5 Diet Changes for Digestive Problems

Digestive problems can cause a range of issues and impact the lives of those who experience strong symptoms. However, there are ways you can control digestive problems through your diet. Continue reading to discover five dietary changes you can make to decrease your risk of suffering from problems with your digestive system.

Increasing Kiwi

Including more kiwi in your diet can be key to a healthier digestive system. This is due to the high fiber content of kiwi. The soluble enzyme actinidin is also present in kiwi, and it helps the body to digest protein more easily, which in turn promotes good overall digestion. Though there are other good sources of fiber - and increasing the amount of fruit in your diet will be beneficial to digestion - kiwi is the only fruit containing actinidin, making it uniquely helpful in banishing digestive problems.

Avoiding Caffeine

Coffee - as well as tea and other soft drinks that contain caffeine - acts as a diuretic, and thus it can upset your digestive system and lead to cramping and diarrhea. If you are suffering from chronic digestive problems, it is best to eliminate caffeine from your diet in order to improve symptoms.

Increasing Probiotic Yogurt

Consuming probiotic yogurt helps you to stock up on the naturally-occurring "friendly bacteria" in your gut. These friendly bacteria have been shown to aid a number of digestive problems, including irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhea.

Avoiding Fried Food

Too much fried food in the diet can cause the stomach to feel overwhelmed, often resulting in digestive problems. Your body can only handle so much fried or high fat foods at a time since they take longer to digest, so try to avoid them as much as possible.

Identifying Triggers

Every individual has different and unique triggers that can cause digestive problems. Keep a record of what you eat, and look for any particular foods that constantly correspond with flare-ups of digestive problems. This will allow you to identify these triggers easily and, in turn, provide you with additional tools to avoid digestive problems caused or exacerbated by your diet.

Digestive problems are a common issue, but they can be troublesome and annoying, especially if they begin to impact your daily life. Fortunately, by identifying what in your diet causes your body to suffer from these digestive problems, you should be able to lessen the effects of them.