No one likes to deal with digestive issues. On top of the general discomfort of gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation, it’s also important to remember that your gut health can impact nearly every other area of your overall wellness, too.
For these reasons and more, it’s important to make healthy digestion a priority—and one of the best ways to do that is by adding gut-healthy foods to your diet. Some of the best options out there are those that are rich in probiotics. Luckily, there’s one delicious breakfast food that also happens to be rich in this healthy bacteria: yogurt.
To learn more about how adding yogurt to your breakfast can help improve your gut health and promote better digestion, we spoke to nutritionist Krutika Nanavati. She told us all about the benefits of this probiotic-rich, protein-packed ingredient. Find her expert insight below!
Yogurt for digestion
For starters, it's helpful to know exactly what probiotics are. Essentially, as Nanavati describes them, they're "friendly bacteria that improve your health." Ensuring you work a good amount of probiotics into your meals is a great way to bring balance to your gut microbiome and prevent an overgrowth of bad bacteria, which can lead to a number of digestive issues.
"[Yogurt] is an excellent probiotic-rich food that you can add to your breakfast for healthy digestion," she says. "The probiotics in yogurt can help balance the friendly bacteria in your gut, aid digestion, and boost your immune system. Consuming yogurt regularly can also alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, a common disorder that affects the colon." Plus, it's delicious!
Fortunately, adding yogurt to your diet is simple, as it's a highly versatile food. "You can enjoy it on its own, mix it with fresh fruits for a delicious parfait, or use it as a base for your smoothie," Nanavati lists. "For a nutritious, protein-packed breakfast, you can try Greek yogurt, which contains double the amount of protein compared to standard yogurt." Sign us up!
Of course, maintaining a healthy gut will is about more than eating one single food. There are plenty of healthy habits you can work into your routine to keep your gut happy and improve your digestion. However, eating yogurt for breakfast is one great place to start!
READ MORE: The Gut-Healthy Fermented Food You Can Add To Every Meal For Healthier Digestion
