How can you maintain a healthy digestive system? Discover the key factors, from diet to lifestyle habits, that contribute to optimal digestive function. Get expert tips and insights to improve your gut health and overall well-being.

Importance of Digestive Health

The digestive system plays a crucial role in our overall health and well-being. It is responsible for breaking down the food we consume, extracting essential nutrients, and eliminating waste. A well-functioning digestive system is essential for providing our bodies with the energy and resources needed to thrive. Moreover, emerging research has revealed a strong connection between the gut and the brain, highlighting the impact of digestive health on our mental and emotional state.

Understanding the Digestive System

The digestive system consists of a complex network of organs, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. These organs work together to transform the food we eat into the nutrients our bodies need. The digestive tract, in particular, is a long tube that spans from the mouth to the anus, facilitating the movement of food and waste through the body.

Common Digestive Issues

Digestive problems can manifest in various forms, such as cramps, bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation. While these symptoms can be occasional and not necessarily indicative of a more serious condition, certain disorders like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Diverticulitis, and Crohn’s Disease can put individuals at a higher risk for persistent digestive issues.

Maintaining a Healthy Digestive System

Keeping your digestive system in optimal condition requires a multifaceted approach. Here are five key strategies to promote digestive health:

1. Eat a Balanced, Fiber-Rich Diet

Consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber, can greatly benefit your digestive system. Soluble fiber helps to absorb water and keep things moving smoothly, while insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool and promotes regular bowel movements.

2. Stay Hydrated

Drinking an adequate amount of water is crucial for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Water helps to soften stool and facilitate the movement of food through the digestive tract. Experts recommend that women consume around 2.7 liters of water per day, while men should aim for 3.7 liters.

3. Incorporate Probiotics

Probiotics, or the “good” bacteria found in the gut, play a vital role in digestive health. These beneficial microorganisms can be obtained through fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, or sauerkraut, or through probiotic supplements.

4. Exercise Regularly

Regular physical activity can improve blood flow and metabolism, leading to more efficient digestion. Exercise has also been shown to reduce the risk of certain digestive disorders, such as constipation and diverticulitis.

5. Consult a Healthcare Professional

If you experience persistent or severe digestive problems, it’s important to seek medical attention. A healthcare professional can help identify the underlying cause and provide appropriate treatment to manage your symptoms and maintain a healthy digestive system.

The Brain-Gut Connection

Emerging research has revealed a fascinating connection between the digestive system and the brain, often referred to as the “brain-gut axis.” This bidirectional communication pathway highlights the profound impact that gut health can have on our mental and emotional well-being. Factors like stress, anxiety, and depression have been linked to digestive issues, and conversely, a healthy gut microbiome may contribute to improved mood and cognitive function.

Conclusion

Maintaining a healthy digestive system is essential for overall well-being. By incorporating a balanced, fiber-rich diet, staying hydrated, consuming probiotics, exercising regularly, and seeking medical attention when necessary, you can optimize the function of your digestive system and unlock the benefits of improved gut health. Recognizing the intricate brain-gut connection further underscores the importance of prioritizing digestive wellness for a holistic approach to health and happiness.

5 Ways to Keep Your Digestive System Healthy

Your digestive system has a major impact on how your body functions and your day-to-day life. From producing energy and absorbing nutrients to affecting your mood, there is good reason to keep your digestive system healthy.

What is the digestive system?

The digestive system consists of the organs responsible for breaking down your food to absorb nutrients and expel waste. These organs include the digestive tract, liver, pancreas and gallbladder. The digestive tract consists of a long tube that spans from your mouth through the pharynx, esophagus, stomach and small intestine to the colon.

Why is the digestive system important?

The process of digestion turns your food into nutrients which are needed to function and survive. Your body uses nutrients for energy, growth and cell repair. Further, research has shown that your digestive system can affect mood and overall mental health due to the strong connection between the digestive system and the brain.

What are signs of digestive problems?

Experiencing digestive problems can happen to anyone. Common symptoms include cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhea or constipation. While these are not always a sign of something more serious, certain conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Diverticulitis, and Crohn’s Disease can put you at a higher risk for these symptoms.

