Digestive health is a popular concern for many Americans. It’s the root to many chronological diseases and slow metabolic rates. You may know the popular saying ‘you are what you eat’… and you only want to eat the good stuff. It all starts with digestion, and what you’re putting into your body.
The stomach is one of the major organs in our digestive tract. Its main function is to mix our foods and liquids with digestive juices and turn them into chyme. From there, it’s deposited into the small intestine where the nutrients are absorbed into the intestinal walls and then distributed to the necessary parts of the body. Then continued into the large intestine, where the majority of water is absorbed.
The herbs you’ll read about here are going to show you what makes them great attributes for digestive health.
Black Pepper
A common household spice and when fresh supports healthy digestion.
One of the benefits of black pepper is that it’s a circulatory stimulant. Which means it helps increase blood flow from tissues and organs.
My favorite benefit of black pepper is that it can increase bioavailability (a phrase I just recently learned from the book I have acquired much of my knowledge about herbalism). Bioavailability is a term that means how much nutrients your body can absorb. Fresh black pepper can increase the amount of nutrients your body takes in… increasing your body’s bioavailability.
So, black pepper works as a stimulant for blood circulation, it increases bioavailability, resulting in more nutrients for your body at a faster rate.
Ginger
Ginger is warming and one of the best herbs for digestion. Studies have shown it helps with bloating, gas, and constipation.
The common part used from the ginger plant is it’s root. Ginger root can be found in many of our local grocery stores. It can also be found as a powder in the spice isles.
Ginger is one of those spices that doesn’t linger too long in the stomach before passing onto the next stage. Which is great because it’s important your body moves things along, instead of letting things slow down or become stagnant. When things slow down, you’re metabolic rate can also slow down. So, ginger can help move things along and help your metabolism.
When consumed, ginger can act as an anti-inflammatory, pain relief for menstrual cramps and a stimulant for those with slow digestion. Just to name a few.
Peppermint
Along with being a natural pesticide for the home, peppermint is a great addition to our lives through aromatherapy and diet. Inhaling or consuming peppermint can help alleviate an upset stomach or nausea.
Many of our gastrointestinal issues can be relieved with this popular herb. One of the many popular ways it can be consumed is through peppermint tea, candies, chewies (ex. gum), etc. Although, peppermint can’t cure IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), studies have shown it can serve as an effective pain relief for pains associated with IBS.