Food good for digestive system?

There are a number of things you can do to aid your digestion, including eating certain kinds of fibre and herbs and making sure you body is properly hydrated.

Insoluble fibre acts as a bulking agent for eliminating waste and toxins from the digestive system, absorbing water in the digestive tract and making it easier for food to pass through the body. Fibre acts like a scrubbing brush, removing any bacteria matter from the large intestine as well as encouraging regular muscle contraction. This speeds the passage through the system. White a refined foods have most of their fibre removed, so go for the whole-grain option. A high-fibre diet rich in these foods not only keeps the digestive system running smoothly, but also reduces the risk of bowel cancer and diabetes.

Increase you fibre intake by eating whole-grains brown rice, oats, whole wheat and corn in cereals; breads or pasta; and lightly cooked or raw vegetables and beans.

Water lubricates food's passage through the digestive system, and so it is essential for healthy digestion. Between one and two litres per day is recommended to keep the body hydrated. Dehydration can result in dry, hard stools and also constipation. Plain water is the best fluid but alternatives such as fruit juices, milk and herbal teas can help increase you daily fluid intake. On the other hand, alcohol and caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea, are dehydrating, encouraging fluid loss by acting as a diuretic (increased urination). Too much water while you are eating will dilute the digestive juices, so try to think gradually throughout the day rather than concentrating on fulfilling your body's fluid needs during meal times.

Fermented daily products such as live natual yogurt (often labelled 'bio' yogurt) contain live cultures. These are 'pro-biotic', wich means they increase the amount of 'good' bacteria in the gut. Some herbs and spices can promote healthy digestion. Chamomile is a natual relaxant that, when taken as a tea, relieves stomach upstes. Peppermint has a relaxing effect on the digestive muscles, calming the stomach wall and relieving abdominal pains while encouraging digestive juice production. Feshly-grated ginger in warm water helps to relieve wind.