10 foods to take care of your stomach

Is your weak point the stomach? Do you make impossible digestions? Find out what foods help you take care of yourself.

It is increasingly common to see people suffering from stomach problems: intolerances, inflammations, heavy digestions ... In many cases they are caused by constant changes in diet and lifestyle, two factors that directly affect the digestive system.

Foods that help the stomach:

A diet loaded with saturated fats, an excess of sweets, alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, many fried ... They are some of the elements that can deteriorate digestive health almost without realizing it.

The first step in solving these problems is to locate the bad habits that are affecting the stomach and start to put them aside in favor of healthier ones. It is essential to know those foods that make digestions easier, those that are rich in fiber, the infusions that help you after excess ... Because, remember, as in most health related issues, prevention! it is the best medicine! You have many medicines at your fingertips in the pantry, without having to go through the medicine cabinet.

Some habits as simple as drinking water and trying to do without other carbonated drinks or with many sugars make life easier for the stomach.

Cookings and sauces are also often other great enemies of the stomach. Light cooking (griddle, steam and oven) is much better than fried and battered. Sauces are often loaded with fats and sugars, so they can also complicate digestion.

Regarding main meals, there is another issue that always works and that is to leave excesses for special moments so that the stomach suffers as little as possible. Spreading the meals in different doses (ideally, eating five meals a day) makes you eat less of the main meals and digestion is much easier.

In addition, the practice of physical activity improves digestion and favors intestinal transit, so it will make you feel much better.

A food technologist at Quaker, to learn about ten foods that help lead a healthy diet and pamper the stomach.

Oatmeal is a great ally for the digestive system. Being a cereal rich in fiber and with few saturated fats and salt, it favors intestinal transit and helps maintain a healthy digestive system. In addition, oats are rich in other nutrients, such as B vitamins - involved in digestive processes - and minerals, such as iron and magnesium.

Pineapple is a great source of bromelain, an enzyme that contributes to the hydrolyzation (breakdown) of proteins during digestion, making it a great digestive.

This fruit contains actinidin, an enzyme that favors the degradation of proteins in the digestive tract. It is also a source of fiber and vitamin C, which makes it a very interesting fruit to include in the diet.

Honey has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, as determined by different scientific studies. This makes it a useful ingredient to prevent infections of the entire digestive tract.

Papaya contains papain, a powerful enzyme that plays an effective role in breaking down complex protein structures, improving the digestive process. In addition, according to a study by the University of Michigan (in the United States), this fruit increases the absorption of nutrients from foods rich in protein.

The apple contains pectin, a type of fiber that promotes digestion and helps regulate intestinal transit. In addition, scientific studies classify it as an excellent option to reduce high cholesterol and blood sugar levels. A very easy way to consume it is to use it as an ingredient to make smoothies along with other nutritious foods.

The enzymes contained in yogurt make it a great option to improve intestinal health. Some yogurts also contain probiotics, which are live microorganisms and contribute to preserving the health of the intestinal flora, so check carefully if they indicate it on the food label.

Olive oil may have some effects to favor the digestive tract, since it encourages the production of peptides (molecules involved in the digestive process), reduces gastroesophageal reflux, supports the functions of the pancreas and can help the stomach contents to slowly and gradually release the intestine, which would increase the feeling of satiety.

Artichoke contains cinnarin, a bile-stimulating substance that relieves liver function and is also a natural diuretic.

This plant has been traditionally used for the treatment of stomach ulcers and other diseases of the digestive system for its content of vitamin U, which strengthens the stomach lining and increases its resistance. It also contains vitamins K, C, A and vitamins of group B, such as thiamine or riboflavin.