A healthy gut is central to a healthy life. Even with the best diet, you do not enjoy the benefits of all the nutrients if you do not have good digestion. Using herbs for digestive care is a great preventive measure from issues related to your digestive system. This can give you long term benefits by improving nutrient uptake and even eliminating unwanted toxins that have severely damaging effects on your cells and tissues.
Here is a list of 5 herbs that you can include in your diet for a healthy digestive system.
Top 5 Herbs for Digestive Care
Here are some of the best herbs for digestive care that have been used in traditional remedies to keep your gut healthy:
1. Cinnamon
Cinnamon promotes a healthy stomach because of its antioxidant properties. It prevents any oxidative stress that can lead to chronic illnesses. Cinnamon also lowers the blood sugar level by slowing down carbohydrate breakdown in your intestines. There are some studies which also suggest that inflammation in the digestive system is reduced, improving its ability to process the food that you consume.
2. Turmeric
One of the most common ingredients in Indian cooking, turmeric is known for various benefits that it provides for overall health. This is one of the best herbs for digestive care because of its active compound, curcumin. Curcumin acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidizing agent. It keeps the level of free radicals in the body balanced and even prevents oxidative stress and damage to the cells. The anti-inflammatory property of this herb ensures a healthy digestive system because it improves the efficiency and prevents untimely and unwanted inflammation.
There are also several studies which show that the level of beneficial bacteria in your gut also increases when you use turmeric in your diet on a regular basis.
3. Rosemary
While this herb is used world-over as a flavouring ingredient, it is not quite common in Indian cooking. Unlike other greens, it may not be considered a superfood. But, the benefits that it offers makes it one of the best herbs for digestive care. Most importantly, the composition of the gut bacteria in your digestive tract is adjusted and improved, good food for digestion.
This also helps you maintain healthy body weight by boosting metabolism. The increase in gut bacteria composition helps digest and ferment the food that you consume effectively. This allows the nutrients to be released into the system to help you enjoy maximum benefits of your diet.
Rosemary also improves the functioning of your gallbladder and bile flow to keep a healthy stomach and maintain overall health at its best.
4. Cumin
Indian food is incomplete without a seasoning of cumin. Traditionally, cumin has been used among the most beneficial herbs for digestive care because of its unique properties. First, it improves the production of bile which boosts digestion instantly. It keeps the liver active and helps it contribute more to digestive care.
Cumin can also boost the production and activity of various digestive enzymes. Studies conducted on individuals with issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome showed that the consumption of cumin on a regular basis significantly reduced the symptoms of these conditions. Cumin is also known for its antioxidant properties which reduce oxidative stress to the digestive system. Inflammation in the digestive tract is also prevented with the anti-inflammatory properties of cumin, making it important for a healthy stomach.
5. Mint
These herbs for digestive care are also used in modern medicines that help fight acidity effectively. Mint is one of the most soothing ingredients, especially when it is brewed to make tea.
Studies conducted on individuals with painful symptoms of digestive issues showed that peppermint oil can reduce them effectively. It is also known to improve overall intestinal health even in individuals who suffer from these digestive issues.
Mint helps relax the muscles of your digestive system, allowing food to pass through without any restriction or hassles. This boosts digestion and absorption of nutrients. Mint also has the ability to ward off unwanted bacterial populations that can prevent you from enjoying a healthy digestive tract. This property of this herb is the primary reason for its use in dental health products as well.
Why Use Herbs For Digestive Care
Whether you prepare a tea, add these herbs to your food or consume supplements that contain herbs for digestive care, here are some reasons why they are important:
- With a busy lifestyle, people are unable to consume meals on time, leading to several digestive issues.
- A healthy stomach is compromised when the free radical build up in the body increases. This damages the cells and tissues of your digestive system, preventing optimal digestion.
- Inflammation in the digestive tract leads to issues like irritable bowel syndrome. This can be prevented by including these herbs in your diet.
- These herbs improve the level of healthy digestive tract bacteria. This improves the production of digestive enzymes and the fermentation of the food that you consume.
Precautions To Take When Using Herbs For Healthy Stomach
When using herbs for digestive care, there are some precautions that you should take:
- If you are consuming any medication, consult your doctor before using any herb. The plant compounds are extremely powerful and may interfere with the medication.
- It is best that you avoid including any herbs in your diet if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, unless recommended by your doctor.
- In case of a history of food allergies, you must be careful when you include any potent ingredients in your regular diet.
- If you plan to consume any supplements for a healthy stomach, make sure that you check for other allergens like soy, dairy or fish that can lead to issues.
Herbs are extremely safe to use if you take the above-mentioned precautions. The best way to use them is to add them to your regular food in the form of seasoning or tempering. You can even use them in your salads or smoothies.
