Foods that Improve Digestion

Our immunity and, really, our overall health starts in our gut. Making sure that your digestive system is working properly is key to keeping your immune system in tip top shape. Today, I wanted to share a list of foods that can help you improve your digestion.

1. Fruits & Veggies

Okay, this one sounds vague and pretty obvious, but fruits and vegetables contain tons of fiber and water that can help to flush your digestive system and keep it functioning properly. A few top picks are berries, apples, bananas, leafy greens like kale, avocados, and figs.

2. Fermented Foods

Fermented foods are my jam. I can’t tell you how much adding fermented foods into my diet has helped improve my digestion. Fermentation can make a huge impact on your health because it feeds your digestive system with the good bacteria that it needs. Making sure that you get enough probiotics in your diet can help keep your immune system healthy, and help your digestive system be more efficient at absorbing nutrients. You can get fermented foods in many different forms –> probiotic capsule, kimchi (this one from Nutrition Stripped is the bomb!), kombucha drinks, miso soup, sauerkraut

3. Ginger

Ginger can effectively relieve nausea and vomiting from sickness, and it has been thought of for thousands of years as a medicinal food. It can also relieve gas and spasms in the digestive tract by causing a warming effect and stimulating circulation.

4. Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea works in a very similar way that ginger does in the digestive system. The oil from peppermint leaves actually relaxes the digestive tract, and in turn moves gas through the body as it accumulates. This helps with bloating, cramping and other discomfort in the tummy area.

5. Healthy Fats

Adding more healthy fats to your diet can make a big impact on your digestive health, especially for people that have a hard time digesting large amounts of fiber. Fats act in a similar way that fiber does by helping move food through the digestive tract. Make sure you pick healthy fats instead of unprocessed ones –> avocado, nuts, seeds, olive oil, coconut oil