Your digestive health is directly impacted by the foods you eat and the lifestyle you live. By taking steps to improve your habits, your digestive system will function more efficiently, improving your overall health.

1. Manage your stress. When you are in the fight-or-flight mode of high stress, your digestive system slows down because blood is being diverted away from the digestive tract and into the muscles. Take time to relax, breathe and reduce the stress in your life.

2. Get regular exercise. Exercise speeds up digestion, increases blood flow to all your organs, and stimulates muscles in the GI tract. This keeps food moving through your digestive tract and reduces constipation. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise every day.

3. Take your time. Slow down and chew each bite at least 20 times. That gives your stomach time to prepare to properly digest the nutrients you are giving it, and allows your brain to tell you that you’ve had enough. Also, try to avoid eating in front of the TV or the computer. Studies show that when people are distracted while eating they eat significantly more than when they are at a dinner table.

4. Eat more fiber. A high fiber diet of 25-35 grams per day is excellent for digestion. It keeps food moving through your digestive tract and helps to prevent conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis and hemorrhoids.

5. Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is good for your digestive health. Water in your digestive system helps dissolve fats and soluble fiber, allowing these substances to pass through more easily.

6. Incorporate probiotics into your diet. Probiotics are the healthy bacteria naturally present in your digestive tract. Probiotics can enhance nutrient absorption, help break down lactose, strengthen your immune system, and possibly even help treat irritable bowel syndrome. Add foods like yogurt or kefir, and fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha tea to your diet.

7. Take supplements. Some people can’t, or won’t, eat the foods required for healthy digestion. There are great supplements available ranging from enzymes to probiotics. Your health care profession can help you choose the right products.

For more information, contact Wendy at [email protected]. She has a master’s degree in nutrition and offers a full range of whole food digestive supplements.