[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/09\/help-digestive-system-5-foods\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/09\/help-digestive-system-5-foods\/","headline":"Help Your Digestive System with These 5 Foods","name":"Help Your Digestive System with These 5 Foods","description":"Certain foods are better for digestion than others. Check out this list of the best foods for your digestive system to learn what will benefit you most.","datePublished":"2014-09-03","dateModified":"2018-09-17","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/digestive-disorders-regions","name":"Digestive Disorders","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/digestive-disorders-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/digestive-disorders\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/woman-eating-yogurt.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/woman-eating-yogurt.png","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/09\/help-digestive-system-5-foods\/","about":["Nutrition"],"wordCount":483,"keywords":["banana","chicken","colon cancer","digestive disorder","Digestive System","fiber","fish","fruit","ginger","irritable bowel disorder","irritable bowl syndrome","lean meat","motion sickness","nausea","probiotic","smoothies","steak","vomiting","whole grains","yogurt"],"articleBody":"Your digestive system is made up of a group of organs that process food, absorb nutrients, and rid the body of waste. And whether you are feeling under the weather, have a digestive disorder, or just want to eat something calm on the stomach,\u00a0specific foods help digestion more than others.Although we all have our favorite sweet and savory snacks, putting healthy, easily digestible foods into your body can help improve your overall health, while also making you look and feel better.Foods for Better DigestionBelow are a few foods that are good for digestion:BananasBananas are one of the best foods that help with digestion because the carbohydrates they contain are easily broken down. The fruit is gentle enough to be eaten if you are suffering from stomach ailments, like vomiting and diarrhea, and it restores lost electrolytes back into the body. Bananas are also a rich source of fructooligosaccharides, which act as a probiotic and promote the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract, which ultimately helps with digestion.GingerThis spice is another food good for the digestion system. It is commonly used to flavor many dishes and can also be used to treat stomach problems, such as\u00a0motion sickness, upset stomach, and nausea. It can be eaten in raw or powdered form, taken as a capsule, or used in beverages like ginger ale and tea.YogurtA common question asked is whether or not yogurt helps with digestion. \u00a0Yogurt contains probiotics\u00a0that can relieve conditions such as diarrhea,\u00a0irritable bowel syndrome, and even eczema in young children by balancing the levels of microorganisms in the intestines and reducing the level of harmful bacteria in the body. Check for \u201clive and active cultures\u201d on the label.Lean Meat and FishAlthough a thick, juicy steak is appealing for many, red meats can be significantly more difficult for your digestive system to process than lean meats, like chicken and\u00a0fish, because red meats tend to\u00a0contain more fat\u00a0that slows down digestion. Also, high-fat red meats have been associated with an increased\u00a0risk of colon cancer, unlike lean meats and fish.Whole GrainsWhole grains are packed with fiber, which helps to keep food moving through your digestive tract, decreasing the incidence of constipation and diarrhea, while helping the digestive system.By mixing the aforementioned foods into your diet, you can help your body get rid of unwanted waste while increasing the amount of healthy nutrients that your body needs to keep running. Nobody enjoys the aches and pains of stomach problems, so if you find yourself dealing with frequent issues related to digestion, try working some of these foods into your diet to improve your digestive system. Healthy foods can change your overall mood and there are plenty of ways to integrate them into meals so they taste good, too!RELATED:\u00a0Infographic: Comparing 3 Common Digestive Disorders"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2014","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"09","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/\/09\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Help Your Digestive System with These 5 Foods","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/09\/help-digestive-system-5-foods\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]