Six ways to improve digestive health

When considering your symptoms, remember to think about your digestive health. Many health problems and symptoms are connected to your gut.

Our body’s digestive system is complex and intricate and it can have trouble starting when the nutrients you are taking in are not being digested correctly.

Gas or bloating are common symptoms of stomach/digestive issues, which many of us will experience. But researchers are starting to focus on how digestive problems may be linked to the development of more serious health concerns, including depression, stress, allergies and anxiety.

To keep your digestive system healthy and feel better in your body, take a look at these tips:

Take smaller bites

The key to successful digestion is chewing your food. Your body finds it easier to absorb the vitamins and minerals in the food when chewed in small sizes. Thorough chewing is also said to help improve brain alertness and attention. Try to chew every mouthful whilst counting to 10, this will help you enjoy the food and not rush.

Enjoy probiotics

The job of probiotics is to balance the good bacteria in your gut in order to kill off the bad bacteria. Yoghurt is one of the best ways to include probiotics to your diet, so look out for the labels!

Stay hydrated

Water helps with digestion and promotes the removal of toxins in the body; try to drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

Swap coffee for tea

We know many of us like a cup or two of coffee in the mornings, but it is acidic and dehydrating. Drinking too much of it can even start to irritate your stomach lining, so try swap your regular caffeine hit for a detoxifying green tea.

Add lemon to drinks

Whilst it is important to stay hydrated, we understand that water might not always be to your taste. If you are finding it boring, add a squeeze of fresh lemon – this will increase flavour and help reduce inflammation.

Keep stress controlled

You may be surprised, but research suggests that stress can play a role in our digestive health. You may benefit from practising meditation or yoga to keep you calm and relaxed.