Here are 5 tips to keep your digestive system healthy:

• Eat healthy foods — For your digestive system this means eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and both insoluble and soluble fiber. Soluble fiber found in foods like oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, and beans helps your digestive system absorb water. Insoluble fiber found in foods like wheat bran, vegetables, and whole grains keeps everything moving through your digestive tract.
• Stay hydrated — Drinking plenty of water helps your digestive system function smoothly. Typically, it’s recommended that women drink 2. 7 liters of water per day, and that men drink 3.7 liters per day.
• Take probiotics — Probiotics are the good bacteria in your stomach. They can be added to your diet by eating yogurt, fermented foods or can be consumed in daily supplements.
• Get moving — Exercise increases blood flow and metabolism for smoother digestion.
• See a doctor — If you experience digestive problems regularly, it’s important to see a doctor who can help track your digestive health and manage your symptoms.

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At Doctor On Demand, we have established our own peer-reviewed, evidence-based video medicine guidelines. A visit with one of our physicians is similar to the face-to-face visit that you may be used to in a physical office.

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5 Foods to Improve Your Digestion

Digestive problems, such as gas, constipation and diarrhea, affect millions, with 15 percent of people in Western countries experiencing a severe form of gut sensitivity called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Here are five foods that promote healthier digestion and help you avoid common gastrointestinal symptoms.

Whole Grains

White or brown rice? Whole-wheat or white bread? Doctors say that if you want your gut to work better, choose whole grains, since optimal colon function requires at least 25 grams of fiber daily.

Compared to refined carbohydrates, like white bread and pasta, whole grains provide lots of fiber, as well as added nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids. When gut bacteria ferment fiber, they produce short-chain fatty acids. These molecules encourage proper function in the cells lining the colon, where 70 percent of our immune cells live.

Despite the popularity of low-carb diets for weight loss, avoiding grains altogether may not be so great for the good gut bacteria that thrive on fiber.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens, such as spinach or kale, are excellent sources of fiber, as well as nutrients like folate, vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin A. Research shows that leafy greens also contain a specific type of sugar that helps fuel growth of healthy gut bacteria.

Eating a lot of fiber and leafy greens allows you to develop an ideal gut microbiome — those trillions of organisms that live in the colon.

The Brain-Gut Connection

If you’ve ever “gone with your gut” to make a decision or felt “butterflies in your stomach” when nervous, you’re likely getting signals from an unexpected source: your second brain. Hidden in the walls of the digestive system, this “brain in your gut” is revolutionizing medicine’s understanding of the links between digestion, mood, health and even the way you think.

Learn more

Lean Protein

People with IBS or bowel sensitivity should stick with lean proteins and avoid foods that are rich in fat, including fried foods.

High-fat foods can trigger contractions of the colon, and the high fat content of red meat is just one reason to choose healthier options. Experts say that red meat also promotes colon bacteria that produce chemicals associated with an increased risk of clogged arteries.

Low-Fructose Fruits

If you’re somebody who’s prone to gas and bloating, you may want to try reducing your consumption of fructose, or fruit sugar. Some fruits such as apples, pears and mango are all high in fructose.

On the other hand, berries and citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit, contain less fructose, making them easier to tolerate and less likely to cause gas. Bananas are another low-fructose fruit that are fiber-rich and contain inulin, a substance that stimulates the growth of good bacteria in the gut.

Avocado

Avocado is a superfood packed with fiber and essential nutrients, such as potassium, which helps promote healthy digestive function. It’s also a low-fructose food, so it’s less likely to cause gas.

Be wary of portion sizes when it comes to foods like nuts and avocados. Although they are rich in nutrients, they are also high in fat, so be sure to eat them in moderation.

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HOW TO PRESERVE THE HEALTH OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT?

A pharmacist or pharmacist often hears from pharmacy visitors: “After taking antibiotics, the beneficial intestinal microflora also died along with pathogenic bacteria.” “Disturbed by bloating, abdominal pain, loosening of the stool. How to restore the microflora? “I took a probiotic, but it did not help. What to do”?

Indeed, how to keep eubiosis in the intestines? What can and what can’t modern probiotics do?

There is a whole world inside us

The human intestine is inhabited by billions of beneficial microorganisms. If you put them all together, then their weight will be 2-3 kg. And this should be rejoiced, because the normal process of digestion is largely carried out precisely thanks to beneficial microorganisms. The intestinal microbiota synthesizes B vitamins, vitamin K, folic acid, and some enzymes. It is able to neutralize hazardous substances that come with food (nitrates, pesticides, salts of heavy metals). In addition, our microbiota ensures the colonization stability of the body, which is manifested by antagonism to foreign microbes and an obstacle to their adhesion to the mucous membranes. It is one of the key regulators of the body’s immune system. According to the latest data, resistance to colds, mood and even the appearance of a person are largely related to how the gut microbiota works.

