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Global Cuisines That Can Boost Your Digestion

Written by Jillian Lai Mei Siew on Tue, 01 August 2023

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Sticking to your diet and eating healthy can get utterly boring sometimes. But this needn't be the reason for you to fall off the wagon and make unhealthy food choices. There are numerous lip-smacking and  healthy foods good for digestion from around the world that you can try to recreate in your own kitchen!

These dishes will entertain your taste buds, fulfil your soul and even keep your digestive health in check! Some even consider these foods to be the best food for digestion problems, help you say no to added sugar intake for better digestive and liver health.

So let's take a look at these global cuisines and how they help our digestion.

Thai Cuisine

Thai cuisine is light and delightful with a mild base of coconut milk that is easy to digest. Fresh ingredients used in Thai cuisine add therapeutic elements to food. Lemongrass, kaffir lime, and galangal are rich in antioxidants and aid in the digestion of food. They are excellent anti-inflammatory agents. Not to miss the Thai paste that goes into these curries which are specially made by using fresh ingredients like garlic, shallots, and chillies: these ingredients are high in nutrients and in components that boost digestive health. A simple nutritious diet with these ingredients is usually considered to be the best diet for gut health.

Greek Cuisine

Greece has been praised for its healthy eating habits and fresh cuisine. The food consists of fresh vegetables like bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and any fresh produce that might be at hand along with fresh fish. Meals consumed are high in natural fibres and protein. Fish is high in omega 3 fatty acids and easy to digest. The salads are dressed in olive oil. It lines the inner lining of the gut keeping ailments like constipation at bay. Greek cuisine is full of foods good for the digestive system!

Japanese Cuisine

The secret to longer lifespans in Japan might lie with their food and eating habits. Japanese cuisine is full of light and protein-packed meals. Thinly sliced raw fish along with vegetables, white rice and soup is a staple in Japan. These meals are highly nutritious and also easy on the digestive tract. Japanese cuisine also includes soya in their diet which is high in both fibre and protein. Fermented Japanese sauces increase the good bacteria in the gut which makes them a hit when it comes to digestive health. Kombucha is also one such fermented food that has probiotic abilities. Beverages in Japan such as green tea, matcha tea, etc. are high in antioxidants making them one of the best foods for gut health and digestion.

Mexican cuisine

Red beans are used widely in Mexican cuisine. Beans are an excellent source of protein and energy. Mexican cuisine involves cooking curries with fresh garlic, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos which are an excellent source of antioxidants and fibre. Spices like cumin, clove, cinnamon, red chilli powder, and oregano that are frequently used in Mexican cuisine are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant in nature. These are completely balanced meals booming with flavours! Mexican curries have minimum ingredients, maximum flavours, and come with ample health benefits. Sounds perfect!

Vietnamese cuisine

Vietnamese cuisine consists of rice noodles, broth, herbs, meat, and vegetables. The rice noodles are light and easy to digest. Fresh vegetables act as a good source of fibre and nutrients. The broth is flavoured with star anise, clove, cinnamon, fennel, black cardamom, charred ginger and garlic, making it full of antioxidants and flavonoids! These spices are also antibacterial in nature. Additions like lime, bean sprouts, cilantro, etc. add vitamin and fibre value to Vietnamese cuisine. This is food that doesn't compromise on any aspect of being healthy and tasty!

Indian cuisine

The popular Indian cuisine is usually too spicy for the western world. Spices such as cumin, fenugreek seeds, bay leaf, coriander seeds, clove, green cardamom, black cardamom, star anise, fennel, black pepper, nutmeg, asafoetida, carom, mustard seeds, etc are used regularly in Indian cuisine. These spices are high in antioxidants, flavonoids, and anti-inflammatory agents. Turmeric powder used is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant in nature. Curry leaves, mint leaves, dill, coriander leaves, used as garnish are great carminatives that aid in digestion. These spices are known to have innumerable health benefits.

Egyptian Cuisine

Chickpeas and fava beans are used extensively in Egyptian cuisines. These ingredients are high in fibre and proteins. They are easy to digest and are packed with energy. Samna which is Egyptian-style clarified butter is a healthy fat that protects the inner lining of the gut. Lentils are used which are nutritionally excellent and are known to keep the digestive tract healthy.

Eating well and eating proportionately is an art we all need to master. With these authentic diet and healthy food recipes from across the globe, we can try to have fun with our food while keeping our digestive health in check. Try out these foods that boost digestion. Happy eating!

Read more : Here's Why Oral Health Is Important And How It Is Linked To Digestion

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Jillian Lai Mei Siew

As the Product Consultant Manager of Mega BiO-LiFE, Jillian Lai Mei Siew, has the role of providing a productive team spirit among all Product Consultants to equip them with the right health nutritional information. Jillian is a BSc in Nutrition and Community Health, and a MSc in Nutritional Sciences an from Universiti Putra Malaysia. Affiliated to the Professional Affiliation Languages & Dialects Nutrition Society of Malaysia, NSM, Jillian can speak English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien and Malay.

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Our team of experts frequently monitors developments in the health and wellness field, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Aug, 01 2023

Written By

Jillian Lai Mei Siew