Want A Healthier Gut? Here’s How Much Water Doctors Say You Should Be Drinking
June 26, 2022 by Louise Ferrer
Dr. Jeff Gladd, M.D., chief medical officer at Fullscript, and integrative medicine physician authored this story.
Water is responsible for numerous critical bodily functions, and gut health is no exception. Drinking water, particularly before and during a meal, aids digestion by helping to break down the food you eat. During digestion, water is absorbed by the small intestines and helps transport nutrients to the rest of your body for use.
Fiber, a dietary component found in fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and other plant-based foods that helps promote digestive regularity, requires water to be properly digested. Water works together with insoluble fiber, a type of fiber found in wheat bran, whole wheat, and vegetables, to soften and add bulk to stools, reducing the time it takes for stool to move through your digestive tract. If you suffer from bouts of constipation, staying well hydrated and eating a variety of fiber-rich foods can help keep you regular.