How to Improve Your Digestion

Adam

15 Nov, 2023

Improve Your Digestion

When your digestive system is functioning properly, you have steady energy levels, fewer gastrointestinal issues, and you feel lighter and healthier. However, for many people, poor digestion is a daily struggle. Common symptoms of weak digestion can include bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, and heartburn.

If you suffer from poor digestion on a regular basis, it is important to evaluate your lifestyle and dietary habits. Making strategic changes can help strengthen your digestive fire or agni, allowing your digestive tract to break down and absorb nutrients from food more effectively. In this article, we will explore some of the best ways to naturally improve your digestion.

Understand Your Digestive Process

Before getting into specific tips, it is helpful to understand the basic functioning of your digestive system. Digestion is a complex multi-step process that involves both the GI tract and digestive organs outside the gut, such as the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.

When you eat food, it enters the mouth where chewing and saliva begin to break it down. Swallowing pushes food into the esophagus, which transports it to the stomach. Here, gastric acid and enzymes further break down food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed.

Partially digested food then empties slowly into the small intestine over a few hours. The pancreas, liver, and gallbladder release digestive juices into the small intestine to continue breaking down nutrients into an absorbable form. The small intestine is where the majority of nutrient absorption occurs through the intestinal walls and into the bloodstream.

The leftover undigested matter moves into the large intestine or colon, where water is absorbed from waste and formed stool. From the colon, waste matter is pushed out through the rectum and anus during bowel movements. Efficient digestion relies on a healthy flow through this entire process from mouth to anus within one to three days.

Eat Mindfully and Slowly

The speed at which you consume your food has a major impact on digestion. When you eat too quickly, you do not allow enough time for your body’s “switch” from the digestive rest period to full digestion mode. Shoveling food into your mouth without chewing also overwhelms your stomach capacity and digestive juices.

Practicing mindful eating helps improve digestion in the following ways:

Chewing thoroughly breaks down food into smaller, moredigestible particles before it even enters the stomach.
Slowing eating pace gives your brain time to register fullness signals from your gut and stop eating before overfilling your stomach.
Relaxed eating reduces stress hormones that can disrupt normal digestive functions. Eating while distracted or on-the-go adds unnecessary stress.
Mindful eating fosters awareness of flavors, textures and signals from your body that food is being digested properly without discomfort.

Sit down for meals without other distractions and focus solely on slowing down your pace, chewing meticulously, and listening to internal hunger and fullness cues. Avoid eating right before bed as well to give your GI tract a rest period.

Stay Hydrated

Water is essential for countless processes throughout the body, including digestion. As food moves along the digestive tract, water helps break down and dissolve nutrients while keeping waste soft and easy to pass. Dehydration hinders these important roles and can lead to constipation.

It is recommended to drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily for optimal hydration. For example, a 150-pound person should aim for 75 ounces or just over 2 liters of water per day. Beyond plain water, herbal teas, bone broth, vegetable juices and coconut water are also hydrating options.

Listen to your thirst levels and finish your last drink of the day a few hours before bed to allow time for proper absorption without nighttime bathroom trips. Symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration like fatigue, headache, dry mouth and constipation can greatly impact your digestive health as well.

Practice Stress Management

The gut-brain connection is bidirectional, meaning our mental state directly affects digestive function and vice versa. When stress hormones like cortisol flood the body, blood is diverted away from digestive processes and towards vital organs.

Prolonged stress allows harmful bacteria to overgrow in the gut while depleting “good” bacteria that support digestion. Finding ways to manage daily anxiety, work demands, family responsibilities and other stressors is important. Here are some stress-relieving techniques:

Yoga, meditation, deep breathing
A relaxing massage
Spending time in nature
Keeping a gratitude journal
Participating in hobbies
Getting enough sleep
Practicing positive self-talk
Delegating tasks when overwhelmed

Reducing stress not only improves digestion but has far-reaching benefits on mental health, immunity, hormone balance and more. Taking time each day to unwind both mind and body sets the stage for efficient gut function.

Choose Digestion-Supporting Foods

You can boost your digestive fire through nutritious whole foods. Some top picks to regularly include in your diet are:

Probiotic foods: Yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, kombucha
Prebiotic foods: Asparagus, leeks, garlic, onions, bananas, Jerusalem artichokes
Anti-inflammatory herbs: Turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, fennel, oregano, rosemary
High-fiber foods: Lentils, beans, sweet potatoes, oats, berries, flaxseeds
Healthy fats: Avocado, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, fatty fish
Bone broth: Sip bone broth between meals for minerals and gut aid
Fermented foods: Fermented veggies, beet kvass, sauerkraut juice

These foods provide prebiotics to feed beneficial gut bacteria as well as probiotics to colonize the intestines. Fiber bulks stool while antioxidants protect digestive cells. Broths, herbs and spices aid many stages of digestion. Choosing whole, minimally processed options maximizes nutrient density.

