Our Top 10 Tips On How To Improve Digestive Health

It’s a huge influential factor on your gut health, and many aren’t aware of the extensive impact it has on your digestive health. 

Your gut’s microbiome is a microscopic ecosystem, populated by trillions of bacterial organisms. Some of these comprise the “good” bacteria that help you break down fiber. They also provide enzymes that are critical to digestion. 

To ensure you’re maintaining a healthy gut biome, it’s valuable and crucial to understand how to improve your digestive health. 

We’ll outline our top 10 tips on how to improve your digestive health, take the mystery out of probiotics and outline the surprising role that sleep has to play in your digestive health. 

With our comprehensive liver and digestive care, you’ll experience why area residents have trusted us as one of the region’s leading independent medical practices. We offer treatment that is both state-of-the-art and cost-effective. We handle everything from routine colonoscopies to complex procedures. To schedule an appointment or for more information, contact us.

Next, let’s take a look at our useful information on how to improve digestive health.

Our 10 Tips on How to Improve Your Digestive Health

1. Avoid Processed Foods

Eating whole foods will support a healthier biome. In addition, processed foods tend to cause your blood sugar to spike quickly, which can lead to other problems. 

We encourage you to select natural choices such as:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Legumes
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Whole grains

2. Increase Your Fiber Intake

Fiber works as a prebiotic for the “good” bacteria in your gut. Having a diet higher in fiber will also help you avoid some GI issues, such as constipation and diarrhea.  

3. Stay Hydrated by Drinking Plenty of Water

Stay hydrated, but remember to avoid sports drinks. Many of these are loaded with “hidden” sugars, and may have more calories than you realize. Water is always the best choice.

4. Avoid Excessive Snacking

Many snacks have processed ingredients, along with refined sugar additives. This can make it more difficult for those who may be gluten or lactose-intolerant. 

Of course, it’s easy to lose track of how much you are snacking. We recommend keeping a food journal so you’ll have a better idea of what you eat, how much and how this is affecting your digestion. 

5. Exercise Regularly

We delve into a bit more detail later on in this article, but the bottom line is your workout is not just good for your body and overall health, it is an essential part of improving your digestive health as well. 

6. Take Control of Stress

It should be no surprise that stress can affect your digestive health. How often has a miserable, hectic day caused stomach aches or gastrointestinal distress? 

When you’re stressed, adrenaline and cortisol course through your system, and consistent stress can make a huge negative impact on your gut health. 

7. Get Enough Sleep

You’ll learn more about the connection between your microbiome and your sleep cycle further down when we address some of the frequently asked questions we receive. But in short, you have to have enough sleep for healthy digestion.

8. Watch for Symptoms—and Schedule an Appointment with Us

Do you have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome? Have you experienced bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea? 

These are signs that something may be impacting your gut microbiome. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with us. 

9. Carefully Take Antibiotics When They Are Prescribed

First, an important note: Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections, not viruses. In many cases, viruses, like the common cold, simply have to “run their course,” and antibiotics won’t make you get better any faster if you have a virus.

That being said, it’s important to realize that antibiotics can disrupt the complicated system of your microbiome. The good news? Your microbiome is very resilient and can easily return to its normal state. 

Antibiotics save lives. You should always take them as prescribed. If you have concerns, we encourage you to speak with your doctor. 

10. Be Aware of Potential Food Intolerances

Bananas, gluten, lactose—these are some foods that can cause intolerance in some individuals, causing extensive gastrointestinal distress. If you’re having issues, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with us. 

Can Exercise Help Improve Digestive Health?

Yes, moderate to high intensity exercise can have a positive effect on your gut, just be sure to get around 150 to 270 minutes a week. 

Why does it work? Your workout actually increases the levels of butyrate, which helps reduce inflammation. Butyrate is a fatty acid that is instrumental to your colon health.

But consistency is the key: You’ll need to sustain this healthy workout for at least six weeks to make an impact on your gut microbiome. 

What Role Does Sleep Play in Digestive Health?

It’s no secret: Americans are tired.

According to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2025 Sleep in America® Poll:

• 6 out of every 10 adults don’t get enough sleep.
•  Nearly 4 in 10 adults have trouble falling asleep 3 or more nights per week.
• Almost ½ of adults have trouble staying asleep 3 or more nights per week.

Combine that with a flurry of activities and screentime overload, combined with the stress of everyday life, and you have a recipe for gut microbiome stress.

A solid seven to eight hours of sleep per night can improve gut health because the protein cycle of the bacteria is closely intertwined with circadian rhythms. Just as your body needs to “refuel” when you sleep, your gut needs to repair when you rest. Failure to do so could cause digestive issues that can cause inflammation and even alter your metabolism. 

Ways to Improve Digestive Health Through Your Diet

We mentioned this earlier in the article, but to recap, some of the ways your diet can help improve your gastric health include: 

• Getting plenty of soluble (dissolves in water) and insoluble fiber
• Focusing on lean meats
• Maintaining a diet rich in fruits, grains, legumes and vegetables (this can alter the composition of elements of your gut biome)

Are Prebiotics and Probiotics Beneficial for Digestion?

Yes, they are. While research is still ongoing to determine the extent that these synbiotics help your body, they do appear to assist with digestion.

• Probiotics, naturally found in food like yogurt, are actually living microorganisms. 
• Prebiotics are pieces of food that your body doesn’t digest but may be “eaten” by microorganisms, promoting the growth of good bacteria in your gut. 

While there is a wide variety of probiotic and prebiotic supplements on the market, remember that supplements aren’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Therefore, we encourage you to speak with us when you’re considering adding these supplements to your diet. We’ll provide the guidance you need to select the most beneficial ones for you. 

Want to Know More About How to Improve Your Digestive Health? We’ll Be Happy to Help You

At RMG Gastroenterology, we realize that your digestive well-being has a profound effect on almost every system in your body. By taking some proactive steps, you can help ensure that you’re living the healthiest life possible.

From our leading Centers of Excellence to our leading, board-certified gastroenterologists, all our services and health care professionals are focused on providing seamless, quality care that is compassionate, evidence-based and convenient. If you’re concerned about your digestive health, we encourage you to contact us for information on scheduling an appointment.