The Best Gut Healthy Foods and Easy to Digest Recipes

If you love to eat but you have trouble digesting many of your favorite foods, it might be time to try a gut healthy meal plan. That’s why we’re sharing 7 gut healthy foods and easy to digest recipes that can help naturally improve uncomfortable digestive symptoms.

Sometimes it’s possible to ease certain chronic stomach conditions by eating more gut healthy foods. Symptoms from irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may be related to the foods you eat or at least aggravated by eating the wrong foods.

Probiotics and prebiotics are often recommended by dietitians for relief of many common digestive problems. Prebiotics are a type of fiber that feeds good bacteria in the gut. Probiotics are live microorganisms that help fend off bad bacteria, reduce inflammation and boost your immune system so you’re better able to fight off infection. While it’s possible to find supplements that contain both of these, the quality and price varies greatly, which is why it’s usually best to try adding foods rich in probiotics and prebiotics to your diet instead.

So keep your gut balanced with our list of gut healthy foods and recipes that help improve the bacteria in your gut with simple and delicious meals.

Ready to start improving your digestive health? Here are 7 gut healthy foods to start adding to your daily meals:

1. Anti-inflammatory foods –fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans, lentils, whole grains, olive oil, avocados, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, tuna and mackerel.
2. Fiber-rich foods – all types of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
3. Foods rich in probiotics – fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, kombucha, tempeh, miso and sauerkraut.
4. Foods rich in prebiotics – garlic, onions, artichokes, bananas, pears, apples, raspberries, beans, lentils and whole grains.
5. Foods rich in L-glutamine – this amino acid supports gut function and can be found in lean proteins like chicken, turkey, fish, beef, pork, eggs, lentils and beans.
6. Foods in a rainbow of colors –red tomatoes and strawberries, orange carrots and cantaloupe, yellow peppers and squash, purple cabbage and plums, blueberries and dark leafy greens.
7. Hydrating food and drinks – water is best but other foods and drinks that help keep you hydrated are also good for your gut, such as cucumbers, watermelon and celery.

Now that you know what gut healthy foods help improve digestion, it’s time to get cooking! Our chefs and dietitians have created a gut healthy meal plan with this list of gut healthy recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. These good-for-your-gut recipes use natural ingredients that are high fiber and full of probiotic and prebiotic foods to improve gut health.

Start improving your digestive health today by making some of these easy recipes created with gut healthy foods. From breakfast to late night snacks, these simple dishes can fit into a gut healthy meal plan.

And remember: a healthy gut not only improves digestive symptoms, it can also help decrease your risk of other health issues, including inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, asthma and some cancers. Plus, a healthy gut can also lead to better mental health by improving your sleep and appetite.

So start improving your gut health by paying closer attention to what you put in your mouth. Your body will thank you!

Here are more helpful nutrition tips that encourage healthy eating and easy recipes you can make to improve your diet:

• How To Cut Out Sugar: 5 Simple Tips for a Low Sugar Diet
• How to Stop Binge Eating and Late Night Cravings
• 9 Mood Boosting Foods and Recipes

*No information provided by Health eCooks in any blog or recipe is a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical condition. Health eCooks strongly suggests that you use this information in consultation with your doctor or other health professional.