A Quick List of Foods That Are Easy to Digest & Healthy

Conditions

Let’s first take a look at conditions that require you to consume foods that are easy to digest.

Stomach Ailments

Among the ailments which would require you to consume easily digestible foods are stomach ulcers, heartburn and gastroenteritis, among others. Easily digestible foods are also helpful in cases of constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Apart from stomach ailments, you would also need to consume easily digestible foods when you travel, especially when you’re going on a long flight. If you consume starchy or foods with a high fat content, they would induce gas in your stomach. In normal circumstances, you could expel the gas by a natural physical activity like walking. In a plane, where mobility is limited, you may end up with stomach discomfort.

Weight Gain

Another reason you would want to consume foods that are easy to digest is you want to avoid weight gain. Weight gain can give rise to a host of health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, you would want to consume foods that are easily digestible.

Foods

Fruits

Fruits have a high fiber content and help with the digestion of other foods you’ve consumed. Fruits contain enzymes that aid digestion and this reduces the burden of the pancreas in the process of enzyme production.

Among the fruits that are easy to digest are apples, pears, banana, papaya, avocados, strawberries and blueberries. Include also watermelon, honeydew and plum to the list. If the above fruits are hard to come by, you could opt for fresh fruit juices to help with digestion.

Vegetables

Cooked vegetables are easier to digest than raw ones. Raw vegetables have a higher enzyme content supposedly useful for digestion. However, they also contain cellulose, a type of fiber that can’t be easily digested by humans. As such they should be cooked to make them digestible. Vegetables like potatoes and yam should be boiled and mashed to aid digestion.

Among the vegetables that are easy to digest are carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, lentils and kale, among others.

Other Foods

Apart from fruits and vegetables, other foods that are easily digestible are whole grains, millet, yogurt, oats, rice, toast, saltine crackers and white rice. If you can’t tolerate lactose, you can add kefir to the list.

The Aged

The aged would also require foods that are easily digestible. This is because they have a weaker digestive system and are not as physically active. Among foods that are easily digestible are boiled rice, mashed potatoes, soups, and broths of chicken, fish and mutton with the bones removed. They could also start off the day with porridge or oatmeal with fruits and milk.

Caution

While foods that are easy to digest have a positive effect on a host of conditions, not all such foods are beneficial to health. A prime example is processed foods.

Processed foods are those in which their nutrition content is reduced and artificial ingredients are added to enhance taste and prolong shelf life. Even if these foods are labeled as easily digestible, the sugar, fat and salt content pose a health risk in the long term.

References

https://www.livestrong.com/article/199427-easily-digestible-foods-list/ - list of foods that are easy to digest

https://www.diethealthclub.com/articles/525/diet-and-wellness/easily-digestible-foods-for-aged.html - easily digestible foods for the elderly

https://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Processed-foods-have-made-us-fatter-and-less-683578.php - health risk of processed foods that are easily digestible