February 28, 2017 · Written by Foodtolive Team
6 Foods Every Vegan Should Eat for Better Digestion
The health of your digestive system has a huge impact on your wellbeing as a whole. Studies prove that a bacterial imbalance in the gut can compromise the function of nervous and immune systems. By extension, these issues would affect other areas of your body. If you are sticking to a plant-based diet only, you’ll need to plan your meals very carefully in order to ensure that you get enough elements necessary for maintaining digestive function. We’ll share the list of foods every vegan should eat to keep their gut healthy.
However, first of all, we’d like to highlight that there are some foods that are very bad for your digestion and health as a whole. In order for your ‘pro gut’ diet to be efficient, you must avoid these products. Otherwise, the damage caused by them would negate the results achieved by healthful products.
To prevent this problem, you should steer clear off:
- Processed foods
- Sugar
- Acidic foods (can be eaten in reasonable quantities by people with a healthy gut)
- Fizzy drinks
- Alcohol (allowed in moderate quantities)
Foods Every Vegan Should Eat for a Healthy Gut
Chia Seeds
Chia is the champion among foods that are good for digestion. The seeds are rich in fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and even essential omega 3 fats. Chia seeds are also good for weight loss and are believed to reduce inflammation.
As indigestion and many other gut conditions are caused or aggravated by inflammation, this food should become a must have ingredient in your meal plans. The best thing about these seeds is that you can use them in many delicious vegan recipes. They are also often included in detox programs.
Zucchini
This vegetable stands out due to its culinary versatility. The natural taste of zucchini is very mild, and the texture of the plant allows it to absorb other flavors extremely well. This makes zucchini a fantastic ingredient for a great number of dishes.
The best news is that this food is also very good for digestion because it contains huge amounts of fiber. Therefore, zucchini help keeps your intestines toned and your gut working as clockwork. The fiber also absorbs toxins while it moves through your body.
Bear in mind that the valuable nutrients offered by zucchini are contained in or immediately under the skin. It’s best not to peel them and you should try eating them fresh.
Fermented Foods
All foods every vegan should eat contain quite a bit of fiber. Which means they are good for digestion by default. However, this element isn’t the only thing necessary to keep your gut healthy. The most important thing you should worry about is the natural microflora of your intestines as it’s ‘good’ bacteria living inside them that actually digest your food.
Unfortunately, these microorganisms die easily (and they do so by the million) and repopulating them naturally may be impossible. Environmental pollution, poor diet, stress, and dozens of other factors affect these bacteria and may prevent them from restoring their normal number inside you.
This means that you must help your body repopulate your intestines with the ‘good’ microorganisms. Vegans can do this by taking specialized probiotic supplements and/or eating fermented foods, such as:
- Miso
- Kimchi
- Sauerkraut
- Sourdough bread
- Tempeh
Coconut Oil
This truly is one of the foods every vegan should eat as it’s positively brimming with antioxidants and valuable nutrients. This substance is also renowned for its potent antibacterial properties. This makes it a great helper in the fight against indigestion.
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Note that coconut oil also has the ability to stimulate the synthesis of digestive juices. Therefore, it helps your gut further by helping it process food faster.
Cumin Seeds
Cumin seeds are not merely a spice. They’ve been used by our ancestors for centuries before the modern medicine came along Cumin seeds benefits include anti-inflammatory properties and high nutritional value.
In regards to digestion, this food can help reduce bloating as well as speed up the production of stomach juices.
Mint
This fantastic herb makes for a delicious tea, addition to great cold drinks, or garnish for beautiful desserts. For centuries, it’s been revered for its ability to relieve stomachache.
Elements contained in mint leaves help reduce inflammation and overall soothe your digestive tract. People claim that the relief comes fast, and the drink itself is very pleasant to the taste.
Are There More Foods Every Vegan Should Eat for Better Digestion
Of course, these are only few of the products that can help improve your digestion. If you are a vegan and don’t poison yourself with processed foods, you have an advantage over omnivores.
The reason for this is that vegan diet is healthier by default. As it’s mostly based on fruits, vegetables, seeds, and legumes, the diet is exceptionally rich in gut-friendly fiber.
Just don’t forget to wash your fruits and veggies to prevent food poisoning and soak any legumes well before cooking.
