Natural digestive aids

Believe it or not, chocolate and cheese might help your body work better

Bloating and nausea usually indicate there’s a problem in the digestive tract. But does it take a yogurt or lab-created enzymes to feel better? Not necessarily. There are natural ways to clean up the digestive system and make your body work better.

Fiber is your friend when it comes to aiding in digestion. Foods like whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts are good to have in your diet. However, experts say fiber-rich foods should be introduced gradually into your diet and you should drink plenty of water to flush waste from your body.

Probiotics, which occur naturally in many foods, help ease digestion. Over the last five years, products like Culturelle, a probiotic supplement, and the yogurt Activia have been popular in the marketplace. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations defines probiotics as “live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.”

Chocolate, believe it or not, is also a digestive aid. However, it doesn’t work for everyone, according to Palscience.com. People who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome or have chronic constipation will find that the caffeine in chocolate may aggravate the symptoms of the disorder, causing bloating and cramps and diarrhea.

Fermented foods such as yogurt, pickles, sourdough bread, aged cheese, miso, kimchi, sauerkraut and tea also have positive effects on the digestive system.

Spices are another way to aid in digestion. Some of the main spices experts recommend to add to your diet include coriander, cumin, mustard, garlic, cinnamon, paprika, cayenne and black pepper. These spices increase saliva, which is the first stage of digestion. Many herbs can act as a natural laxative, and help to keep a digestive system in order. According to Livestrong.org, some of the more helpful herbs are barberry, yellow dock and milk thistle.

Ginger root is also a popular herb that aids in digestion in addition to taming nausea in pregnant women. Some researchers believe ginger root increases muscle contractions in the stomach, moving food more quickly into the lower intestine. Others believe it increases the production of certain digestive fluids, which also promotes quicker digestion. Some also believed the root is a good remedy for decreasing the feelings of nausea associated with motion sickness, morning sickness, chemotherapy and post-surgery discomfort.

For more information on foods that assist digestion, consult with a health professional such as a dietician or your family physician.