Don’t take your digestive system for granted.
The digestive system, which consists of mouth, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, intestines, colon, and rectum, is responsible for breaking down the food we eat into nutrients our body needs and forming a bacterial balance within the digestive tract. When these levels are balanced, your digestive tract protects the immune system by boosting your body’s natural defenses.
Poor digestion, fatty liver, and gastrointestinal diseases like constipation and chronic inflammation are all signs of an unhappy and unhealthy digestive system. Having an unhealthy digestive system can lead to various health issues, including liver cirrhosis, diabetes, thyroid, and colon problems, among many others.
In observance of World Digestive Health Day on May 29, digestive health products Dulcolax and Essentiale Forte P joined hands in a campaign to make our digestive system happy and healthy. Here are some habits three brands shared to help us take care of our tummies.
• Ditch heavily processed carbohydrates, like white rice and white bread as they can cause inflammation. Go for whole grains like oats and quinoa.
• Try to remove refined sugar from your diet. Use a sugar substitute if you need to. Refined sugar is believed to cause constipation and slow down food transit time in the digestive system.
• Snack on raw almonds instead of chips. Nuts, along with vegetables, seeds, and beans, are healthy, natural sources of fiber.
• Instead of getting coffee or bubble tea (both of which contain caffeine), drink more water. Water helps keep your intestines smooth and flexible, so that your stools will be soft and easy to pass.
• Natural sources of probiotics like cultured foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and atchara are all rich in organic acids which support the growth of good bacteria. Miso, which is used for soups and sauces, is likewise rich in probiotics. Yogurt, of course, is the most popular source of probiotics.
• Instead of steaks and fried chicken, opt for salmon, which is rich in good fats, to skip on the bad fats that can lead to having too much fat stored in the liver. A fatty liver is a sign of an unhealthy digestive system and will affect your entire health. Keep your liver in check with Essentiale Forte P, which contains essential phospholipids that repair damaged liver cell membrane, regenerate lost phospholipids and restore normal functions of the liver.
• Your gut is filled with good and bad bacteria. However, poor food and beverage choices, antibiotics, and stress are killing off good bacteria. Instead of your daily fix of flavored fries, which is full of carbohydrates, fats, and sodium, take a daily probiotic supplement, which can help with digestion and stimulate the immune system. Consult your doctor to learn more about probiotics.
• Aloe Vera, olive oil, coconut water, figs, prunes, and dates are laxative-rich foods. You can also take Dulcolax, which stimulates bowel movement and treats constipation and other bowel irregularities.