With dysbiosis in the intestine, the proportion of opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms increases, and the number of beneficial lactobacteria and bifidobacteria decreases, which ultimately leads to indigestion. The most frequent and unpleasant manifestations of dysbiosis are flatulence, abdominal pain, constipation or, conversely, diarrhea or unstable stools. Without treatment, a chronic inflammatory process develops in the intestines. Long-term dysbiosis is characterized by a violation of the absorption of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins, which can eventually lead to weight loss, the development of anemia and other diseases.

Causes of disorders of the intestinal microbiota

A disorder of the composition of the intestinal microbiota can develop after an intestinal infection, be a consequence of taking antibiotics, and accompany various diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, enterocolitis). Reduced immunity and chronic stress can provoke this condition. The impetus can also be a change in the usual diet. The question arises: is it possible to recover with the help of proper nutrition?

Nutrition is not everything

Of course, if you have problems with digestion, you always need to correct your diet and change your lifestyle. It is useful to include fermented milk products (kefir, curdled milk, live yoghurts), fruits and vegetables in your diet. However, the role of diet in maintaining gastrointestinal health is often of secondary importance. If an imbalance in the gut microbiota has already occurred, all efforts should be aimed at restoring the balance of the microbiota.

Why are lactobacilli useful?

The term “probiotic” was proposed in 1965 to refer to medicines containing cultures of microorganisms that stimulate the growth of beneficial intestinal microflora. The modern definition sounds like this: a probiotic is a living microorganism that, when used in sufficient quantities, is beneficial to human health. It’s great if the probiotic contains lactobacilli. The positive effect of lactobacilli in intestinal dysbiosis has been scientifically proven. They contribute to the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms, are a kind of protective barrier that prevents the growth of pathogens, and are involved in the synthesis of vitamins and enzymes.

For a probiotic to work

There is one important point when choosing a probiotic. Before getting into the intestines, the drug must pass through the stomach with its chemically aggressive environment, where beneficial bacteria can die without bringing the claimed benefits. Accordingly, such drugs do not have the proper therapeutic effect. What to do in this situation? Naturally, to advise a probiotic that meets modern requirements.

DR capsules for beneficial bacteria

Modern probiotic preparation contains 3 types of lactobacilli: L. Acidophilus, L. Casei, L. Rhamnosus. They create optimal conditions for digestion processes, participate in the biosynthesis of vitamins, stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria, help maintain the human immune system, and inhibit the growth of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms and Helicobacter pilory. The drug is available in special DR-capsules. DR-capsule protects lactobacilli from premature destruction. It is resistant to the action of hydrochloric acid of the stomach and dissolves only in the intestines. Accordingly, the DR-capsule releases lactobacilli at the destination and thus ensures the effectiveness of the probiotic. Thus, the manufacturer guarantees that lactobacilli will really help to cope with intestinal dysbiosis.

Author: Elena Leonidova

Article published in the Aptekar magazine No. 5, 2019

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The healthy work of the stomach and intestines is the basis of our health . Therefore, daily care of the digestive system is one of the most useful and healthy habits. What leads to a violation of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, why its condition is so important and how herbal preparations and detox can help – we figure it out together with an expert nutritionist.

Today, as many centuries ago, herbal teas remain an excellent means of preventing a variety of problems – affordable and easy to use. Including herbal teas can be an excellent help to maintain the health of the gastrointestinal tract.

In many ways, it is the state of the gastrointestinal tract that determines the health of the whole organism and our active longevity. To understand why the work of the stomach and intestines affects the overall quality of life so much, let’s understand what functions these organs perform.

Basic functions of the gastrointestinal tract

1. Assimilation from food of the substances we need for life: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, microelements, micronutrients. If the gastrointestinal tract is working correctly, then the listed substances are completely absorbed. This helps to maintain processes throughout the body, prevent many diseases and prolong the active period of life.
2. Removal of processed food, as well as substances and compounds that were not required or were initially useless. For example, these are unnecessary metabolic products, toxic substances, microorganisms that enter with food, excess nutrients that cannot be stored, etc. If the cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract is impaired, this can lead to the development of pathological and inflammatory processes, the accumulation of toxins, and a general deterioration in quality. life.
3. Protecting the body from infections, internal and external threats is another important function of the gastrointestinal tract. The fact is that up to 60% of the cells of the immune system are concentrated in the intestines. This is also why it is so important to maintain the health of the digestive system, because resistance to various diseases depends on its effective work.
4. Production of hormones – the stomach and intestines are responsible for the production of more than 20 hormones, without which the normal functioning of our body is impossible.
5. Environment for beneficial microflora – it is impossible to imagine the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract without a microbiome, which includes about a thousand species of microorganisms (and their total number exceeds 50 trillion!). The intestinal microflora and its health are interdependent – that is, if the condition of the intestine deteriorates, beneficial bacteria also suffer, and if the number or composition of bacteria decreases, then the functions of the gastrointestinal tract begin to suffer.

