At the beginning of every new year, people all over the world make resolutions to either commit or re-commit to creating a healthier lifestyle for themselves. The sad part, however, is that approximately 64% of resolutions last longer than a month, with only 46% lasting longer than six months. Something obviously needs to change in order to change the statistics. The problem may lie in the fact that people generally set ambitious goals that are vague at best. A simple solution is to set more specific goals. For example, if you would like to improve your overall health, you might try setting a more specific goal to improve your digestive health first. This article provides the reader with three ways to improve digestive health so that goal-setters have a place to start on their journey to a healthier lifestyle.
Probiotics
Incorporating more probiotics into your diet is a sure way of enhancing your immune system, breaking down lactose, and even combating stress by treating IBS. The best probiotic foods include sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt, all of which contain microbes that contribute to gut health. The bacteria strains found in probiotics promote healthy gut flora. For example, sauerkraut and kimchi, both made of fermented cabbage, produce good bacteria to aid in the digestive process as well as lower cholesterol in the blood due to having a lot of fiber. What people with gut issues often do not realize is that digestive health can be greatly affected by overeating. Because products like sauerkraut and kimchi contain fiber, weaving them into your diet can give you a feeling of fullness without going overboard.
Staying Hydrated
Improving digestive health can be as easy as drinking more water. It’s one of those daily necessities that is often overlooked in the lives of those with busy work, school, and parent schedules. Staying hydrated ensures that your body has a way of transporting nutrients and flushing out waste. It’s that simple; the flow of H20 through your body improves your digestive health and overall wellness. Eating foods that contain water can also be an effective way to aid digestion. Water plays an important role in helping the digestive system run properly so that minerals and nutrients can be made more readily accessible to the body. What’s more, H20 helps you break down fiber in order to prevent constipation and form softer stools.
Healthy Fats
When people look to improve their health fats are often the first thing they want to eliminate from their eating habits. However, there are certain healthy fats that you can add to your diet which can prevent problems with digestive health. In order for your digestive system to function properly, you need to eat enough fat so that your body can absorb nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids can specifically help decrease the likelihood of bowel diseases such as inflammatory ulcers in your colon and digestive tract. In short, Omega-3s limit the production of molecules that can lead to long-term or chronic inflammation in your gut. The best part is that Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in such common meal and snack options as nuts, seeds, and fatty fish.
If you belong to the enormous group of people who made a resolution to improve your own personal wellness in 2019, but you are losing the motivation to keep working towards that goal, do not give up. Remember to avoid overly-ambitious and general goals by setting specific goals that can help you in your quest to lead a healthier and happier life. And remember that there are simple ways do get started. Begin by taking care of your digestion through incorporating probiotics into your diet, staying hydrated, and choosing the right kinds of fat. By so doing, you will see improvements not only in your digestive system, but in your overall health as nutrients are broken down and circulated throughout your body.