7 Food Changes That Will Improve Your Digestion ...

Eliminating gluten is one of the best changes that will improve your digestion of all - even if you're not allergic. Gluten is a hard-to-digest protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and other forms of wheat such as couscous, kamut, freekeh, and durum. Oats do not contain gluten but are often processed with gluten-containing grains, so it’s best to choose gluten-free oats or grain-like seeds, such as wild rice, amaranth, quinoa, or millet just to be safe.

If you've cut out all dairy to help your digestion, that's a great start but you may have cut out one of your best allies in the meantime - plain yogurt (not yogurts high in sugar). The specific probiotic cultures in dairy yogurt nourish and coat the stomach to quickly alleviate gut irritation and improve overall digestive function.

Cheese is one of the most constipating foods you can eat, not to mention one of the hardest to digest. Cheese does contain some live cultures, but they are much different than those in yogurt and don't help with digestive function. If you can't live without that cheesy flavor, try the vegan alternative instead: nutritional yeast. It has a cheesy flavor you can sprinkle on anything you please!

Just like beans, grains are hard to digest on their own due to their phytic acid content that coats grains and beans to protect them out in nature. Many people assume they can’t eat healthy grains like oats if they have digestive problems, but luckily, this isn’t the case. All you have to do is soak your oats overnight in the fridge and pour them in a colander in the morning to rinse before cooking. This removes phytic acid from the oats, which makes them easier to digest and even helps them cook quicker!

Cayenne, garlic, peppers, and curry are all excellent for you, but they’re also common culprits for gut irritation. Ease up on the spice and try soothing herbs like oregano, parsley, sage, basil, and mint instead.

Excess coffee is especially harmful to the gut lining because it is naturally acidic. You should definitely limit those lattes and opt for green or herbal tea instead!

Raw veggies take up more space in your digestive tract and are harder for your body to break down than cooked veggies. Cooking your veggies is a great way to improve your ability to digest and enjoy them without pain or bloating.

Hopefully now you have a few ideas to get you started to make some food changes to your diet. Remember that different things work for everyone, so experiment with your diet until you find the perfect answer for you. Do you have a great digestive tip to share?