grapefruit
Like Apples, very high in pectin, especially in the white parts that people often don?t eat. So eat them.
Figs
Seriously high in fiber.
Prunes
These are actually dried plums, and in their whole or juice form have a profoundly laxative effect. Great for those with constipation.
Miso
Like other cultured foods, it stimulates the growth of friendly intestinal flora. And miso soup is so good for the soul!
Pumpkin
Very high in fiber. It?s sweet, therefore more kid-friendly than some other high-fiber vegetables.
Pears
Believe it or not, the fruit with the highest level of fiber.
Seaweed
Ocean vegetables such as agar, nori, and kelp all have important minerals and trace elements that can help maintain digestive function.
Tofu
Another cultured food product that keeps friendly flora thriving.
Yogurt
Milk cultured or fermented with bacteria that can soothe the gut and balance your intestinal ecology. It?s important to get plain yogurt. The flavored ones contain high levels of sugar, which can reverse the good effects of the micro flora. Just add your own fresh fruit, either whole or pureed, and it will be sweet enough.
Like raisins, prunes are rich in fiber and anthocyanidins. They?re great for preventing and relieving constipation. I like to drink prune juice as often as I can.
By keeping my fiber intake up, I not only avoid getting constipated but also reduce my risk of other digestive complaints. The fact is, as we get older, our digestive systems become a lot more temperamental. One reason is that the muscles lining our digestive tracts, especially our intestines, grow weaker. Another is that our stomachs slow their production of acid, which can cause stomach pain and impair the absorption of certain nutrients. Then there?s the whole issue of prescription drugs older folks are more likely to be using them, yet they?re known to take a serious toll on the gut.
If you want to ward off all manner of digestive ailments, my advice is to eat plenty of fiber, drink plenty of fluids, and get plenty of exercise. More than anything else, this trio of lifestyle strategies can keep your digestive system running efficiently and trouble-free.
Farrell Seah is a webmaster at
http://www.BuyBovineColostrum.com
He created this website to educate people on the goodness and health benefits of the product called Bovine Colostrum which helps heal and protect the gut from disease. In addition, bodybuilders take colostrum as a supplement to stimulate muscle synthesis and help build muscles.