Why is the work of the gastrointestinal tract disturbed?

There are many reasons why problems with the gastrointestinal tract can begin. But conditionally they can be divided into two large groups: what we eat and how we eat.

What do we eat?

Modern food culture is fraught with many pitfalls. If you do not follow a number of rules, then the risk of disrupting the digestive tract is quite large. What exactly are the risks and what do they lead to?

• Fiber deficiency – slows down the movement of food through the intestines, disrupts the balance of microflora, which can provoke the development of chronic inflammatory processes.
• An excess of easily digestible carbohydrates – enhances fermentation processes, creates a favorable environment for the growth of pathogenic bacteria and parasites, increases the risk of infections and allergies, and can disrupt the functioning of the pancreas.
• Excess harmful substances that can damage the cells of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract and cause their degeneration. These substances include advanced glycation end products, trans fatty acids, nitrates, heavy metals, dyes, artificial preservatives, etc.
• Incorrectly cooked food – frequent consumption of too fatty foods, fried and spicy, pickled and heavily salted foods, smoked meats can cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, disrupt the normal acidity of the stomach, harm the microflora. If you allow yourself “harmful” only from time to time – perhaps this will not cause problems. However, systematic nutrition in this style is very likely to disrupt the digestive tract.

It is estimated that on average a person eats about 30–40 tons of food in a lifetime. Therefore, conscious choice of food and methods of cooking is a really serious contribution to our health.

According to the WHO Health Report back in 2002, the world could save about 1. 7 million lives every year if people simply consumed enough fruits and vegetables every day.

How do we eat?

And in this matter, modern nutrition also has many unpleasant features.

• Fluid deficiency . We actively drink coffee, tea, juices, but we don’t always think about water. Because of this, the consistency of food can become too dense, which makes it difficult for food masses to move through the intestines. Also, the lack of water slows down the detoxification processes – cells and tissues remove toxins worse and suffer from it.
• Large portions or too frequent meals . If you eat too much at one time, it will be more difficult for the gastrointestinal tract to properly assimilate such a volume. This can lead to disruption of enzyme systems and an excess of incompletely digested foods (which causes putrefaction and fermentation). If you constantly snack on something (do not confuse it with fractional nutrition, which in some cases, on the contrary, is useful), then the digestive system simply does not have time to rest – which also has a bad effect on the absorption of nutrients, the state of the stomach, intestines, gallbladder and pancreas glands.
• Poor chewing of food, snacking on the go . Saliva contains enzymes that begin preparing substances for digestion. But for this mechanism to work properly, you need to chew carefully. Not chewing food well enough, we automatically increase the load on the underlying sections of the gastrointestinal tract, and also increase the risk of pathogenic microorganisms entering the stomach and intestines. Again, simple saliva could prevent this – it contains a large amount of protective substances that have not only antibacterial, but also antiviral and antifungal properties.

What happens if we don’t eat right and what are the benefits of Yoo Go Cleansing Turbo Tea?

Acidity

In order for the stomach to perform its functions effectively, it must have an acidic environment – this is provided by special stomach cells that produce hydrochloric acid.

If the acidity of the stomach is disturbed, it also affects the functioning of other organs – the gallbladder, pancreas and intestines. Food in this case is digested more slowly, the production of hormones responsible for digestion processes is disrupted. In addition, in the acidic environment of the stomach, most pathogens and parasites die without reaching the underlying sections.

Unhealthy diet, chronic inflammatory processes and intoxication (especially with heavy metals), uncontrolled use of drugs that affect acid production, alcohol abuse and smoking can disturb the acidity of the stomach.

How to help the stomach maintain normal acidity? The predictable answer is to eat right and healthy food. However, besides this, you can additionally support the stomach with herbal teas.

Harmonization of the work of the stomach is facilitated by:

• Ginger has been used for thousands of years. It contains more than 150 active ingredients, some of which stimulate gastric secretion, improving digestion. Some biologically active components of ginger (salicylates, gingerols) inhibit the activity of enzymes responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory substances (prostaglandins and leukotrienes).
• Kuril tea and chamomile flowers enhance the anti-inflammatory effect of ginger, helping to restore the mucosa and normal secretory activity of the stomach.

