GI System: 8 Ways to Keep Your Gut Healthy

Without a healthy gastrointestinal or GI system, the body cannot absorb important nutrients or rid itself of waste. Keep your GI system in good working order with these eight tips.

A healthy diet is the most significant way to improve your digestive health. Specifically, Everyday Health recommends the following dietary suggestions:

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1. Eat a high fiber diet that includes both soluble and insoluble fiber. Fiber in general helps to keep food moving through the GI system easily and helps prevent constipation, registered dietician Maria Adams tells Everyday Health. Insoluble fiber, or roughage, adds bulk to solid waste and soluble fiber helps prevent watery stools by absorbing excess water.

2. Try probiotics to help combat the effects of stress, poor diet, and medications that can negatively impact the GI system. Probiotics can also improve the immune system function and absorption of nutrients from food, says Everyday Health. Probiotics can be found in yogurt, kefir, and supplements.

3. Drink plenty of water each day to help keep food moving through the digestive tract.

Besides what you eat, how you eat can also affect your GI system.

4. Eat on a schedule and try to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and any snacks around the same time each day to maintain good digestive health, says Adams.

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5. The Gastroenterological Society of Australia recommends eating moderate portions to avoid putting undue stress on the GI system.

6. Chew foods well and avoid rushed meals, says GESA, and your digestive system will have an easier time moving foods through and absorbing nutrients.

Finally, there are other strategies aside from eating properly that can improve GI system health, says the Weston A. Price Foundation.

7. Aim to eliminate or reduce toxins in your water and air. Install and maintain air filters in your home and keep houseplants to help clean the air. Filter your drinking water to reduce chlorine and other harmful toxins.

8. Be mindful of toxins in skin care products and cosmetics since substances applied to the skin are eventually absorbed into the body and GI system. Shop for products that do not contain harmful chemicals and heavy metals at health food stores.

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