Foods That Can Be Digestive Medicine – The digestive system is one of the most important body systems and must be taken care of properly. It turns out that there are some drugs that come from food that can be digestive drugs.
However, there are also what are referred to as prebiotics. Slightly different from probiotics, prebiotics are a form of dietary fiber that feeds the good bacteria in the digestive tract. Both prebiotics and probiotics have the same goal, which is to support our digestive health.
There are several types of natural prebiotics that can be found easily around us. What are those? Check out the following reviews.
1. Onions
Onions are a versatile vegetable that has a variety of health benefits. According to a 2015 report in the journal Carbohydrate Polymers, onions are known to be rich in inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS).
According to another report in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition in 2018, there are several benefits of FOS contained in onions. Among these are strengthening the flora in the gut, helping the breakdown of fats, and boosting the immune system by increasing the production of nitric oxide in cells.
2. Garlic
Garlic is known as a food that has anti-inflammatory properties. On the other hand, this one food also contains prebiotics.
Based on research published in the journal Food Science and Human Wellness in 2013, several prebiotic substances in garlic were found to stimulate the growth of beneficial Bifidobacteria from the human fecal microflora. In addition, garlic is efficacious in preventing several gastrointestinal diseases.
Also Read : Know the Factors That Cause Diarrhea
3. Green bananas (unripe bananas)
The content of carbohydrates that cannot be broken down by intestinal enzymes can act as food for the good bacteria in the intestine. The substance that cannot be broken down is FOS, a group of fructose molecules that nourish the Bifidobacteria in the gut.
Not only that, when bananas are still green, their role is as a source of resistant starch (another form of prebiotic). A study in the journal Anaerobe found that women who consumed it twice a day as a pre-meal snack for 60 days experienced an increase in the levels of good bacteria in their gut, as well as a 50 percent reduction in flatulence.
4. Apple
Although not a source of prebiotics, apples are included in this list because they contain pectin. Pectin is a natural fruit fiber found in apple skins, according to research in the journal Anaerobe. This substance can support the growth of beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus).
Apples can also help build better gut health thanks to their inulin and FOS content. Not to forget, the antioxidant content can lower cholesterol and protect our bodies from metabolic syndrome disorders, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular disease.…