Tips For Those With Stomach Issues From Dr. Catherine Shanahan

One of the things almost everybody, especially athletes, has to deal with is issues with digestion - whether it is constipation, bloating, or what have you. Family Physician/Health Expert Dr. Cate Shanahan has some interesting tips on this topic that I want to share because I believe they do help.
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1. Use a probiotic each day, whether that be yogurt (which is my choice), kombucha, kimchi, etc. These populate your gut with good bacteria that help your digestive system (Ben Greenfield Fitness Podcast - 4 Ways to Eat Yourself Beautiful with Dr. Cate Shanahan).
2. Eat something acidic, like a fermented pickle or half a teaspoon of vinegar before eating a meal that you know gives you indigestion or bloating (Deep Nutrition, page 411).
3. Make sure to drink plenty of water and have plenty of fiber in your diet from things like vegetables and nuts. If you do that but still have issues with constipation, try consuming 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed mixed in hot water (Deep Nutrition, page 408).

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I know this is a short post but these are not your usual tips. Personally, the first tip I do believe has helped me a lot. I make sure to start my day with at least a cup of yogurt and have noticed vast improvements with my digestive system. Obviously, having enough water and vegetables in your diet are likely the things that will benefit your gut the most. So, before you think you found a simple fix, you may find more helpful tips on how much water and vegetables you should be including in your diet in my other blog post, 4 Easily Implementable Tips From Health and Fitness Experts.