Top 11 Herbs and Spices to Help with Better Digestion
I don’t know about you, but I go through spells where whatever I eat doesn’t quite agree with me. It’s like my stomach isn’t quite working right or my digestive system has fallen out with it. After a little while, the problem goes away, but it made me curious if there was anything I could do to help it along. One of the solution to look at herbs and spices to help with better digestion – here’s what I found.
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Common digestive problems
According to the NHS, 40% of people have at least one symptom of a digestive problem at some time. common symptoms include abdominal pain, indigestion, heartburn and problems with constipation or its opposite number.
A lot of the time, the chief culprits for the problem are either something we have eaten, lifestyle problems or old-fashioned stress. There’s lots of things you can do to ease the symptoms from heartburn relief upwards but by looking at food, you can sometimes balance things out naturally. That’s because those medicines can upset your stomach as easily as help it!
Herbs and spices can help with better digestion naturally. They contain a lot of nutrients that can boost the immune system to fight off bugs or other problems. And they can help improve the digestive system to get processing easier. But which ones should you try to add to your diet if you are searching for better digestion?
Top herbs and spices
Lots of herbs and spices have good stuff that can help but here are 11 that are particularly noted to help with better digestion.
1. Cumin
Cumin is a well-known spice that has been used for over 5,000 years in cooking, originally in Egyptian and Mediterranean dishes. Cumin was first noticed as an anti-inflammatory but also that it helped with digestion. It was also a treatment for anaemia, often having been a symptom of the digestive system not working properly in the first place.
2. Fennel
Fennel is known as a carminative – this means a herb that helps better digestion by making the digestive system work more efficiently. It is rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese and a single portion can exceed the recommended daily amount for all of these. It also helps to reduce indigestion and bloating.
3. Ginger
Ginger is one of those spices that you just need to find a way to get into your diet. Ginger is a top spice for better digestion and also boosts the circulatory system. It has anti-emetic properties to help ease feelings of sickness and an upset stomach as well as clearing those nasty stomach cramps. It even helps with heartburn!
4. Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is something that sits in the category of wild plants or weeds in my head, so I was surprised to read how much beneficial stuff there is in it. It has been used for centuries to help with digestion and also to strengthen the liver. It is a good detox herb because it contains something called silymarin which neutralises toxins and boosts the liver. It is a little harder to get than some but you can find it in milk thistle tablets that you can take if you can’t find it in an edible form anywhere.
5. Peppermint
Peppermint has serious historical credentials for its ability to help with digestion. Back to Ancient Greek times it was known to help with the digestive system and was known to ease sluggish digestion, bloating and gas. It is also now known for soothing stomach ache and also to help with irritable bowel syndrome. One of the easiest ways to get it into your system is with herbal teas – there are loads of different ones but I’m quite a fan of Twining’s and they have a Pure Peppermint one with no added sugar and only made with natural ingredients.
6. Caraway
Caraway seeds look a lot like cumin seeds and are found growing wild across Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. They contain loads of vitamins and minerals as well as being an antioxidant. They are a source of dietary fibre which is something that lots of us (me included) could do with boosting – this helps carry all the toxic stuff through our system and out of it. Caraway seeds also help to settle the stomach and ease symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea and indigestion.
7. Dill
Dill seeds and leaves are both used for cooking and also for their medicinal benefits. They contain flavonoids, minerals and amino acids that make helpful for a number of things. For our purposes today, the oil in the dill is good for stimulating the digestive system and can help with bowel movements, so relieve constipation. It is also classed as a carminative and can help ease gas (always a good thing) as well as getting rid of hiccups!
8. Turmeric
Turmeric is big news at the moment because there are so many things that it can help with. It has long been used in India for its ability to settle the stomach and it is also an anti-inflammatory, so it can calm down the digestive system. You can take supplements, but I prefer a natural option where possible. Adding into dishes is a great option or you can go for a turmeric tea if you don’t like the taste of spicy food.
9. Coriander
Whether you know it as coriander or cilantro, this plant is a multi-purpose one with both the seeds and the leaves being used in loads of dishes. Coriander has been found to help ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. In Germany, it is actually an approved treatment for mild stomach upsets, gas problems and to stimulate the appetite. The oil from the herb is also a digestive stimulant.
10. Cayenne
Lots of people will tell you that spicy foods are bad for digestion, but all the science says the opposite. Cayenne is powered red chilli peppers and while it might make your mouth burn a bit, it also helps with better digestion. It can also boost circulation and heart action which in turn make digestion better.
11. Dandelions
Mention dandelions and most people think about the weed in the garden – yup, it’s the same thing. I first learned about dandelions and their benefits as a bird keeper because finches love them. And then I learned that it is also good for humans along with a number of other plants that we typically think of as weeds. Dandelion is rich in minerals including vitamin A, B and C, potassium and zinc and has been used since ancient times to help with digestive problems. It also reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver as well as killing leukaemia cells. Use it in a salad with other green leaves and add a little dressing to hide the slightly bitter taste.
Herbal helpers
These eleven herbs and spices show that there are lots of ways to help our bodies do their thing without resorting to medicine. Of course, if you are ever in doubt, you should always chat with a medical professional or check with someone about interactions with things like other medication.
Do you suffer from digestive problems? And have you found any common foods that help? Hit the comments and tell us your experience!
