Poor gut health is at times the root cause of many diseases be it physical or psychological. There are many reasons why our digestive health suffers from seasonal change, travelling, work stress to faulty lifestyle choices. Many gut issues could be resolved with easy remedies.

Ginger

What it does: Ginger has long been touted as a natural remedy for seasickness. Turns out, it really does do wonders for tummy issues. Ginger has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help decrease the excessive stomach acids that can cause nausea and indigestion. How to get the benefits: Suck ginger lozenges or use fresh ginger directly from your pantry, adding the spice to meals you’re making. You can also sip ginger tea. This is particularly beneficial for morning sickness during pregnancy. To make it, peel and slice two inches of fresh ginger root and add it to a pot of water. Bring that to a boil for 10 minutes and then strain. Wait until it’s reached room temperature to enjoy.

Chamomile

What it does: Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory that helps relax the muscles in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and decrease GI contractions caused by an upset stomach. How to get the benefits: Sip it as a warm tea, and you’ll get double the benefits. The heat will provide added benefit by further relaxing painful stomach cramps.

Rice

What it does:  When you’ve got a case of diarrhea, cook up some rice. That diarrhea is caused by bacteria releasing toxins, which increases fluid in the GI tract. But because rice is a bulking agent, it can help absorb some of the fluid in the gut and decrease the amount of loose stools.

How to get the benefits: Eat half a cup of rice with meals to alleviate some of your discomfort.

Intermittent fasting

What it does:  Feeling a little bloated? Try intermittent fasting. Gut motility is the underlying issue for many people with bloating. Through fasting, you can optimize the motility of your small bowel.

How to get the benefits: Try doing a 16:8 cycle (where you fast for 16 hours and eat during an eight-hour window) for just a few days.

Bananas

What it does: Credit banana’s magnesium and potassium content for helping relax muscle spasms and cramps. Bananas can also help curb diarrhea. How to get the benefits: Fortunately, you don’t need to eat a whole bushel of bananas. Just nosh your normal amount whenever you’re experiencing these symptoms.

Yoga

What it does: If you’ve got trapped gas—and thus bloating and constipation—yoga could be a good salve. “Twisting poses are said to stimulate the gut.

How to get the benefits: When your gut isn’t feeling so good, sit down and do 10 minutes of yoga poses, including half lord of the fishes pose, supine spinal twist, and revolved chair twist.

Kefir or Yogurt

What it does: The active cultures and probiotics in these two foods can help combat the bad gut bacteria which are often responsible for bloating, poor digestion and stomach pains by increasing the amount of available good bacteria in your gut.

How to get the benefits: When buying kefir or yogurt, avoid those with lots of additives and sweeteners. Instead, choose plain, unsweetened versions and consume a regular serving size, typically about a half cup, once or twice a day.