Your digestive system is an important part of your body that helps you absorb nutrients and eliminate waste. It also plays a role in maintaining overall good health. The first step towards improving your digestion is to learn about the different parts of your digestive tract and how they function.

Drink More Water.

Drinking water is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your digestion. This is because drinking enough water will help keep your stomach full and prevent hunger pangs. If you drink too much water, however, you might feel bloated and uncomfortable.

It is great to pace yourself throughout the day. You can always find me with a water bottle next to me.  That's all you need to do. Don't feel like it is a chore to guzzle down glasses of water at one time. 

Avoid Sugar.

If you are eating too much sugar, then you will not only feel bloated and uncomfortable, but you will also be putting yourself at risk for developing serious health issues.

There are plenty of studies indicating that too much refined sugar consumption is pretty bad for you.  However, sugar from fruits are more easily digested and absorbed into the body making it a great source of energy along with the many nutrients that come from that fruit. So, when you walking through the grocery store - reach for fruits and not donuts.

Reduce Stress.

You might think that stress is something that happens to other people, but it affects everyone differently. It can cause headaches, stomach aches, fatigue, and even weight gain.

Cortisol, a stress hormone that prepares your body for a fight-or-flight situation, peaks when you are under stress.  Therefore, if your body retains high levels of cortisol for long periods of time, it may lead to chronic health conditions. So, did you know that cortisol is released in the digestive system? It is important to maintain a healthy gut to stabilize your overall health, both mentally and physically.

There are two things I regularly do to manage my stress - meditate and take Ashwagandha. Meditation has done wonders for me.  I commit to twice per day, finding a quiet spot to close my eyes and meditate for 20 minutes.  I have been doing this for years and every time I come out from a session, my mind is clear and my energy levels are up. Secondly, I also take Ashwagandha, a known adaptogen that has clinical evidence in supporting stress and mood. I can't go a day without these two.  

Take Probiotics.

You should also take probiotic ("good" bacteria) supplements daily. They are very helpful when it comes to improving your digestive system.

Your microbiome is a diverse ecosystem that regulates your overall health. So a good probiotic supplement will support your body's ability to absorb the nutrients from your foods and regulate your digestive system functions. How do I know what is a good probiotic? A good probiotic is a probiotic that focuses on a particular strain and supported through clinical evidence, has proven to aid that ecosystem and support your overall health. I would recommend considering a probiotic containing strain such as Bacillus coagulans (a spore-forming bacterium with resistance to high temperatures and highly acidic conditions), has proven to support constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).