Which Vegetables Are Good For Digestion?

Here are some vegetables that help with digestion (Image via unsplash/Mockup Graphics)
Here are some vegetables that help with digestion (Image via unsplash/Mockup Graphics)

Vegetables are the crux of most diets, and are often a key component of the body's digestive process. Digestion is an important part of your body's ability to absorb nutrients, and it can be boosted by adding certain foods to your diet.

The right vegetables can help aid digestion, as long as they are cooked properly so that they retain their fiber content.


Best Vegetables For Digestion

Broccoli

Broccoli is a good source of vitamins A and C, calcium, potassium, and folate. It is also rich in fiber and water.

Many people do not know that broccoli is packed with fiber (one cup has four grams) and is high in water content (about 91%). Thus, broccoli helps your body move waste through the digestive tract more efficiently. It can help prevent constipation by keeping your stool soft so that it passes easily through your large intestine.

Broccoli contains sulforaphane, a compound that has anti-inflammatory properties when taken as part of your overall diet. Vegetables with this compound also play a role in reducing your risk of colon cancer by stimulating the production of detoxification enzymes.


Carrot

Carrots are rich in fiber, water, and vitamin A. They are also a great source of antioxidants. This makes them beneficial for your digestive system as well as your skin and eyes.

When choosing carrots, look for ones that are firm (but not hard) to the touch and have a fresh-looking green top growing out of the middle. Avoid vegetables with cracks or signs of decay on their surface.


Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a cruciferous plant, meaning that it comes from the same family as other vegetables like broccoli, kale, and cabbage. It is extremely high in fiber, making it an excellent choice if you are trying to lose weight or change your diet for other health reasons.

Cauliflower also provides several vitamins and minerals that can benefit digestion, such as the following:

  • Vitamin C helps prevent inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and helps heal lesions caused by inflammatory diseases like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (which affects millions each year).
  • Folate can help boost mood and improve sleep quality; folate deficiency has been linked to irritability or depression in some cases.
  • Potassium helps regulate blood pressure levels; potassium deficiency has been linked with nausea during pregnancy and poor kidney function later on in life.

Ginger

Ginger is a root that has a spicy, pungent flavor. It is used in many cuisines around the world, from Asian to Middle Eastern. In addition to its use as a cooking ingredient, ginger also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Ginger contains high amounts of antioxidants and can reduce inflammation in the body by inhibiting inflammatory enzymes and blocking pro-inflammatory mediators like prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Some research suggests it may help lower blood sugar levels, which could be beneficial for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes.

In one study involving 30 men with heart disease who were given either powdered ginger extract or placebo capsules every day for six weeks, those who took ginger had significant improvements in their markers of cardiovascular health compared to those who had the placebo.


Celery

Celery is an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is also a good source of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure, as well as vitamin K - a nutrient that helps promote healthy bones and blood clotting.

The crunchy fibers in celery can help you feel fuller more quickly after eating a meal, making you less likely to overeat later on in the day.


Spinach

Spinach is a great vegetable to eat for digestion because it contains a lot of fiber. The leafy vegetable is also high in vitamin K, which helps with blood clotting, vitamin C, which promotes healthy skin and bone health, and vitamin A (known as the eye vitamin), which aids eye health.

Fiber is a carbohydrate that your body cannot digest, so eating fiber-rich vegetables inadvertently stop you from overeating by making you feel full. Fiber can also help lower cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure, which lowers the risk of heart disease.

This list of vegetables is a great place to start if you want to improve your digestion. They are rich in fiber and water, plus contain little fat. Such foods keep the digestive system healthy by keeping the waste matter moving.

Some people find that in addition to vegetables, adding one or two servings of fruits per day also helps them feel better overall.

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Edited by Saman
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