A good diet is essential for great nutrition, but it’s also something we tend to take for granted. Pew Research reports that more Americans are concerned with healthy eating today, but not all of them are able to reach that goal. This could be due to a number of factors, such as access to healthy food or attitudes towards food.

If you’re concerned about your diet and health, it may be time to focus on specifics— namely, your gut. Maintaining your digestive health is important for the overall condition of your body. Your digestive system helps break down nutrients in your food, and boosts your overall immune system. If you aren’t sure you’re eating enough food good for your gut, then here are five things you can add into your diet to do just that.

Yogurt

If you want to boost your digestion and overall gut health, one of the fastest and easiest ways to do that is through eating fermented foods. In our previous article on ‘5 Reasons to Add Fermented Foods to your Family Meals’, we talked about some favourites, including sauerkraut, kombucha, and of course, yogurt.

Yogurt is a great addition to any diet because it’s easy to find and great for pairing with other foods. Natural and Greek yogurt varieties are especially helpful for building up healthy bacteria in your gut, and they taste great too!

Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass may not be the first thing you think of when you want to improve your gut health, but it’s actually a pretty powerful plant. Not only is it full of important minerals and nutrients, it’s also a great natural remedy for acid reflux.

Brightcore claims that wheatgrass powders are high in alkalinity and nutrient concentration which helps to detoxify your body and improve your digestive system. No more heartburn after meals— with wheatgrass, you can definitely rest easy.

Vegetables

When it comes to a healthy diet, including vegetables is pretty much par for the course. Vegetables and other plant-based foods are low in calories yet high in nutrients, making them foundational to healthy diets. But did you know that vegetables are great for improving your digestive health too?

Green leafy vegetables are especially good for your diet, because they tend to be high in magnesium. The Cleveland Clinic suggests greens like spinach, which can not only provide your body with necessary nutrients, but can also help relieve constipation. If that’s a concern for you and your household, it’s time to stock up on greens.

Prebiotics

Nutrition is a pretty complex process, one that involves a lot of chemicals and hidden functions in our bodies. While you’ll definitely see people recommending nutritious foods for healthier guts, it’s important not to miss out on feeding what does make our guts healthy— the good bacteria in our digestive systems.

These good bacteria feed on what’s called prebiotics, which are non-digestible starches and fiber. News Medical lists a few such as chicory root, onions, and oatmeal. While these shouldn’t make up the bulk of your household’s diet, they’re essential for maintaining the populations of good bacteria in your gut. Make sure to feed these bacteria every once in a while, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the nutrition you need, too.

Whole Grains

Fiber is pretty important in the digestive process, so we need to make sure that our families have enough of it. Not only does it play a crucial role in digestion, it also helps to lower cholesterol, improve digestion, and lessen the chances of constipation.

WebMD enumerates important high-fiber foods, including whole grains. Brown rice, millet, oatmeal, and even pasta are all great whole grain sources of fiber. Whole grain bread is another important source of fiber, and easy enough to switch out for sandwiches and other meals. For maintaining a healthy digestive system, fiber is one of your family’s best options.