The digestive tract houses a significant 70% of the body's immune cells, making it crucial to maintain its health. This can be achieved by incorporating a variety of nutritious foods into your diet, especially herbs and spices known for their gut-improving properties. Here are some of them.
Licorice Root
Licorice root is an adaptogenic herb that helps balance cortisol levels and improve stomach acid production. It is particularly beneficial for those experiencing symptoms of leaky gut, which stress often triggers and worsens. It aids in maintaining the stomach and duodenum's mucosal lining, and its glycyrrhizic acid content accelerates the healing of gastric ulcers. Health professionals recommend it for mitigation of laxative side effects.
Ginger
Ginger has been a renowned remedy for various digestive issues for centuries, thanks to its zingerones and gingerols with anti-inflammatory properties. Skin issues like acne, eczema, and psoriasis may indicate inflammation in your digestive tract, which ginger can help alleviate. Its fiber content also serves as a prebiotic that promotes the growth of gut-friendly bacteria.
Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle can alleviate numerous digestive problems, including flatulence, constipation, bloating, stomach cramps, and indigestion. It's famous for enhancing bile circulation, repairing cell damage, and reducing liver inflammation, all contributing to improved digestive health. Milk thistle also softens and moisturizes mucous membranes due to its demulcent properties, healing intestinal inflammation and soothing the digestive system.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a controversial herb for digestive health. Its antispasmodic and relaxant properties can relieve gastrointestinal cramps and spasms, allowing painful digestive gas to pass. It stimulates the gallbladder to release bile needed for fat digestion. It's also known to improve bile flow to the liver and detoxify it. However, it may worsen heartburn or GERD symptoms because it relaxes the sphincter muscle, allowing acid to reflux into the esophagus.
Cardamom
Cardamom can help with heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, and intestinal spasming. Its aroma stimulates salivation and other sensory elements for easier digestion. It enhances enzyme secretion efficiency and is particularly helpful after heavy meals.
Coriander Seed
Coriander seeds, rich in aromatic flavors from essential volatile oils and fatty acids, have anti-flatulent and carminative effects that benefit digestive health. They're also a good dietary fiber source, with 100 grams containing 41.9 grams. This fiber adds bulk to the food, facilitating smoother bowel movements. It also combines with flavonoid antioxidants to prevent colon mucosa cancer development.
Cumin Seed
Cumin seeds contain thymol, a compound that stimulates glands for enhanced bile, acid, and enzyme production, thereby improving digestion. They're also high in fiber content, beneficial for those with hemorrhoids. Cumin seeds can prevent gas formation in the gastrointestinal tract and combat flatulence symptoms.
Incorporating these herbs and spices into your home-cooked meals is a natural and holistic approach to improving your digestive health. They're often used in both pharmaceutical and alternative medicine to help with digestive issues.
