You need to have good digestion for proper overall health, but you might not realize the impact certain foods have on your digestion. This is why it is important to take an active role in your health, and that starts with your nutrition. If you’re asking yourself what that entails this is for you. I’m sharing with you the best gut health foods and what ones to avoid. Also be sure to check out my Fresh Start Detox a Simple and Effective Way to Reset your body in just 14 days (click the picture below).

8 Best Gut Health Foods

#1 Yogurt

Yogurt is a dairy product that is made to contain live cultures of bacteria that are good to have present in the body. These bacteria help humans to digest foods and relay information about multitudes of processes. The bacteria also protects the gut from overgrowth of harmful bacteria and other organisms.

You will want to look for yogurt that says “Live Bacteria” on the label and will list the actual bacteria in the ingredient list. Look for yogurt with as little to no sugar or artificial sweetener as possible. The added sugar pretty much scratches out the good bacteria, because they feed the bacteria that contribute to digestive problems. So no Yoplait or Gogurts. Greek yogurt will have the most protein. The fat content is not what is important for yogurt. Usually the lower the fat the more sugar that has been added.

I suggest making your own yogurt at home. That will allow you to control what goes in it. Plus it will save you money after your initial purchase of what you need to make it. It is pretty easy to make yogurt just mix a few ingredients, put it in a yogurt maker and when it is done strain it. Then you can top it with berries or whatever you like. Here are the supplies I recommend from Amazon.

Yogurt Maker

Yogurt Starter Culture Packets

You can strain it to make it thicker and more like Greek yogurt (more protein). You will need strainer bags and here are some at a great price on Amazon.

#2 Berries

Berries like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and acai are all high in antioxidants. These antioxidants can help the body in many ways. They can be great for your stomach and great for nutrition. But you should avoid them if you find that your intestines have developed small pockets where the seeds can be caught.

#3 Vegetables

Vegetables have the ability to attract wastes and heavy, sticky fats that are loose in your system. As they pass through your intestines, they can act as a sweeper. Vegetables clean and scrape plaque off of your intestinal walls, making it easier for you to absorb nutrients. They also contain quite a bit of different nutrients that your body needs for good health as well. Vegetables are not just gut health foods, they are whole body health foods so be sure to eat many varieties daily.

#4 Ginger

Ginger is a popular spice root that has its origins in Asia. It is a very strong smelling
herb that has powerful antibacterial properties and can be used in medicine. The
amazing thing about these properties is that ginger will only kill the bacteria that is
harmful to people.

#5 Papaya

This tropical fruit has been widely known for its ability to calm the stomach for
years. Some people use dried chunks of it to settle the stomach, but you can use it
fresh to give yourself relief from intense bouts with heartburn too.

#6 Garlic

Garlic seems to find its way onto just about any health food list because it is beyond distinction in the world of medicinal food. It is one of the best gut health foods too.  Garlic is loaded with sulfur which has amazing health properties. It’s is extremely antifungal, which can help control fungal populations in the stomach that can cause illness and disease. Some of them are so dangerous that they can make easier for you to get cancer, so garlic is definitely something you want to add to your diet.

#7 Probiotics

In many of the chronic illnesses like Crohn’s disease and IBS, the inflammation of the bowels are caused by an abundance of harmful bacteria that are continuously multiplying
and attacking the tissues of your intestines. Many of these negative effects can
be combatted by consuming probiotics on a daily basis. The bacteria in probiotics
do this by breaking down the cellular walls of harmful bacteria to kill them. Try cultured yogurt, kefir, tempeh, buttermilk, sauerkraut, and kimchi.

A probiotic supplement is also recommended even if you are already eating gut health foods. It prevents bacteria and fungus from attaching to your gut walls, reduces diarrhea especially after a round of antibiotics. It will even help with mental conditions such as anxiety, depression, and adhd. I take one that has a few very unique strands of good bacteria that isn’t found in many other probiotics. These strands help your body to create its own B Vitamins. Has your doctor ever told you that you need a B vitamin?  You can take care of that along with your gut health by trying the Probiotic that I use. It is called Pribio IQ from Solle Naturals. You can get it free when joining in my Fresh Start Detox.

