Top 5 Foods that Promote Good Digestion

1. Fennel

Fennel has been used for hundreds of years in traditional medicine to improve digestion and treat a wide range of gut ailments. It's rich in volatile oils that relieve gas, improve intestinal function, aid digestion, and may ease some forms of chronic colitis.

2. Papaya

Papaya contains an enzyme called papain that treats and improves all types of digestive and abdominal disorders, including indigestion, hyperacidity (heartburn), and constipation, and is especially useful in protein digestion. In one study, people who took a papain-rich papaya preparation reported significant improvement in constipation and bloating.

3. Pineapple

Like papaya, contains a naturally occurring digestive enzyme, bromelain, that's especially powerful in protein digestion. Studies show that bromelain helps treat indigestion and intestinal disorders, including pancreatic insufficiency. In one study, bromeliad helped counteract the effects of intestinal pathogens that cause diarrhea, such as E. coli, and it may also reduce intestinal tract inflammation.

4. Ginger

Ginger has a long history of use in preventing nausea and vomiting, and many modern studies support these benefits. Reviews of studies using ginger for motion sickness and/or nausea associated with pregnancy or chemotherapy show that ginger is significantly more effective than a placebo in preventing nausea and vomiting. Ginger also prevents bloating by breaking down and expelling intestinal gas. WooHoo!

5. Peppermint tea

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, peppermint has a calming and numbing properties and may also kill viruses and bacteria. It is frequently used to relieve discomfort resulting from heartburn, indigestion, gas and flatulence, although different disorders may require forms of this supplement other than tea, tinctures, or candied. For example, IBS sufferers need an enteric-coated tablet that keeps the peppermint from dissolving until it reaches the intestines, because it could cause greater discomfort if it dissolves in the stomach.

There's no harm in including some of these foods daily. Try experimenting with the above items to see if they make a difference in your digestive health. We may all thank you!