Digestion Problems? Here's What To Keep An Eye On.
Digestion issues. We’ve all been there. From bloating and cramping to full blown sprinting to the bathroom. Not having an optimal digestion system can leave you grumpy, frumpy and just straight up exhausted. Read on to see what nutrients you can keep an eye on to help your body digest your food with ease.
Fiber
Fiber helps regulate the body’s use of sugars, helping to keep hunger and blood sugar in check, hence why it’s touted to help with weight management and digestive health. Fiber is crucial for regular bowel movements, helping you feel full and for feeding your gut microbiome.
Make sure you’re getting enough fiber in your diet by tracking and then taking a look at either your Daily Report or your Nutrition Report in the app!
Water
Water helps move substances through the digestive tract smoothly and provides the base for digestive juices (saliva in the mouth – contains enzymes that get things started; lubricates the food to move more easily through the esophagus and into the stomach; gastric juices in the stomach contain acid to start breaking larger bits of food into smaller bits). It also helps form the mucous layer to protect the stomach from being digested by the acid produced there.
Tracking water in Cronometer is easy! Just search for water when you go to add a food. Your food entries can also contain water content so you don’t have to strictly rely on drinking H2O to hit your targets.
Vitamins & Minerals
Zinc, Selenium, Magnesium, Vitamin C and Vitamin E all support immunity and help maintain the digestive tract which controls nutrient absorption as well as prevents the invasion of harmful bacteria in our guts.
Check out the immune system Nutrition Score if you’re a Gold subscriber or just keep an eye on these nutrients in your Daily Report or your Nutrition Report in the app.
Protein
We know that protein is crucial for your muscles, but rarely do we think about the muscles of our digestive system. Protein is also needed for the muscular bits that move food into smaller pieces and push it through your intestines in rhythmic contractions.
Fat
Fat is an important macronutrient as it aids absorption of fat soluble nutrients like Vitamin E. Keep an eye on your fat intake in Cronometer – we even break down your intake into saturated, trans-fat, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated (omega-3 vs. omega-6).
Well, there you have it. A list of nutrients to keep an eye on if your bowel movements are irregular. If you’re looking for suggestions on what to eat to help you hit your targets in the above mentioned nutrients, try avocados or lentils which are both packed with fiber. Did you also know you can track your stool in Cronometer, which might help you identify food sensitivities or allergies.
