Among the most common digestive aids recommended is apple cider vinegar, usually followed by bitter herbal formulas. Natural remedies like these can improve stomach, liver, and intestine function more effectively than taking supplements on their own.

It has been found in studies that zinc is able to strengthen the gut lining, for example. L-glutamine has also been found to improve the growth of healthy intestinal cells in research studies. Moreover, collagen peptides have also been shown to prevent further intestinal lining breakdown in studies conducted on them. A number of nutrients are known to be helpful in supporting optimal digestive function, including: Vitamin D, Vitamin C and E, Vitamin B12, and Magnesium.

Both prebiotics and probiotics play an essential role in helping the body build and maintain a healthy colony of bacteria and other microorganisms in the gut, which in turn helps digestion and support the health of the body. These food components help promote beneficial bacteria by providing food and creating an environment where microorganisms can flourish.

If you are looking for a supplement that helps the body digest food, then a combination of HCL, pancreatic enzymes, and bile is the best option to cover all bases. Vegans, however, should know pancreatic enzymes are typically derived from animal products. A vegan-friendly alternative would be to use natural plant-based enzymes such as papain from papaya or bromelain from pineapple. These fruits can be eaten as a dessert to ensure you have adequate enzymes for digestion.

Apple Cider Vinegar

There have been entire books written about the health benefits of apple cider vinegar (ACV). Here’s the short list:

AVC is a digestive aid.
AVC is high in potassium, which is one of the main minerals in the stomach contents.
AVC has an acidic pH, which allows it to breakdown pepsinogen and release pepsin.

In order to find the best apple cider vinegar, you should look for something organic that has not been filtered. Begin with one teaspoon of ACV in 2 ounces of water and take it before every meal and work your way up to one tablespoon. For those who cannot tolerate the bitter taste, you can take it with a little honey (about half of a teaspoon).

Herbal Bitters

The mere thought of bitter foods can increase saliva production in your mouth. Imagine what eating them will do to you. Some bitter foods include arugula, broccoli rabe, citrus peel, coffee, dandelion greens, kale, lettuce, radicchio, radish leaves, spinach, and vinegar. Unfortunately, we rarely eat these foods. While kids perceive bitter substances as yucky, adults consume only coffee regularly. However, our ancestors regularly consumed bitter foods that naturally balanced their digestive systems.

Bitter herbs can help heal the gut since they enhance the digestion process in the stomach and intestines. They are also especially helpful in stimulating the liver’s function. Generally, a healthy liver will produce a significant amount of bile to aid in the digestion of fats and oils in the body.

Here are some other benefits of bitters:

Help simulate the body’s own gastric juices.
Support a healthy appetite.
Create a gentle laxative effect.
Promote healthy gallbladder function.
Relieve flatulence and bloating.
Help soothe and prevent intestinal cramps.
Promote mucous secretions.

As part of the Floradix Herbal Bitters, the following bitter herbs are combined with stomach soothers that help to calm the stomach:

Artichoke leaves
Dandelion herbs
Gentian roots
Turmeric roots
Yarrow
Ginger
Chamomile flowers
Fennel
Orange peel
Blessed thistle
Cardamom
Manna stem
Angelica
Zedoary
Aloe
Rhubarb
Senna
Myrrh
Carline thistle
Camphor
Black Snakeroot
Valerian
Cinnamon
Cardamom
Saffron.