There are few things as important to your overall health as a healthy gut and digestive system. Several holistic practitioners, including Dr. John Christopher, have found that the first step towards healing a variety of ailments is good digestive health and a healthy diet. Eating whole foods full of fiber and nutrients is one of the most important things we can do for our gut health. Below are several additional tips and recommendations to help you to properly care for your stomach.

Teas

Teas are a wonderful way to address gut health because they allow nutrients to be easily absorbed directly through the stomach. There are several teas that can ease and strengthen the stomach. Two of the most commonly used teas for digestive health are peppermint tea and ginger tea. 

Peppermint

Peppermint has been used as a digestive aid as long ago as in ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. It was understood to be a medicine effective for a wide variety of digestive issues, among other benefits. Native Americans also knew the soothing power of mint, making teas from wild mint leaves to help ease nausea, bloating, and stomach upset.

To make a cup of peppermint tea, you can steep pre-made tea bags in hot water or you can use loose-leaf peppermint in a mesh tea ball, muslin tea bag, metal strainer, or even a French press. After a few minutes, you will have a delicious and soothing cup of tea.

Ginger

Ginger originates from Southeast Asia, and in addition to being a popular culinary flavor, has been valued since ancient times for its medicinal benefits. Ginger root can be used for a variety of ailments, from colds and flu to tissue inflammation. It has also long been used as an aid in reducing nausea and supporting healthy digestion.

To make ginger tea, you can slice fresh ginger and boil it in hot water for 5-10 minutes. You can also steep pre-made tea bags or dried ginger root in hot water. While many people enjoy the taste of ginger tea on its own, lemon and honey are popular additions because they reduce bitterness and complement the flavor of the ginger. Ginger can also be ingested in capsules or as an extract.

In addition to plain ginger and peppermint tea, we recommend these blends to support digestion:

More Herbal Supplements

Aside from peppermint and ginger, there are several other plants and even fungi that can do wonders for your gut. Some popular and effective options include licorice root, slippery elm bark, fennel seed, and chaga and turkey tail mushrooms.

Licorice has been used medicinally as far back as ancient Egypt, and has been used for a variety of conditions. Because of its mucoadhesive and anti-inflammatory properties, it has been found to be a phenomenal digestive aid. Similarly, slippery elm was used by Native Americans due to its ability to coat the lining of the digestive system and soothe inflammation.

In addition to the above benefits, fennel has the unique ability to relax the muscles of your digestive tract, helping ease stomach cramps, gas, and bloating.

Chaga and Turkey Tail approach digestive health in a different way. The mushrooms contain a wealth of prebiotic compounds which feed the healthy bacteria living in our guts, allowing them to flourish and aid in digestion.

There are several herbal formulas that combine the benefits of the above herbs and more. Some of our favorites are listed below:

Probiotic Supplements

One of the most important things we can do to foster healthy and efficient digestion is to support the community of microorganisms living and working in our stomachs. There are about 100 trillion of these good bacteria and yeasts living throughout your digestive tract in a diverse community of hundreds of different species, all of which contribute to your digestion and organ health. Probiotics are found naturally in fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, kombucha, and pickled vegetables, but you can also find probiotics in supplement form, such as in capsules or powders.

A probiotic supplement is a great way to introduce more of these helpful microorganisms into your body. A few of the most common bacterias and yeasts that are included in probiotic supplements include lactobactillus, bifidobacterium, and saccharomyces, all of which are known for boosting immunity and improving digestion.

Our favorite basic probiotic is Flora's Adult's Probiotic, which contains 17 billion cells of 6 adult-specific strains. Flora also offers the Advanced Adult's Probiotic, which is formulated with senior-specific strains, and the Children's and Toddler's Probiotic, which contain species ideal for children. 

Another great option is the Friendly Force Probiotic, which has the benefit of being shelf-stable and does not have to be refrigerated the way many probiotic supplements do.

For a stronger or more specific probiotic supplement, you may consider Flora's Super 8 Hi-Potency Probiotic, formulated for healthy yeast balance, or the Super Bifido Plus blend, formulated for maximum digestive benefits.

To amplify the effects of your probiotics, you may consider ingesting prebiotics along with them. Prebiotic supplements are related to probiotics, but are not the same: instead of introducing strains into your body, prebiotic supplements and foods are high in nutrients that support these microorganisms and allow them to more effectively grow and reproduce. A great shelf-stable supplement that contains both probiotics and prebiotic ingredients is Host Defense's MycoBotanicals Microbiome powder.

Conclusion

If you want to improve your overall health, it is important to provide your system with the right nutrients, and the best way to do so is by maintaining a healthy diet and taking good care of your digestive tract. Dr. Christopher believed all healing started by taking proper care of your gut, and many people have seen great results across all their body systems after utilizing some of the supportive herbs, mushrooms, and probiotic supplements outlined above. By incorporating herbs and supplements that soothe irritation and inflammation, assist in digestion, and support your gut's microbiome, you can bring your body one step closer to optimal health.