An off-track digestive system may leave you feeling hungry, overly full, bloated and in some cases, sick. The best way to ensure that your digestive system remains healthy and robust is to fuel your body with nutrient-dense foods that are easy to digest. Keep scrolling to learn more about these foods and how you can incorporate them into your weekly meals.
For a fiber-rich food that's easy to absorb, work more artichoke into your weekly meals. Artichokes are incredibly low in calories yet high in fiber. This being so, adding artichoke hearts to your favorite recipes or enjoying one as a snack is an excellent way to include more fiber into your diet without indulging in a heavy dish. Just one medium artichoke has nearly 7 grams of fiber, and its versatile flavor allows you to enjoy it in several different ways. Add artichoke to a salad, enjoy it as a chip replacement, dip it in a spread like this Spicy Bengal Dip, or include it in your next soup recipe. Loaded with prebiotics, antioxidants and vitamins, artichoke is an excellent vegetable to boost your digestive system and overall health.
A tiny but powerful superfood, chia seeds are an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber and great for digestion. The insoluble fiber in chia seeds causes them to form a gelatin-like substance when mixed with any liquid. This gel around the chia seeds works to add bulk to your stools and absorbs water in the intestines that could cause irritation. The soluble fiber acts as a prebiotic and feeds the healthy gut flora. This supports a healthy gut biome by ridding your digestive system of harmful bacteria that may be causing symptoms.
Because chia seeds are tiny, they can be added to countless recipes for a boost of nutrition. Add chia seeds to your water, use them to create a delicious pudding, or add a spoonful or two to your favorite smoothie recipe. If you're looking for easy ways to boost your digestive health, chia seeds are an excellent option!
Whether you choose to roast, steam, pickle or juice your beets, they're a delicious way to add more vitamins and minerals into your diet. Low in saturated fat and high in dietary fiber, this superfood offers several health benefits. Just one cup of beets contains 3.5 grams of fiber, most of which is insoluble fiber. As we mentioned earlier, the insoluble fiber found in beets works to bulk up your stool and helps it quickly pass through your intestines. This means fewer digestive issues and more regularity! If, after consuming a significant amount of beets, you notice a pink or red tint to your stools, don't be alarmed. A pigmentation in beets called betanin is likely the culprit.
No one likes suffering from digestive issues. Help your digestive system remain healthy and strong by enjoying foods that support digestion and including them in your weekly meals. From leafy green veggies to tropical fruit, creating a grocery list full of digestion-boosting food isn't as hard as it seems. Reference this list the next time you head to the grocery store and begin boosting your digestive health today. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, we wish you a happy and healthy day!
