The food you eat daily takes an incredible journey from your mouth down to your anus.
If you don’t watch what you eat, your body can hardly absorb the essential nutrients it needs.
It’s normal to have digestive tract problems, but should you experience it frequently, it will affect your life.
Diarrhea, constipation, gas, and heartburn are common digestive problems.
Fortunately, there are ways to manage your digestive issues, and that’s to change your nutrition and diet.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your digestive tract to optimize digestion, you’ve come to the right place.
Why Should You Keep Your Digestive System Healthy?
According to professionals, 70% of the immune system is located in the digestive tract.
Thus, maintaining one’s digestive system in good condition is vital to optimal health and overall wellbeing.
The digestive system breaks down the food we consume, forming nutrients in the digestive tract.
The nutrients absorbed by your body can be used as energy to repair and build cells which is crucial in helping you function in your day-to-day life.
Further, research suggests that your digestive tract can affect your mood or overall mental health because there is a strong connection between the brain and the digestive system.
What are the Signs of a Healthy Digestive Tract?
Of course, you want to know whether you have a healthy digestive tract or gut. You may wonder whether going to the toilet once a day is healthy. Or whether it’s possible to eat more without feeling crampy or bloated.
Here’s what a good digestive system looks and feels like:
1. At least 2 to 3 Bowel Movements a Day
There’s no hard and fast rule on how often you should go to the toilet. However, keeping track of your bowel movements can help assess whether you have a healthy digestive tract. You know that your digestive system works well when you have 2 to 3 bowel movements daily.
2. Clear Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the body. So, it can tell you immediately whether you’re in good health. Clear skin suggests that you have a well-functioning digestive system. Rasher indicates that you’re experiencing digestive issues such as IBS or chronic allergies. Oily skin is also a sign of poor metabolism leading to the gallbladder and potential liver problems.
3. Clear Eyes and Tongue
There’s a reason why our doctor checks our eyes and tongue during medical checkups. Clear eyes are a sign of good digestive health. Meanwhile, yellowish eyes indicate liver problems or a need for detox. The bag under your eyes is a sign of kidney and liver issues, while dark under your eyes may indicate a parasite in the stomach.
4. Emotionally Balanced
There are days when we are not in a good mood, but by and large, if you have a healthy digestive tract, you will be more emotionally stable. After all, a good digestive system is associated with a healthy mind.
Each one of your bodily organs represents a variety of emotional states. If one of the organs in your digestive system is inflamed or unbalanced, it will affect your emotional wellbeing. As mentioned, the nutrients absorbed through digestion can nourish your brain. If you fail to extract necessary nutrients, electrons, or vitamins, you will likely experience brain fog.
5. Normal Amount of Gas
Gas is a normal part of the digestive system, and releasing it is essential for your intestines and stomach health. Passing gas is not a problem at all and is not a big concern. You can even have 21 times passing gas per day.
Excess gas, though, can lead to discomfort, abdominal pain, and sometimes bloating when it is trapped. This is a common issue for people fond of gas-producing foods like starch, beans, and lactose.
Excessive gas is likewise a symptom for those who have digestive disorders and intestinal infections. Contact a medical professional if these symptoms persist.
What are the Signs of an Unhealthy Digestive Tract?
If you have digestive problems, you’re not alone. According to the National Ambulatory Medical Survey (NAMCS), nearly 60 to 70 million Americans experience digestive diseases yearly.
Here are five warning signs that may help you assess your unhealthy digestive tract.
1. Food Cravings
Overeating sugar makes you crave more, and consuming lots of sugary foods can cause an abundance of harmful bacteria in your digestive tract. As previously mentioned, having good bacteria in one’s body can improve digestive health. One way to minimize your food craving is to change what is present in the microbiome.
2. Stomach Discomfort
Common stomach problems are abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and bloating. If you experience this frequently, you may have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a condition affecting the large intestine.
