Did you know that the most ‘toxic’ thing we do everyday is eating? Weird hey. But think about it. Everyday on multiple occasions we put ‘foreign’ material into our bodies. Then we rely on our body to break it down, extract what it needs and eliminate what it does not. Before you learn how to improve your digestion naturally you must first understand where these issues come from, so let's dive in!
Leaky Gut
Our body does a pretty good job at doing this, but it is important to remember that there is a very small lining between our digestive tract and the rest of our body. The lining of our digestive tract is only about one cell thick and divides the gastrointestinal tract from the rest of us (blood supply etc). So when people talk about ‘leaky’ gut they are referring to this gut permeability that can occur when things cross that lining that shouldn't.
Leaky gut results when there have been injuries to the gastrointestinal tract such as antibiotics, illness, food intolerances and inflammation. Ongoing gut disturbances can affect mood, energy levels, nutrient levels, healing and immunity. About 75-80% of our immune system resides in our gut, that's why your digestive system is so important.
What Can You Do To Help?
If you are struggling with digestive upsets here are some things to consider.
1. Eat More Fibre
If you are looking at how to improve your digestion naturally then the easiest thing you can do is to look at your diet. The first thing to consider is if you are you eating enough fibre rich foods. Your gut bacteria needs fibre to live - that is their food source. So feed them the good stuff! Fibre is abundant in whole fruits and vegetables, legumes, chia seeds and nuts. So incorporate these foods into your diet as much as you can!
2. Reduce Your Food Load
If you’ve been looking into how to improve your digestion naturally you’ve probably come across an abundance of people telling you to cut things out completely. But this isn’t always the case. Think about your food ‘load’. Maybe you aren’t able to eat as much gluten, dairy or sugar as others. This does not mean you can’t ever have those things but it might mean your portions or frequency should be less than others. For example, try having bread every second day, rather than every day. While it takes a bit of time to play around and get this level right, once you do you will feel much better for it.
3. Try Some Bitters
Bitter foods help with digestion. Your discomfort might be the result of eating too much at that fancy dinner party or doing a cheeky drive thru run, and boy do you feel it afterwards! But bitters can help digest that food a little easier. Take a dose of bitter plants after a meal that has not ‘sat’ well and it will help you recover a little quicker.
🌿 Related: You can learn more about how our Liver Bitters can help improve your digestion naturally here
4. Probiotics
Pre and probiotic rich foods are key to helping your gut and digestive system. Prebiotics are what the bacteria live on (so think fibre) and probiotics are the bacteria that populate your gut. You can buy probiotics from your local health store or pharmacy. But you can also incorporate foods that help your gut function and immunity like sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, yoghurt and apple cider vinegar (like in our Fire Cider and Switchel). Don’t go crazy just start by incorporating small amounts into your daily diet and this will help you to improve your digestion naturally.
5. Eat More Plants
As always we love incorporating the healing power of plants. This is one of the best ways to naturally improve your digestion. So, what plants are great if you are experiencing digestive problems? Plants like horopito and ginger help to support digestive functions as well as bringing increased circulation to the digestive organs (as they are warming herbs).
Turmeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties and in combination with black pepper (to add to its absorption), it helps to reduce inflammation and support people with gut and inflammatory concerns. Some studies have shown it helps with adjusting microbiota, working similarly to a prebiotic. You can take a look at one of these studies here.
6. Try Our Anti-Flam Tonic
If you are not sure how to incorporate all these wonderful plants into your diet, or you are just short on time then you could try our Anti-Flam Tonic. Our Anti-Flam Tonic is infused with turmeric, ginger, black pepper, horopito and akeake. It’s delicious tasting and a good choice if you are experiencing stomach discomfort.
Skye MacFarlane- Wild Dispensaries Naturopath/Medical Herbalist
Advice: Use as directed. Discontinue if any irritation arises. If symptoms persist see your health care professional.
