The Digestive System

• Your digestive system provides two essential functions. First is absorbing nutrients. If you have intestinal inflammation, your body will not absorb nutrients correctly, which can lead to anemia and other disorders. Second is the breakdown of harmful bacteria that can attack your body. If your immune system is not eliminating bacteria correctly, areas such as the intestine can develop ulcers or other problems that will require medication or surgery.
  
  

Maintain Intestinal Health

• Intestinal health can be restored and maintained by developing a healthy diet, exercising regularly, managing stress and supplementing your diet with probiotics. A healthy diet typically includes foods easy for your body to process that are also low in fats and sugars. Concentrate on eating many types of fruits and vegetables. Food or supplements high in fiber should also be consumed regularly. Drink at least 64 ounces of liquids each day and exercise regularly. Also take probiotics as a supplememt. Yogurt is one common food that contains probiotics.
  
  

Limited Carbohydrate Diets

• Try a limited carbohydrate diet to improve intestinal health. It limits grains, lactose and sucrose that your body may not absorb when they are not digested. When certain types of foods that contain high levels of carbohydrates are not absorbed, they can remain in your intestine, causing bacteria to multiply and produce acids that can cause intestinal damage. Low-carbohydrate diets tend to improve absorption and strengthen your body's immune system.