#8 Fermented Foods

Fermented foods may not sound overly appealing, but they are one of the best gut health foods you can start today. They will do wonders for your digestive system. They’re packed full of healthy bacteria and you should aim to eat around one portion per day.

It’s worth keeping in mind that if you’re new to fermented foods, you’ll want to start by consuming very small amounts. Aim for around one-quarter of a cup of fermented foods until your digestive system gets used to them. Try kefir, fermented cabbage, Kombucha, and Kimchi.

7 Foods/Drinks to Avoid Digestion Problems

When you’re dealing with digestive problems, it’s never fun.  In order to take a serious look at your digestive health, it’s important to take a look at your nutrition and be sure that you aren’t eating something that could be creating the problem. So now let’s look at a number of foods to avoid if you have digestion problems.

#1 Greasy Fatty or Fried Foods

This one should be relatively self-explanatory. Fried foods are very high in cholesterol
and harmful fats that can clog systems in the body. When the body has trouble
metabolizing these fats, it will often try to dispose of them through other means like
passing them as wastes, or through the skin in the form of acne.

Red meats are known to flare up IBS too. You don’t need to avoid all fats so don’t rush out buying fat-free everything. You need those good quality fats like nuts, avocados, and coconut oil. Instead of frying, you can try lightly glazing foods with oil and baking at a higher temperature for a similar way to cook.

#2 Dairy

While it’s easy to get a few nutrients from this category of food, many people don’t have
the required enzymes to make sure that the processing of dairy products runs smoothly.
This can result in a host of terrible and unpleasant side effects like bloating and
cramping. Some people describe this as a condition known as dairy intolerance. If you
are able, try almond milk as a relatively solid alternative. If you love your dairy as I much as I do (especially ice cream on occasion) check out the all-natural enzyme supplement that I use here: Verdezymes

#3 Soda

Soda is essentially liquid candy, and it is highly acidic. These types of drinks can
cause the pH of your stomach to be somewhat off, and that will kill the good bacteria in
your stomach, and feed the harmful bacteria, leaving you defenseless against the slowly
multiplying colonies of bacteria. It would be best to avoid drinking sodas most of the
time if you want to keep your stomach at a healthy operating level. A good substitute
would be sparkling water with juice flavoring.

Before you throw darts at me for even asking you to give up soda I’ve been there. I loved my Coke but kicked the habit about 12 years ago. It wasn’t easy to quit either. What I did was just cut back by one a day, then another until I was skipping days. I got to where I was only drinking one occasionally when we went out to eat, but then I would order one and only take a sip. It was just too sweet to me.

No, diet soda is not a better option. I could talk to you all week long about what artificial sweeteners are doing to your body. I’d rather you drink the real thing in moderation than a diet soda any day.

Coffee

Coffee is highly debatable whether it is good for you or bad for you. One thing is certain though coffee is another highly acidic drink. It’s very important that you
keep your digestive system free from anything that throws off your PH balance and will cause the harmful bacteria to multiply. If you need your caffeine fix though hit me up for my favorite alternative. Just comment Coffee below.

Sugar

I don’t think I need to talk about this one for very long, because we all know that sugar is not good for us. Any type of sugar-white, brown, and even organic is not good for the gut. Also stay away from high fructose corn syrup. They all feed the bacteria that contribute to the digestive issues.

Gluten

One of the biggest signs that you’ve eaten something that isn’t really right for your body,
is that your digestive tract begins to produce massive amounts of gas when it’s trying to
use your food for energy. Gluten can cause some intense bloating if your body has sensitivity issues.

Also, a number of people who are unable to process gluten will experience another kind of intestinal distress in the form of diarrhea or constipation. So when it comes to gluten listen to your body and pay attention if gluten tends to trigger digestive problems.

Soy

Soy like tofu is highly processed and usually genetically modified. This means that it unfortunately probably has been sprayed with Roundup. I don’t want to get into all the politics surrounding GMOs, but they don’t belong in your gut and will wreck havoc. So only go with GMO-free soy or just stay away from it all together.

Ok so I know that was a pretty long list of gut health foods to enjoy and to avoid. Which ones surprised you? Comment below.

Who would like a FREE bottle of my favorite Probiotic by joining the Fresh Start Detox?