11 Best Ways to Improve Digestion Naturally (6 of 6)

Cut out Bad Habits

As with many things in the body, other habits can impact your digestive system. Smoking can almost double the risk of developing digestive problems like acid reflux. Smoking has also been shown to potentially cause stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, and gastrointestinal cancer. Drinking alcohol is also linked to heartburn, stomach ulcers, and acid reflux. Excessive alcohol consumption can also contribute to leaky gut and damage good gut bacteria.

Try Gut Specific Nutrients

There are all sorts of supplements and foods you can eat to specifically support the gut. Probiotics are good bacteria that improve digestion. Fermented foods like yogurt, miso and kimchi are other foods that contain probiotics to help support the gut. Glutamine is another supplement to incorporate that can help reduce intestinal permeability, or leaky gut. Zinc also helps to improve gut health, as a deficiency can cause digestive disorders too.