Get Plenty of Fiber

The importance of fiber for healthy digestion is well known. Water is absorbed by soluble fiber, which helps give your stool more volume. A bulky stool is easier to pass, decreasing your chance of constipation, and helping maintain bowel health.

Oat bran, legumes, nuts, and seeds contain soluble fiber, while vegetables, whole grains, and wheat bran are excellent sources of insoluble fiber. A high-fiber diet has been associated with a lower risk of digestive disorders such as IBS, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, reflux, and ulcers. Another type of fiber that provides food for your good gut flora is prebiotics. It has been demonstrated that eating a lot of this fiber lowers the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases. A variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains also contain prebiotics.