Here's How Supplements Can Aid Better Digestion

The digestion system is perhaps the first bodily function that we learn about. Not surprising, given the vital role it plays in our good health. A good digestive health has a cumulative effect on the body, giving us strength, vitality, and even improving our mental well being. It is the reason why most of us strive to eat healthy. And yet, there are times when nothing we do seems to work. Some of us may still suffer from persistent indigestion, gas, or bloating.

The truth is that sometimes we all need a little help to course correct our digestive system or to keep it at an even keel. Fortunately, there are a number of supplements that can help you out when you find your digestive system acting up. You can pick from pills, effervescent tablets, dietary fiber, and other solutions.

Probiotics

Stacked full of beneficial live microorganisms, probiotics can help maintain our digestive system and improve immunity. Probiotics’ role in our digestive system is related to the microbial communities that exist in our gut. These communities are very critical to the digestive system and any disturbance is proven to increase our vulnerabilities to certain diseases, particularly related to our gastrointestinal system. Probiotics work by restoring the balance of microorganisms in our body, thereby restoring the gut microbiome.

Prebiotics also help the gut’s bacteria. They act as food for the bacteria, helping them grow. Unlike probiotics, however, prebiotics are carbs or dietary fiber that our body cannot digest and hence, moves on to the lower digestive tract or the colon. A 2018 study published in the journal Current Development in Nutrition attributed the beneficial effect of prebiotics on our digestive system to the fermentation pathways it provides in the colon. Together, both prebiotics and probiotics can help maintain our gut biome, ensuring that it stays healthy.

Wellbeing Nutrition Probiotic + Prebiotic contains a blend of clinically-proven probiotic cultures and prebiotic fibre. This includes 6 probiotic cultures with apple pomace and chicory root for prebiotic fibre. These are available in the form of effervescent tablets. To consume, add a tablet to a glass of water. You will get a glassful of soothing fizzy drink.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Among the many benefits of apple cider vinegar, from treating dandruff, losing weight, and improving heart health, the one benefit which seems to appear more often is its beneficial effect on our gut health. As we understand more about the gut and its role in our digestive system, we are also looking for natural substances that can boost its health.

Lab tests have shown that the antimicrobial properties in apple cider vinegar can be used to treat pathogenic forms of bacteria like E-coli. Its acidic properties can theoretically help regulate the acidity levels in people with low stomach acidity, thereby treating problems like bloating or gas.

Our Apple Cider Vinegar is raw, unpasteurised, unfiltered,  and made from organically-grown Himalayan apples. It contains twice the amount of live cultures when compared to most other such products in the market.

Ginger

Ginger has been part of our traditional medicine as an herbal remedy to treat a whole host of health conditions, including treating stomach ache and nausea. A 2019 study in the journal Food Science and Nutrition recommended 1500 mg daily dosage for treating nausea. However, it was inconclusive of its gastroprotective properties. To use, you can take a teaspoon of crushed ginger. If it is too strong, you can try ginger tea.  

Licorice

Licorice root has been traditionally used to treat indigestion and acid reflux. It was a popular herbal remedy in Indian, Egyptian, Assyrian, and Chinese cultures. Licorice extract was found to be more effective than placebo in a randomised, placebo-controlled study in relieving indigestion. The study also found that it was safe for human consumption. Another study found it effective in relieving symptoms of gastric irritation, including acid reflux.

Licorice root is also one of the ingredients in our Probiotic + Prebiotic effervescent tablets. The extract of licorice root is used as prebiotic dietary fiber. As explained above, these are available as effervescent tablets.

What is the meaning of  effervescent tablets?

To understand the meaning of effervescent tablets, think of fizzy drinks. These tablets contain a carbon dioxide agent. When added to water, it releases the carbon dioxide, giving you a fizzy drink that is full of goodness. Our effervescent tablets combine carefully selected plant-based ingredients, compressing it into a dense mass of the tablet. Designed to be completely water soluble, these ensure that the bioagents of the ingredients are completely dissolved in your drink.

References:

1. Health benefits of taking probiotics, Harvard Health Publishing, https://www.health.harvard.edu/vitamins-and-supplements/health-benefits-of-taking-probiotics
2. Effects of probiotics on gut microbiota: mechanisms of intestinal immunomodulation and neuromodulation; Peera Hemarajata and James Versalovic, Therapeutic advances in Gastroenterology, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3539293/  
3. Health Effects and Sources of Prebiotic Dietary Fiber, Justin L Carlson, Jennifer M Erickson, Beate B Lloyd, and Joanne L,  Current Development in Nutrition Slavin1https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6041804/
4. An Extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra (GutGard) Alleviates Symptoms of Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study, Kadur Ramamurthy Raveendra, Jayachandra, Venkatappa Srinivasa, Kadur Raveendra Sushma, Joseph Joshua Allan, Krishnagouda Shankargouda Goudar, Hebbani Nagarajappa Shivaprasad, Kudiganti Venkateshwarlu, Periasamy Geetharani, Gopalakrishna Sushma, and Amit Agarwal, Evidence based Complementary Alternative Medicine   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3123991/
5. Outcomes in patients with nonerosive reflux disease treated with a proton pump inhibitor and alginic acid ± glycyrrhetinic acid and anthocyanosides, Francesco Di Pierro, Mario Gatti, Giuliana Rapacioli, and Leandro Ivaldi, Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3615700/
6. Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression, Darshna Yagnik, Vlad Serafin, and Ajit J. Shah; Scientific Reports
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788933/
7. Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials, Mehrnaz Nikkhah Bodagh, Iradj Maleki, and Azita Hekmatdoostcorresponding author,  Food Science and Nutrition
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6341159/