5 Tips for Better Digestive Health

When your digestive health improves, so does your overall health -- so today we look at 5 quick ways to stop ignoring, and start looking after, your gut!

1. Go pro!
   As long as you buy a reputable brand of probiotic dietary supplements, which contains a wide variety of different probiotic strains, there is little that science has to say about probiotics that could be construed as negative. It seems that it isn’t just your body you need to look after, but the little critters living inside it also!
2. Look at your lactose
   It is estimated that around 80% of people over the age of 2 (yes, 24 months) are intolerant of dairy foods to some degree. This is more prevalent in people of African descent, of whom almost 100% are dairy intolerant. That means watch your cheese, yogurt and cream as well as your milk.
3. Watch your solids
   Fried foods and your gut don't mix. Fats are very difficult to break down and digest; there isn’t anything wrong with giving your body a workout every so often, but eat too many fried foods and you could be in for some serious gut problems, like IBS.
4. Watch your liquids
   Water is the only drink our body is designed to have on a regular basis. Unfortunately, most of us drink far more coffee, tea and alcohol than we do water. Keep a water bottle next to you at your desk, and in a handy spot at home so you can sip as you need to … and you won’t quench that thirst with a less healthy liquid.
5. Check your meds
   The most common group of side effects in medications are gastro-intestinal ones. If you constantly feel nauseous, often get diarrhea or constipation, or always get heartburn, check those little pamphlets that come with your medication. Probiotic dietary supplements have a hard time overcoming the effects of many ordinary medicines.