Bile

Disruption of the stomach affects the production of bile, causing malfunction of the gallbladder and changes in the properties of bile (its viscosity increases). This, in turn, leads to metabolic disorders, impairs the absorption of essential fat-soluble compounds, and slows down detoxification processes (since most of the toxins are excreted with bile).

Without a sufficient quantity and quality of bile, it is impossible to ensure the effective excretion of processed metabolic products, the work of the intestines significantly slows down. Therefore, an absolutely necessary component to restore balance is the normalization of the liver and gallbladder.

Plants that help improve the condition of the liver and biliary tract:

• Apple and chamomile – have a mild choleretic and antispasmodic effect, relieve excessive spasms of the smooth muscles of the biliary tract, thereby reducing discomfort and pain sensations.
• Kuril tea acts on the enzyme systems of the liver, restoring their activity, improving the detoxification functions of the liver.

Intestinal microflora

Another important point to pay attention to is the disturbance of the intestinal microflora. If the protective functions of saliva and gastric juice are not strong enough, and bile secretion is impaired (bile also has an antiseptic effect), then conditions are created for excessive growth of pathogenic microflora, which should not normally be in the gastrointestinal tract.

Imbalance of microflora leads to further deterioration of the gastrointestinal tract: it causes and maintains chronic inflammatory processes, creates conditions for cell regeneration, disrupts the digestion and absorption of nutrients, as well as the synthesis of important compounds. But in such a state, substances toxic to the body are produced in large quantities in the intestines.

Restoring the balance of microflora is facilitated by:

• Kuril tea is one of the leaders in this regard, with a proven suppressive effect on most pathogens of intestinal infections, and has an antiviral effect.
• Chamomile also contributes with antiseptic action. It is especially good that any herbal antiseptics act only against pathogens and do not cause an addictive effect even with prolonged use.
• Apple is a source of pectin, a special type of fiber that supports the growth of normal intestinal microflora.

Peristalsis

Almost all of the above impairs peristalsis and slows down bowel movements. That is why Yoo Go Cleansing Turbo Tea includes mild laxative herbal ingredients – senna and buckthorn.

They contain special substances that begin to break down into active components only in the large intestine, so their action begins 6-10 hours after application. Active substances irritate the receptors of the walls of the large intestine, accelerating their contraction. In addition, they slow down the absorption of fluid in the large intestine, which contributes to the softening of the contents and accelerates its excretion.

Mucous

To normalize the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to restore its damaged mucosa and reduce inflammation.

• Ginger activates microcirculation in the intestinal wall, improving the nutrition of all its layers, and also stimulates local immunity.
• Kuril tea and chamomile reduce allergic reactions, have a healing effect, helping to restore the integrity and function of the intestinal mucosa. Like ginger, they help to strengthen local immunity.

Discomfort

Almost always, a violation of the gastrointestinal tract brings discomfort, worsening the quality of life. However, many components that make up Yoo Go Turbo Tea reduce these negative manifestations.

The active substances of ginger inhibit the action of the “vomit center” in the brain, reducing the symptoms of nausea, while chamomile and Kuril tea have antispasmodic and analgesic effects. Comfortable and effective restoration of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract is one of the main tasks for which Siberian Wellness specialists created this herbal collection.

Herbal tea with cleansing action: features of application

Often, when using tea for weight loss, people tend to take a radical approach – to remove everything superfluous as quickly as possible. However, it is applicable only in cases of severe poisoning! In ordinary life, haste can have a negative effect – lead to an imbalance in the functions of not only the gastrointestinal tract, but the whole organism.

That is why when compiling collections for the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to take into account not so much the strength of the “cleansing” effect, but the effect of the collection on various aspects of digestion. This approach helps to most carefully and at the same time effectively restore the balance of all functions of the gastrointestinal tract.

We have seen above that the components of Yoo Go Cleansing Turbo Tea act not only on all aspects of digestion, improving the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but also complement each other’s action.

Recovery processes are always more efficient when the gastrointestinal tract is resting. Therefore, Turbo tea is best to drink in the evening . This is also worth doing because the active ingredients of senna and buckthorn, which have a laxative effect, begin to act 6-10 hours after use, providing natural morning cleansing and fluid removal.

It is desirable to brew any herbal compositions with water not higher than 85 °C (5 minutes of waiting after boiling), this allows you to keep the maximum amount of biologically active substances in the tea.

The duration of herbal tea intake is individual – it depends on the tasks that need to be solved, and the body’s susceptibility to beneficial substances. It is also worth remembering that herbal teas are used mainly to prevent or eliminate the consequences associated with malnutrition.

In case of severe disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, you should consult a doctor.