17 Easy to Digest Foods & 7 to Avoid: How Many do You Know?

There are a lot of ways to improve your digestion. To name a few, you can take special detox  supplements , practice yoga or cleanse your body with homemade detox waters.

But why not look at what you eat in the first place?

There are many reasons that we seek out foods that are easy to digest. Easy to digest foods help with reflux, indigestion, heartburn and many other digestive system issues.

Those who work out find that easy to digest foods are perfect for before and after their workout and this is particularly beneficial if you exercise in the mornings and cannot exercise on an empty stomach.

No matter what your reasons are, check out this ultimate list of easily digestible foods:

Easy to Digest Foods List

#1 – Rice

Rice is renowned as being one of the foods that is easy to digest, yet does help to keep you feeling full.

While both brown and white rice are good for digestion, white rice is best. Made up of the simplest of carbohydrates, white rice is very easy on the system. The grain in white rice is also great as it directly assists your digestive system in the processing of other foods.

#2 – Bananas

Bananas are one of the best foods for digestion and are also packed with healthy vitamins and minerals, so make a great snack option.

Although fruits are listed below, bananas deserve a special mention. The enzymes found in this fruit directly affect how the digestive system processes food. When a person is ill with a stomach virus, bananas are one of the top foods suggested while fighting the illness off.

#3 – Gelatin

Gelatin is another easy to digest food idea. You don't want to go eating too much of it if you are lookign to lose weight, but it does move through the digestive system well.

In addition to bananas, when you are ill it is common for your doctor to advise you to eat gelatin. Gelatin is soothing for your digestive system. It contains no fats, carbs or oils making it easy to simply slide through your tummy.

#4 – Toast with Butter

Homemade French Toast with Butter - This is a great morning food option if you struggle with digestive issue. The fiber helps with digestion and gets you off to a great start for the day.

When you have a tummy ache you have probably buttered up some toast at some point or another. This is because a nice slice of buttered toast is easy to digest. Like rice, toast is full of simple carbs that allow for easy digestion. Don’t forget though, low fat butter or margarine is the way to go to keep digestion easy!

#5 – Chicken

Chicken is a fantastic meal option if you tend to get bloated after dinner. It is a great source of protein and easily digestible.

Prepared properly, chicken is easy to digest. In other words, don’t fry it up and expect something good to happen other than your taste buds singing! The best way to digest chicken easily is to bake, broil or boil it. These ways allow this low fat food to digest easily while providing you with enzymes that are soothing to the stomach.

#6 – Yogurt

A small bowl of yogurt and wild berries gives you plenty of vitamins and it moves through the stomach and intestines with ease.

Yogurt is made from dairy that is cultured with good bacteria. Known as acidophilus, this bacteria is well-known for keeping a very healthy digestive system. In fact, there are several different brands that are made just for the promotion of healthy digestion.

#7 – Saltine Crackers

Saltine crackers on a plate on wooden table

This food is a simple carb that is also soothing to the stomach. It is also chock full of potassium and that is great for your body in general. While there are saltines without salt (makes no sense!) you want the ones that are salted for all the benefits.

#8 – Nuts

Fruit and nuts

Most all types of seeds and nuts are great for easy digestion. The reason for this is that these foods contain lots of Omega 3 fatty acids as well as natural types of oils that also give the digestive system a boost. Nuts and seeds are considered to be in the top 10 of easy to digest foods.

#9 – Apple Sauce

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Below is more information dealing with fruit, but apple sauce is in a category all its own as it is a fruit turned into a sauce. In their original form, apples take some time to digest due to the fiber count. However, in the form of sauce it is easily digested.

#10 – Sauerkraut

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Not everyone is a kraut lover but it is a great food for easy digestion. Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage. Fermented foods are easy to digest and provide you with good bacteria that also help with digestion. Kimchi is a similar food that is also great for easy digestion.

#11 – Salmon

Salmon with lemon and pepper

This delicious brain food is easy on the digestive system. Salmon is low in oil and fat making it easy to digest, and it is also highly recommended as part of a weight loss plan. Other fish, such as those that are white and flaky, are also excellent for digestion.

#12 – Eggs

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Eggs are well liked by the majority of people and this is a good thing since they are easy to digest, help you feel full for longer than other breakfast foods and provide you with the protein your body needs to make it through the day.

#13 – Oatmeal

oatmeal for digestion

Oatmeal is also an excellent breakfast food that keeps you fuller for longer. It is a healthy option that is full of fiber and easy on the digestive system. Adding easy to digest fruits to your oatmeal is a great way to add more flavor to your meal.