3. Fatigue
Lack of rest and sleep can lead to fatigue. But did you know that most of your body’s serotonin, which is linked to sleep and mood, is produced in the gut or digestive system? So, when you’re feeling fatigued, there’s maybe inflammation or bacteria in your digestive tract, which affects your ability to rest and sleep deeply.
4. Skin Irritation
Studies have shown that an unhealthy digestive system is associated with skin problems such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis. However, more probiotics and prebiotics can help balance the digestive tract and ease inflammatory skin issues.
5. Mood Issues
Are you irritable most of the time? Well, you probably have an unhealthy digestive tract. A study has found that digestive tract inflammation and disturbances may be potential causes of depression and anxiety. Taking probiotics may help ease or treat these conditions.
10 Ways to Heal a Digestive Tract for Optimal Health?
Your digestive tract works day and night to fuel every cell in the body. Taking it for granted is detrimental to your overall wellbeing.
Lifestyle and diet choices can affect one’s digestive health. Thus, we should focus on these areas to heal our digestive tract. Protecting your digestive tract is not just about diet. Everything ties together.
1. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
Be creative in adding more fruits and veggies to your diet. Fruits and vegetables contain healthy nutrients to sustain your digestive system. They are also a good source of fiber and antioxidants, making you less constipated and fighting cancer properties, respectively.
Pro tip: consuming fresh and uncooked fruits and vegetables are best.
2. Drink Plenty of Water
Make sure to hydrate yourself, or you will suffer from dehydration, constipation, and unwanted digestive issue symptoms. Once you’re hydrated, your digestive tract will work. Make sure to drink enough in accordance with your weight and physical activity level.
3. Limit Sugar Intake
Consuming more sugar daily can cause inflammation and upset the balance of good bacteria in your body. Added sugars are usually found in desserts, baked goods, and ice creams. They are also primarily present in processed foods like pasta, soup, and salad dressings.
4. Cook Healthier
Make time to prepare your food. Grilled and fried foods are tasty, but they have a downside. Grilled food can make carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals), while fried ones create unhealthy fats. Healthier foods are steamed, microwaved, poached, or boiled.
5. Get moving
Exercising regularly can help food move through your digestive tract faster. This will reduce bloating, constipation, and nausea. Take a walk after every meal or devote 30 minutes to moderate exercises.
6. Take probiotics
Taking probiotics is usually our go-to when we are constipated. It is alright if you will take them daily. You can add them to your diet by eating fermented foods, yogurt, or a daily supplement.
7. Get Enough Sleep
Lack of sleep can also negatively impact your digestive tract. Being sleep-deprived may lead to some digestive issues, such as inflammation in the bowel, which is a gastrointestinal symptom. It is ideal to sleep at least 7 to 9 hours
8. Manage Stress
Constipation, diarrhea, ulcer, and IBS are typical symptoms of long-term stress. So you have to assess whether your stress is the proximate cause of your digestive issues. Managing stress through exercise, yoga, therapy, or meditation can benefit your digestion.
9. Skip Bad habits: Smoking, Alcohol, Excessive Caffeine
Cigarettes, liquor, and too much coffee can interfere with how your digestive tract works. Research has found that these bad habits can increase the risk of acid reflux, ulcer, and other gastrointestinal problems.
10. See a doctor
The best way to improve or heal your gut is to see a doctor. Often, it’s hard to assess whether something is wrong with your digestive health. A gastroenterologist can identify unusual symptoms and recommend medication and lifestyle to improve your health.
The Bottom Line
It’s important to note that healing your digestive tract requires time, patience, and dedication. Your digestive tract is huge. It will take time to recover whenever it hurts, possibly even years. As cliché as it may sound, try to be self-compassionate. Try not to be so stressed out during tough times.
Your digestive system didn’t get unhealthy overnight, so your digestive issues will not heal overnight either. However, eating healthy and managing your symptoms and stress can go a long way in taking you on the road to healing and achieving optimal digestive tract health.