Cook with Digestive-Enhancing Spices

Beyond just flavoring your food, certain culinary spices contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and gut-supportive compounds that can improve digestion. Here are some top spices to regularly use in cooking:

Turmeric: A powerful antioxidant with benefits for gut and liver health. Try it in curries, smoothies, rice dishes or alongside black pepper to enhance absorption.
Ginger: Soothes nausea, bloating and gas. Enjoy as a tea, in stir-fries, baked goods or alongside savory dishes.
Garlic: Potent antimicrobial properties defend against pathogens. Use fresh or powdered garlic in soups, salads, sautés or marinades.
Cayenne: Spicy capsaicin aids circulation and metabolic functions. Add a pinch to eggs, soups, stews or chili.
Cinnamon: Regulates blood sugar and gut microbes. Sprinkle onto oatmeal, yogurt or roasted veggies.
Fennel seeds: Natural carminative for digestive upset. Chew seeds after a heavy meal or steep in hot water as a tea.
Peppercorns: Stimulate digestive enzymes and secretions. Freshly grind black, white or green pepper onto meals.

Use healthy spices liberally to enhance flavors and reap medicinal digestive benefits daily. Certain combinations work especially well together too, like turmeric paired with black pepper.

Get Regular Exercise

Any type of physical activity benefits your gut health and digestion. Exercise helps eliminate waste more efficiently, reduces constipation risk, and strengthens intestinal muscles involved in peristalsis movements. It also delivers oxygen and nutrients to digestive tissues while easing stress and anxiety.

Move your body consistently to keep your GI tract functioning optimally alongside other health gains like weight management, heart health, mood boosts and diabetes prevention. Find exercises you genuinely enjoy for long-term adherence.

Supplement Strategically

While diet and lifestyle are the foundations, targeted supplements under a doctor’s guidance can provide additional digestive support when needed. Some research-backed options include:

Probiotics: Look for broad-spectrum, multi-strain blends with clinically effective doses. Rotate brands for diversity.
Prebiotics: Fiber sources like inulin, psyllium and pectin promote good gut bugs.
Digestive enzymes: Try a broad-spectrum enzyme complex at mealtimes to break down different food groups.
Betaine HCl: May aid low stomach acid and protein digestion. Only use under guidance.
Magnesium glycinate: Supports muscle contractions and bowel regularity.
Ginger: Capsule or extracts for nausea, digestion.
Plant-based digestive bitters: Stimulate bile and gastric juices before meals.

Supplements are helpful bridges but should not replace dietary and lifestyle protocols. Work with a functional medicine doctor for customized recommendations based on your unique needs and biochemistry.

Manage Underlying Issues

If digestive problems persist despite diet and lifestyle changes, it is worth exploring potential underlying contributors with your healthcare provider:

SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth): May require herbal antimicrobials or antibiotics.
Low stomach acid: Betaine HCl supplements under guidance; avoid acidic foods alone.
Food sensitivities: Trial an elimination diet to identify triggers.
Stress/anxiety: Manage with alternative therapies like acupuncture.
H. pylori infection: Tests and targeted antibiotics from your doctor.
Hormonal imbalance: Work with a functional medicine practitioner.

Identifying underlying causes or aggravating factors is key to fully resolving stubborn digestive issues long-term. A holistic healthcare team can help uncover optimal solutions tailored to your individual needs.

When to See a Doctor

While most mild digestive issues resolve with lifestyle changes, certain symptoms warrant a medical evaluation:

Unexplained weight loss or inability to maintain a healthy weight
Blood in stool or black stools indicating possible ulcers or colon problems
Continuous vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than 2-3 days
Severe or worsening abdominal pain
Difficulty swallowing or painful swallowing (dysphagia)
Changes in bowel habits lasting over a month

See your doctor right away if you experience any concerning digestive symptoms. They can perform necessary tests to rule out inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, colon cancer or other serious conditions.

Summary

Achieving optimal digestion requires consistency with lifestyle habits supportive of gut health. Taking a holistic approach through diet, stress management, exercise, supplement support and properly addressing underlying issues sets the stage for long-lasting digestive wellness.

With commitment to strategies within your control, you can heal issues like bloating, gas, constipation and regain control over your gastrointestinal comfort.