#14 – Avocado

avocado dry skin

Avocados are well-known for their health benefits as well as their deliciousness. They contain vitamins and healthy types of fats which make digestion easy. Mashing them up for guacamole makes them even easier to digest.

#15 – Turkey

Sliced turkey ham
Turkey is a lean meat that is considered very healthy in most cases and depending upon how it is prepared. Because it is so lean it is easy to digest in the same way chicken is. The same goes for lean ham but steer clear of beef as no matter how it is prepared it is not easily digestible.

#16 – Fruits

Freshly harvested grapefruit on wooden background
Many fruits are easy on the digestive system in addition to being good for you and a great way to stay hydrated. Some examples are melons, apricots, mangos, cranberries, peaches and nectarines. These foods contain enzymes that help boost the digestive powers.

#17 – Veggies

fresh carrots bunch
While raw vegetables are not good for digestion, cooked veggies most definitely are. Of course some are better than others. Some good examples are carrots, green beans, spinach, beets and asparagus. For an even better experience try steaming these foods!

Foods to Avoid for Digestive Issues

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  1. Raw vegetables and fruits
  2. Beef
  3. Greasy foods
  4. Surgery foods
  5. Spicy foods
  6. High fat foods
  7. Sodas, coffee, tea

All of the above items are difficult to digest due to high cal and high fat content. You don’t have to give them up altogether but consume in moderation for the best digestive results. If you do plan on eating a food that is harder to digest, balance things out by adding some foods or ingredients to your meal that are easier on your system.

Ninja tip: Fix that gut for a head start…

The foods you eat (or don’t eat), can play a major part in your digestive issues. If you have been eating the wrong foods for a long period, it might be good to give your system a complete reset. In this way, you can give you body a good start on it’s way to optimal intestinal health. Probiotics can help enormously with that!

What Probiotics Do for You

The intestinal flora is a collective term for all the bacteria that live in your intestine. In total there are about 100 trillion bacteria. These intestinal bacteria can be divided into useful and harmful bacteria.

The intestinal flora is a collective term for all the bacteria that live in your intestine. In total there are about 100 trillion bacteria. These intestinal bacteria can be divided into useful and harmful bacteria.

If you like to check product details, reviews and prices on probiotic supplements, click any product link below to see them in the relevant amazon store.

Good and Bad Bacteria: a Healthy Balance

In healthy intestines the beneficial and harmful bacteria are in balance. The inside of the intestinal wall is, in that case, completely covered with bacteria. Harmful bacteria can not multiply as a result, because there is not enough space and food for new bacteria.

Intestinal Imbalance

The intestinal flora may change however, due to, for example, disease, an infection, or treatment with drugs such as antibiotics. Antibiotics not only kill harmful bacteria, but also the beneficial bacteria. The intestinal equilibrium is then disturbed and creates voids in the intestinal wall. thereby giving the harmful intestinal bacteria a chance to multiply. When harmful bacteria prevail, we can become ill, and experience symptoms like dhiarrea and indigestion.

Probiotics: When to Take Them?

Probiotics are products containing large amounts of beneficial lactic acid bacteria. These bacteria, such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, survive the stomach acid and thus reach the colon. Much research has gone into the potentially beneficial effects of probiotics on various complaints and disorders. There is no evidence yet that probiotics have an effect in a healthy digestive system. However, it has been proven that probiotics can help with digestion problems.

Probiotic Pills or Yogurt?

Though you can also find lactic acid bacteria in yogurt and buttermilk, these won’t survive the acid in your stomach, and are not considered probiotics. There are however probiotic yogurt starter kits available, that contain a “stronger” type of probiotics.

Which Probiotics Do I Need for Better Digestion?

There are many different probiotics, and it is difficult to recommend a particular product, because each person has a unique flora. Therefore, probiotics can have different effects in humans. I can only go by my own experience and that of my network, and the Zenwise supplements have brought us many postive experiences:

Which is the best probiotic for digestive issues?

Digestive Enzymes Plus Prebiotics & Probiotics – Natural Gluten Free Support – For Better Digestion & Lactose Absorption

These have helped me with my indigestion, bloating and fatigue syndrom. You can find this specialized mix of probiotic strains here. Let me know how they turn out for you!

Last tips:

  • Eat 5 to 6 times a day small meals
  • Drink water after meals. Water slows digestion because the stomach juices to digest the food to be diluted
  • You might have an intolerance for certain types of foods. Find out which foods you do not tolerate. For example, eat vegetarian or avoid lactose for two weeks. Then see if it improves.

17 Easy to Digest Foods & 7 To Avoid

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