Your digestive health plays an important role in your everyday comfort. Discomfort can cause you to feel sluggish, and poor digestive health can lead to occasional upset stomach, heartburn, diarrhea, or constipation. If you experience these issues often, it’s important to have a GI doctor investigate for signs of digestive disorders. In the meantime, there are many steps that you can take at home to naturally boost your gut’s performance. Here are three of the most effective ones.

How to Improve Your Digestive Health

1. Increase Your Fiber Intake

Fiber naturally helps your digestive system operate smoothly. Without it, you’re at risk of suffering from chronic constipation and frequent discomfort that may send you straight to the GI doctor. It’s recommended that women consume at least 25 grams per day, while men should aim for 38 grams. It can be easy to fall short of this goal, so make it a point to increase your daily intake of fruits, whole grains, vegetables, and legumes, all of which are enriched with high fiber content. Make sure to include a healthy mix of insoluble fiber, which bulks up stool, and soluble fiber, which binds to water and assists in the digestive process.  

2. Drink Water More Often

If you don’t drink enough water, you may also be at risk of developing constipation. The body is made up primarily of water, and it requires constant hydration to remain strong and work optimally. If you’re dehydrated, you won’t have enough water in your body for food to comfortably pass through the digestive system. Instead, your large intestine will simply absorb the water contained in the food waste matter, in turn making it difficult to pass stool and leading to chronic discomfort.  

3. Mind Your Stress Levels

Your GI doctor may also advise you to manage your stress levels carefully. That’s because stress can have an adverse effect on abdominal and digestive health, and potentially worsen the symptoms of conditions such as ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It may also increase problems like nausea, bloating, and vomiting. Taking steps to improve your emotional health may benefit your gut as a result. Options to consider include therapy, meditation, yoga, and deep breathing techniques.

If you’re seeking a qualified GI doctor in Prospect, CT, visit Naugatuck Valley Gastroenterology Consultants. The professionals treat numerous digestive orders and perform different tests to provide the most accurate diagnosis, including liver biopsies, colon cancer screenings, endoscopies, colonoscopies, and more. To find out more about how they can help, visit them online, or call (203) 756-6422 to schedule an appointment.