Healthier lifestyle choices including consuming a well balanced diet full of whole foods and many greens can help to improve digestion, this can be boosted by adding flavorful spices that provide incremental digestive support.
Spices and herbs have been used throughout history as digestive stimulants. Studies have shown that there are many spices which can stimulate the liver, resulting in secreting bile that has a higher percentage of acids which are important for fat digestions and absorption.
There are a variety of spices that have also been found to stimulate activities of pancreatic lipase, protease, and amylase which are enzymes that help to support and promote a more efficient digestive system.
Food transit time in the gastrointestinal tract may also be improved with spices. Slower GI tracts allows time for more water to be absorbed out of digested food that can result in constipation; the longer digested food is allowed to sit in the system before being eliminated the more prone it becomes to being preyed upon by unhealthy bacterias. Some spices can even help to prevent gas and bloating with their carminative properties that help to reduce bloating and flatulence.
Ginger is part of the Zingiberaceae botanical family and it contains phenolic compounds which have been shown to help relieve gastrointestinal irritations, and stimulate saliva and bile production. Ginger has been demonstrated to enhance intestinal lipase activity in animal studies. Intestinal contractions are reduced via relaxing intestinal muscles and allowing digested food to pass with more ease, the reduce cramping within the stomach and bowels may even help with menstrual cramping. Ginger works wonders with helping to reduce gas, bloating, and other gastrointestinal distress such as nauseas due to chemotherapy and morning sickness without making you sleepy.
Coriander seeds which yield cilantro, just as ginger, have been used for literally thousand of year to aid with digestion. Coriander helps relieve gas with its carminative properties, and is known to also have antispasmodic and stomachic properties that can help to calm intestinal spasms that lead to diarrhea which can settle indigestion and may help with irritable bowel syndrome. Cilantro is a great source of phytochemicals that are antioxidants which can help lower blood sugar, and has been shown to be a heavy metal detoxifier helping to suppress lead accumulation.
Cardamom belonging to the Zingiberaceae botanical family is very helpful for digestion and has been used for centuries in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines, science also backs up its actions of carminative and antispasmodic properties that help to relieve gas, bloating, and slowing the rate of stomach muscle cramping. It also stimulates the appetite while easing nausea, gas, indigestion, and cramping. Cardamom also kills off food borne bacteria in the digestive tract helping to protect against food poisoning and gastric distress. Limonene compounds found within it are known to help dissolve cholesterol containing gallstones, relieve heartburn, and gastroesophageal reflux. It is a good source for antioxidant benefits, source of minerals, and works well as a diuretic that can help reduce bloating, swelling, edema, and water retention.
Fennel seeds are another good source of carminative properties often use as an after meal digestive aid with antispasmodic properties that can stimulate production of gastric juices. It is a rich source of dietary fiber and consists of metabolically inert insoluble fiber helping to increase the bulk of food consumed as it passes through the digestive system easing constipation problems and promotion protection of the colon. It also contains are variety of antioxidants including quercetin that may offer some protection from aging disease and some cancers.
Turmeric also comes from the Zingiberaceae botanical family aids in digestion while soothing the digestive tract. This well known and used analgesic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial spice has been found to help relieve heartburn, reduce stomach pain, reduce flatulence, helps to fight off foreign invaders, repair damage, boosts the immune system, balances hormones, promotes proper digestion, and much more.
Garlic has a huge and well deserved reputation with many beneficial uses. Daily use of garlic aids in eliminating any digestive problems, assisting with normal functioning of the intestines, and any swelling or irritation of the gastric canal, aiding in digestion by destroying harmful bacteria while not harming useful organisms. Garic acts as a detoxifier eliminating negative bacteria while aiding in digestion and enhancing proper functions of the digestive tract among its other long list of impressive benefits.
Lemon Balm is great for a variety of digestive problems such as upset stomach, bloating, intestinal gas, colic, vomiting, nausea, menstrual cramps, and flatulence. Lemon Balm can help to aid in a variety of functional gastrointestinal complaints with its ability to relax smooth muscle that can relax, relieve gas, stimulate bile production, assist with liver and gall bladder problems. Lemon Balm is an antibacterial, antioxidant, antispasmodic, antiviral, carminative, diaphoretic, and digestive aid among its long list of beneficial properties.
Cinnamon Bark is warming and may be useful to help remedy sluggish digestion, loss of appetite, dyspeptic complaints, bloating, and flatulence.
Cumin helps digestion and is great for heartburn. Fenugreek is a natural digestive helping to flush toxins from the body. There are many functional spices that not only spice of foods but aid in health and digestion. Any reputable herb and spice shop will be able to provide assistance with research efforts. It is best to store spices in clean airtight containers away from heat and light, some that spoil quickly may even do better in the fridge.
Eating healthy does not mean that you have to eat bland foods, go wild, eat the rainbow, experiment with spices and find some new tastes that may help your tummy and health in more than one way. Enjoy.
