The state of your digestion can make or break your day, especially when you deal with chronic discomfort. Constant acid reflux, bloating, gas or nausea are things we don't want to deal with ever - much less daily. We can make a few routine shifts to leave our digestive systems feeling a lot more regulated, and it'll be worth your while to explore these and find what works best for you.

Eat whole foods

Swapping fast food for whole foods can make, what can be argued, the most significant change in our digestion. You are infusing your body with the essential vitamins and nutrients it requires with whole foods. These foods can help restore your health by just making this one switch.

Stay balanced

Keeping a good mixture of fats, fiber, and fluids in our diet can mean the difference between things running smoothly or not. Incorporating these will also help lower inflammation in the body and restore your digestion.

Be mindful

By lowering stress and living in the moment, we learn to slow down and listen to our bodies better. Take stock of your stress levels and incorporate a daily practice to help lower stress and anxiety in the body. One simple way you can do this is to make sure you exercise regularly, which can help rev up a sluggish digestive system.

Take your supplements

There are vitamins and supplements that we can add to our diet to support our digestive system. Treating things on the front end by being proactive is easier than treating on the back end once you are experiencing discomfort. My favorite option and the one I believe is essential is an excellent probiotic. Probiotics are full of healthy bacteria that can assist with healthy digestion. They break down indigestible fiber, which is typically responsible for gas or bloating. Ask your medical provider what supplements they suggest you may benefit from regarding digestive health.

And last, but certainly not least, zinc. This mineral is found in a healthy gut, but a deficiency can lead to various gastrointestinal disorders. If you're not one for taking pills, all of these things can be found in food, as well. And as always, check with your doctor to make sure these are the right course of action for you.

You don't have to have a chronic disorder like irritable bowel syndrome or Chrohn's disease to want to lessen irritating digestive symptoms. I know that no one wants to feel uncomfortable each time they eat -- it can impact the way we live our lives. By making a few simple swaps, we can drastically improve the way our body works, which leads to better health and wellbeing.

Featured