Healing my digestive system…

Many years ago I was diagnosed with IBS, gluten intolerance and in 2016 I had my gallbladder removed. As you can see, my digestive system and I were not very good buddies for a long time.

Removing my gallbladder was a sign that I needed to nurture and heal my relationship with my digestive system. Not a very sexy topic to speak about but if you have IBS, suffer from bloating and digestive discomfort you know how uncomfortable the pain can become.

Here are the steps I followed to healing my digestive system with food (Please take note that you need to see a specialist and dietician to support your road to recovery if medical treatment is required, these are foods that help me sustain a healthy digestive system after I seeked medical help).

 Probiotic

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health. Your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called “good” or “helpful” bacteria because they help keep your digestive system healthy. These are available at any pharmacy, Dischem and Clicks.

Apple cider vinegar tonic

To reduce gas and bloating, dilute a tablespoon of enzyme-rich apple cider vinegar with “The Mother”, pinch of freshly ground turmeric and ginger with a cup of water or organic unsweetened tea, and drink before a meal. This will also combat constipation, since the vinegar stimulates digestive juices that help your body breakdown food.

Personally I use the Braggs apple cider vinegar.

Healing foods for the digestive system

First rule of thumb is to Cook Your Vegetables.

Raw vegetables are aggressive on my digestive system so I try not to eat a lot of raw vegetables except for my lettuce and cucumber.

Roasted, grilled and stir fried vegetables helps the body easily break them down for optimal nutrient  absorption.

SWISS CHARD
Loaded with beta-carotene, iron and calcium these green gems help maintain the health of the digestive tract lining and help in smooth movement of the muscle fiber.
Sauté these in some coconut oil, onion,turmeric and sliced garlic.

SWEET POTATOES
These are the best for digestive problems.They are high in manganese. Personally I enjoy the orange flesh version.
Make a sweet potato and ginger soup or some roasted sweet potatoes sprinkled with coconut oil and cinnamon and orange zest.

BEETROOT
These are rich in fibre, potassium and magnesium which help to remove waste from the body.
Beetroots taste great roasted then dolloped with  coconut yogurt and orange zest.

FERMENTED FOODS

Fermenting foods preserves the food, and creates beneficial enzymes, b-vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and various strains of probiotics.

Here is a link to a site that provides in-depth information and recipes on fermented food for digestive health.

https://cultured.guru/blog/fermenting-vegetables

These are the focused ways I help heal my digestive system and it’s been working since November 2015.

Happy digestive health!