Let’s be honest, we all get upset tummies from time to time. And it’s pretty awful, right? Especially when it comes to more serious issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome or heartburn.
Luckily there are some simple natural remedies that can help to assist with frustrating and painful digestive issues. Here are just a few tips and tricks for those days where our tummies just don’t want to be our friends!
How does the digestive system work?
To effectively improve digestive issues, it’s important to understand how our bodies work in the first place!
The digestive system is a series of organs and glands that digest food. The digestive system breaks down food and absorbs nutrients for the body to use as fuel, and excretes as bowel movements the part that cannot be broken down - from the book 'Modern Essentials: 7th edition'
So how can we help our bodies to digest food as efficiently as possible?
Essential oils
Essential oils can be a great natural remedy to help improve our digestive systems. Different essential oils contain unique properties, so make sure you are choosing essential oils that are renowned for improving digestive issues.
Essential oils that help to maintain a healthy digestive system include:
- Peppermint
- Ginger
- Lemongrass
- DigestZen
- Fennel
- Marjoram
- Rosemary
- Clary Sage
- Cardamom
- Basil
- Lemon
- Juniper Berry
- Bergamot
You can help to relieve the symptoms of poor digestion by rubbing your chosen essential oil on your abdomen. When putting oil on your abdomen, always make sure you are rubbing clockwise to follow your intestines for the most effective results. Don’t forget to dilute your essential oils with a carrier oil (like coconut oil!) to ensure they are safe for application.
Natural food remedies
There are many natural foods that can help to aid digestion and soothe the stomach.
One perfect example is homemade bone broth.
Homemade bone broth is a nutrient-rich meal that is also cheap and easy to cook - you probably have all the ingredients waiting in your kitchen right now! Broth is packed with minerals and gut-soothing gelatin as well as amino acids proline and glycine. The unique combination of these minerals and nutrients helps sooth the digestive tract and improve nutrient absorption.
Some other effective natural food remedies include:
- 1 25ml drink of pear/prune juice a day
- Natural ginger biscuits
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Lentils
- Chickpeas
- Nuts, in particular almonds and cashews
- Natural yogurts
- Herbal teas including ginger, peppermint, spearmint and lemon.
Having a consistent, balanced diet is so important. It’s crucial for our bodies to receive the right balance of nutrients in order to have a healthy digestive system.
Natural supplements
Natural supplements are another way to help improve your digestive system, and the best part is that they can be easily incorporated into your everyday routine.
So which natural supplements are best for digestive issues? Magnesium supplements are popular within many households as they help promote regular bowel movements. Another effective supplement is Metamucil, due to the high content of soluble fibre.
Lifestyle changes
Along with the above essential oils, foods and resources, there are some simple lifestyle changes you can start right now, in order to improve your digestive system.
Some super simple ways you can work towards improving your digestive system every day include:
- Having fibre for breakfast
- Drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water a day
- Regular exercise - it only takes 30 minutes of exercise a day to improve movements in your digestive tract, so get moving!
By making some simple lifestyle changes and incorporating the above natural remedies into your daily routine, you can help improve your digestive system the natural way - and live a happier, healthier life!
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