How to improve your digestion

The most obvious symptoms of digestive stress are bloating, discomfort, cramps, mild nausea, tiredness and dull-looking skin. Bad digestion also invites flatulence and those uncontrollable stomach rumbles that always seem to happen at the most inconvenient time. You might also have bouts of constipation or diarrhoea.

In the long term, going back to eating well and exercising is the best plan – the experts agree there aren’t any shortcuts to health. But if you need some short-term help, you can speed up your progress by being kind to your digestive system and supporting your body’s natural detoxifying process.

Here are five natural remedies to help you beat bloating.

1. ‘Pretox’ with probiotics

Next year, you can get a jump start on the holiday fun and prepare your gut's digestive capacity with probiotics.

Yogurt is one of the most popular sources of probiotics – ‘good’ bacteria that’s key to keeping your gut healthy. You don’t have to wait until you know you are going to indulge more than normal. Get proactive with the probiotics. By making them a regular part of your diet, you’ll help balance your stomach flora throughout the year and mitigate any damage you may do by overeating.

If you take antibiotics, probiotics can help restore the natural ‘good’ bacteria in your gut.

Find quality supplements with high counts of several strains of bacteria, and include the fermented foods or beverages that you enjoy in your daily diet.

A lot of detox kits contain a probiotic element these days, so if you are time-poor and want an easier dietary aid then a detox kit might be useful.

The team at mynaturalhealth.co.nz recommends the ‘Ultimate Cleanse Kit with Probiotics’ from the Health House range.

 “We recommend products that cover all the bases for people wanting to get a comprehensive cleanse. We always suggest they look for a holistic solution and one they can work at long term, as you want to maintain the benefits of the detox in the long term as well. So we advise customers to look at improving their diet and to follow the instructions for the detox process recommended by the kit designers to the letter,” says Jack from mynaturalhealth.co.nz.

2. Slow and steady

Digestion starts before you swallow, so chew slowly and mindfully and don’t chat at the same time. Talking while you chew isn’t just bad manners, you can swallow extra air in the process.

Eating slowly means you’ll chew your food more effectively than when you inhale it, and are also more likely to notice when you are full, and therefore not overeat.

Another trick to help you eat less is drinking water before a meal – sometimes your body can misinterpret thirst as hunger, and a glass of water can help you feel full.

While water is great between meals, you should drink liquids sparingly while eating.  

After a heavy meal take a walk. If you need to rest, Ayervedic doctors recommend lying down on your left side.

3. A spoonful of apple cider vinegar

Try a tablespoon or two of organic, unpasteurised apple cider vinegar in a glass of filtered water - add a squeeze of lemon and a teaspoon of raw honey for flavour.

You can drink it anytime, but cider vinegar helps your body prepare for digestion, so it's most beneficial to have it before a meal.

Having a few digestive enzyme supplements primed and ready to go before you actually eat will help ensure you get the most from the food you are eating and make your digestion more efficient.

It also takes the stress off your pancreas, so give your poor pancreas a break and incorporate a tangy, sour beverage into your aperitif.

4. Make the most of natural remedies

If you’re an adventurous type and want to try something new, try chewing fennel seeds after a meal.

These seeds are a traditional Indian method of promoting digestion, and are readily available and easy to carry around. You might have seen coloured versions served like after dinner mints in Indian restaurants – that is what they are for, helping digestion.

Another popular remedy to aid digestion is peppermint. If you’re at home, you can make a strong peppermint tea or put a few drops of peppermint oil into warm water. A lot of people swear by peppermint tea for digestive issues and others prefer fresh chamomile tea before bed time. Find which digestive aid works best for you and include it in your daily routine.

5. Be a ginger ninja

Ginger tea or capsules are a panacea for stomach problems. You can make a tea by boiling thinly sliced ginger root. Peel just enough to cover the bottom of a pan, make sure it is well covered with water and let it simmer for around half an hour.

When the tea cools enough to drink, add a little raw honey. Capsules and pre-packaged ginger tea bags are obviously more convenient but it isn’t hard to make a natural, and more potent, ginger tea from scratch.

Check out our guide to spotting a food allergy.