The 7 Best Foods for Digestion
The next time you feel a bout of indigestion coming on, take the natural and safe route to health: include the best foods for digestion in your diet. This post from mindbodygreen.com showcases seven foods that support healthy digestion.
Whether recovering from an overindulgent dinner, a big night out on the town, or, you know, any given Tuesday, now and then we all experience the discomforts of indigestion.
Next time your digestive tract starts to give you trouble, skip the trip to your local drugstore to pick up pills or tablets and try adding some of these healing whole foods to your diet:
Ginger
Ginger aids digestion by stimulating the digestive enzymes. Sipping ginger tea before or during a meal can reduce intestinal gas and bloating. Add ginger to your homemade juices, brew a cup of ginger tea, or simply chew on raw ginger for immediate relief.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a natural antispasmodic that will help calm an irritated stomach. The best way to enjoy peppermint tea is au naturel— steep some leaves in hot water, relax, and enjoy.
Fennel seeds
Fennel helps keep your digestive system working and may reduce heartburn, intestinal gas, bloating, and nausea. Fennel seeds have a flavor similar to that of licorice and can be added to hot water with lemon, or just chew on half a teaspoon after a meal to stimulate digestion and freshen the breath.
Fermented foods
Fermented foods are the ultimate probiotic, as they are full of lactic-acid-producing bacteria that help maintain a healthy gut. Try adding kimchi, sauerkraut, or kefir to your meal the next time indigestion hits. The flavor of these foods can be very strong, so try just a little bit at a time.
Bone broth
Bone broth helps clear up leaky gut caused by a diet high in gluten, sugar, and dairy. You can make your own bone broth or buy it pre-made from your local health food store.
Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are a great source of soluble fiber, which helps keep your intestines functioning properly. Make sure to grind them before consumption and then enjoy in your morning smoothie, over oatmeal, or as a thickener for soups.
Ghee
Ghee, or clarified grass-fed butter, helps balance the microbiome in the digestive tract. Ghee is rich in butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid.
Beneficial intestinal bacteria convert fiber into butyric acid and then use that for energy and intestinal wall support. Use ghee to cook and fry foods such as pancakes and vegetable stir-fry. Ghee has a high smoke point (482°F), and it will not break down into free radicals like many other oils.
To maintain healthy digestion and prevent future bouts of indigestion, make sure to maintain a diet that is high in fiber, probiotics, and omega-3sand eat living enzymes that come from fresh fruit such as papaya.
You can easily incorporate digestion-boosting foods into your everyday diet. Try these Ginger Ahi Tuna Lettuce Wraps.
Lettuce Wraps With Ahi Tuna
A delicate and refreshing appetizer you can serve at your next dinner party this summer. It’s light and incredibly delicious.
Serves 6
Ingredients
- 1 pound sashimi-grade tuna, cut into cubes
- 1 ripe avocado, cut in cubes
- 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated (freeze the ginger for 30 minutes prior, much easier to grate)
- 1 jalapeño, minced
- 2 scallions, chopped
- 3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
- ¼ cup tamari sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 head of Bibb lettuce, leaves separated from each other
- 1 lime, sliced for serving
Preparation
1. In a bowl, mix the ginger, scallions, jalapeño, cilantro, tamari, and sesame oil. Add the tuna, and toss gently. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours before serving.
2. Cut the avocado and mix with the tuna right before serving. This will prevent the avocado from browning.
3. Separate the lettuce leaves and arrange on a serving platter. Spread out the tuna mixture and squeeze lime over the top.
