Manage indigestion with these 5 common digestion-friendly super foods. Each of these foods for indigestion has its own special properties that are beneficial to your digestive system. If you're looking for answers on how to cure indigestion, start by including these foods regularly in your diet so that you'll be regular too!
Digestion Superfood 1: Papaya
Papaya, also known as pawpaw, is easy to digest and is one of the most alkaline fruits, helping your body detox and get rid of toxins. It contains a unique chemical, papain, which breaks down proteins and helps clear out your digestive tract. Papayas stimulate peristaltic action and help clean out the digestive system so that it can work more efficiently.
Eat papaya raw at least 10 minutes before main meals, or eat as a meal in itself or in a smoothie or fruit salad.
Digestion Superfood 2: Banana
Bananas are probably the best known digestion-friendly food. Pectin, a form of fibre that is abundant in bananas, helps flush toxins from your body. Bananas are soothing to the digestive tract, encouraging friendly bacteria and restoring normal digestive function.
Ripe bananas are the easiest to digest. Bananas are one of the most convenient take-away foods available - grab a banana as a between meal snack.
Digestion Superfood 3: Ginger
Ginger has been valued for centuries within traditional medicines such as Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal, and has been widely used throughout Asia, India and Africa for millennia. Ginger increases the activity of digestive enzymes such as lipase, helps with the digestion of protein and protects the lining of the stomach. Ginger is also useful for reducing flatulence.
Ginger is most beneficial to the digestive system when its essential oils and gingerols are intact. Add freshly grated ginger to meals after cooking, or towards the end of the cooking process. Gradually increase the amount of ginger you eat to a healthy dose of 1-2 teaspoons daily. (Observe precautions if you are pregnant, a child or on anti-clotting medication.)
Digestion Superfood 4: Blueberries
Blueberries (also known as bilberries or huckleberries) help keep the digestive system clean and healthy by reducing harmful bacteria in the gut. They are very high in fibre so help your body with the process of elimination.
Blueberries are a luxurious snack and are generally popular with kids. Blueberry bushes can be grown at home in large pots or hanging baskets.
Digestion Superfood 5: Herbs
Numerous herbs have medicinal benefits that extend to the digestive system, reduce flatulence and can be used to treat colic. Several of these herbs for digestion coincidentally work to gently alleviate anxiety and tension, which are also causes of indigestion.
Lemonbalm adds a gentle, slightly sweet, lemony flavour to fruity drinks or desserts. Sage is delicious added in small amounts to egg dishes or salads. Fennel goes well with fish, curry and tomato dishes. Mint freshens up salads and sauces. Lemongrass and basil work well in stir-fries. Other common herbs for aiding digestion include cumin, garlic, thyme, oregano and rosemary, but there are many more. Natural herbal remedies should be utilised with caution, and are not a substitute for medical diagnosis and care.
As cures for indigestion, these digestion-friendly foods top the list. Include foods these regularly in your diet and you are sure to see an improvement in your digestion.
Find more Food Digestion Tips and Digestion Friendly Recipes at http://www.growingraw.com.
Trina Cleary is the editor of the Growing Raw Healthy Eating Guide. Copyright: you may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links and this copyright notice remain intact.