In fact, a study conducted by the Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition (FDHN)– reveals that nearly half (46 percent) of Americans say minor digestive problems affect their day-to-day lives and prevent them from getting a full night’s sleep, going out to eat, exercising, participating in enjoyable activities or even socializing with friends.² When experiencing digestive health problems, 49% of sufferers say they don’t feel like themselves and 18% report that they become embarrassed.³

What can people do about improper digestion?

People can manage mild digestive discomfort just by making simple changes in their everyday lives, and Americans are paying more attention to their digestive health than ever before. In fact, more than 80 percent say they are currently consuming or would be interested in consuming foods or beverages for health and wellness benefits.⁴

How does someone know if they have optimal digestive health?

Optimal digestive health means the body is working properly to break down food and turn it into energy. A person with good digestive health usually weighs a normal amount and rarely experiences digestive problems like nausea, bloating, constipation, stomach pain, diarrhea, heartburn, gas or irregularity.

What guidelines should we follow to maintain digestive health?

While Americans may utilize the USDA MyPyramid to visually illustrate the types and relative portions of food they should eat from the various food groups, digestive health is not addressed in this eating plan. Digestive health requires supplementary and specific guidelines, and the WGO has released specific guidelines for consumers to follow, including incorporating fiber and probiotics into your diet and limiting greasy food, alcohol and caffeine.

Can digestive health be maintained simply through the foods we eat?

A healthy digestive system begins with your diet and making some basic changes recognizing that, not only to what you eat, but also to how you eat impacts your body’s digestive health. Here are the WGO’s ten tips for maintaining digestive health:

1. Eat small, frequent meals. To achieve optimal digestion, eat 4-5 small meals per day without increasing overall caloric intake.
2. Include foods rich in fiber. Fiber is important for the health of the digestive system and can be found in fresh fruits, raw vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, nuts, and beans
3. Consume fish 3-5 times per week. Fish contain omega 3 fatty acids that can improve digestive abnormalities by stabilizing cell walls, reducing inflammation and restoring balance
4. Reduce intake of fried, fattening foods. Cutting back on greasy, fried foods that are high in fat and hard to digest will reduces your stomach and intestines’ workload
5. Incorporate fermented dairy products into your diet. Certain probiotics, or the good bacteria that are found in dairy products like yogurt and cottage cheese, may improve intestinal function and overall digestive health
6. Select lean meats. Leaner cuts of meat – pork, chicken and turkey – contain less fat, which may reduce digestive discomfort.
7. Drink plenty of fluids. Fluids are needed to alleviate and prevent constipation and ease digestion of foods through the digestive tract. A good way to make sure you’re getting enough fluids is to drink a glass of water with every meal
8. Don’t rush eating. Eating slowly and chewing food properly encourages a “full” feeling, which prevents the overeating that can upset the digestive tract
9. Exercise regularly and abstain from smoking. While most people know that exercise offers overall health benefits, most people don’t know that it’s good for your digestive tract, too
10. Maintain a healthy body weight. A Body Mass Index that indicates obesity or unintentional weight loss may have a negative impact on digestive health

¹ NIH Report, Digestive Disease Statistics ;
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/statistics.htm

² Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition Survey, The Everyday Effects of Digestive Problems, May 2008

³ Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition Survey, The Everyday Effects of Digestive Problems, May 2008

⁴ IFIC Foundation, Food & Health Survey, 2007