We are back with another blog where we break down a number of different trending methods of boosting digestive health. With the rise of social media, we are seeing an overload of trends that many are claiming help with digestive health. It is important to research any trends or potential additions to your routine thoroughly before moving forward, because how that specific trend impacts one individual can be completely different than how it will impact you. Today, we are going to break down three different trends to better help you understand their benefits and how they work.
How the Greens Powders That Are Taking Over Social Media Impact Your Digestion
Have you come across a video where a person is claiming a greens powder has changed their life for the better? Well, you are not alone. A greens powder is a type of supplement that has gained popularity these past few months. Many are claiming that this form of supplement has helped them combat issues such as bloating, indigestion, stomach pain, and fatigue. Let’s break down what is in these greens powders and how they are potentially impacting a person’s health.
While ingredients vary from one powder to another, most forms of greens powders tend to contain ingredients such as dark-leafy vegetables, foods rich in antioxidants, herbs, vitamin supplements, and probiotics. All of these ingredients can greatly improve your health, especially if you are someone who struggles with incorporating vitamins and whole foods into your diet. However, these greens powders should not be considered a substitute for eating whole foods and incorporating vitamins into your diet. Rather, they simply should act as an extra boost to your diet. This is especially true, because when these foods are broken down into powder they lose nutritional content in the process rendering it less efficient than simply eating the foods whole.
This being said, the high nutritional value in some greens powders make it a great addition to your diet. The benefits of increasing your vitamin and mineral intake includes a rise in energy levels, better digestion, and a stronger immune system. Greens powder with ingredients such as probiotic supplements can be especially beneficial for your digestive health, but these benefits can also be obtained by taking a supplement that helps with bloating such as Probiotic Renu or increasing your intake of probiotic-rich foods.
When it comes down to it, the effectiveness of greens powders boosting your overall health depends on the ingredients within the powder of your choosing. Be sure to thoroughly research the ingredient list of whichever powder you are considering before purchasing. Some risks that come with taking a greens powder supplement include:
- Vitamin overload : Ingesting high levels of a certain vitamin can actually cause harm to your body. It is important to understand where your vitamin levels are at before incorporating any new vitamin supplements into your routine. Be sure to speak with your doctor to best decipher what vitamins would be beneficial to have in your greens powder, if any.
- Interaction with medications: Some vitamins also can adversely interact with a certain medication you might be taking. If you are on other medication, it is important to understand any interaction a new supplement might have with that vitamin before adding it to your routine.
Breaking Down Whether Liquid Chlorophyll Truly Minimizes Bloating
There is a rise of claims stating that the use of liquid chlorophyll can help to combat digestive issues, inflammation, and can help detoxify the body. Before we get into the validity of this statement, let us break down what liquid chlorophyll is.
Liquid chlorophyll is a form of chlorophyll that is curated by humans. The natural compound, chlorophyll, is broken down to produce the supplement form of liquid chlorophyll. Many are adding this substance to their waters to be ingested while others are taking it in the form of a supplement. Chlorophyll is a compound found in plants that help the plants to produce energy, however, there is little research on its benefits towards humans.
Due to the limited research behind liquid chlorophyll, the validity behind its benefits are also limited. While some might notice changes in their health after taking liquid chlorophyll there is no certain way to know if it is truly the chlorophyll that is helping to combat these issues. Liquid chlorophyll should not be used to magically try and combat a health issue such as digestive ailments or inflammation. Instead, try implementing healthy habits that are known to positively contribute to your overall health including eating a well-balanced diet, hydrating, exercising, and removing excess processed sugars/fats from your diet.
Liquid is relatively safe to consume, but due to the lack of research regarding its benefits it might not be worth your while to add to your routine.
The Benefits of Collagen for Your Digestive Health
Collagen is used for a host of different reasons, but recently people are emphasizing its benefits towards our digestive health. Collagen is one of the most important proteins within our bodies and it helps to maintain several aspects of our overall health.
Collagen actually contains two amino acids called glycine and glutamine that are known for their role in repairing and strengthening our gut lining. Amino acids are also incredibly helpful in reducing inflammation in our bodies, which is also known to be a damaging contributor to our digestive tract. Since collagen is helping to support a healthy gut its benefits can include increasing nutrient absorption, reducing inflammation, and consistent bowel movements.
Due to these benefits, collagen can be a great addition to your routine to help support a happy and healthy gastrointestinal system. Other benefits of collagen include boosting our skin’s health, protecting our bones and joints, and promoting hair/nail growth.
Some people do report digestive ailments when taking collagen supplements such as heartburn or nausea. If this is your experience, be sure to discontinue using collagen and speak with your health provider.
Be sure to also include vitamin C in your diet if you do choose to take a collagen supplement, because it is essential in helping your body properly synthesize the collagen. This will allow your body to reap the full benefits of collagen. Collagen can also be found in foods such as bone broth and the skin of animal products such as chicken or fish.