Some people have health conditions that make many foods challenging for them to digest. What healthful dietary choices can a person make if they have trouble with digestion?<\/p>\n
Symptoms of digestive problems include\u00a0acid reflux<\/a>, bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, and\u00a0diarrhea<\/a>. These can result from many causes, including\u00a0irritable bowel syndrome<\/a>\u00a0(IBS), acid reflux, pregnancy, eating too fast, medications, and gastrointestinal surgery.<\/p>\n The body needs a range of nutrients, including fiber, protein, and fat. In some forms, however, these nutrients can be hard to digest.<\/p>\n What should people with digestive issues eat to maintain a healthy diet while avoiding digestive problems? This article looks at 11 easy-to-digest foods that may help.<\/p>\n Toast is easier to digest than bread as the toasting process breaks down some of the\u00a0carbohydrates<\/a>.<\/p>\n Toast can help decrease nausea and reduce\u00a0heartburn<\/a>, but not all toast is the same.<\/p>\n Whole wheat bread is more healthful than white bread but is high in fiber and can be difficult for some people to eat.<\/p>\n If a person has trouble digesting whole wheat toast, the first step is to try it plain without butter. For additional flavor, choose fruit jellies over creamy spreads, such as nut butter.<\/p>\n Enriched white bread is an option if someone cannot tolerate whole grains. Depending on the type, two slices of enriched white bread\u00a0may provide<\/a>:<\/p>\n Thin slices of plain, white toast without spreads may be the best option for some people.<\/p>\n Those with an intolerance to wheat or gluten can choose a wheat free or gluten free bread option.<\/p>\n Many grocery stores stock wheat free bread, gluten free bread, and enriched white bread. These products are also available for purchase online.<\/p>\n Rice is a good source of energy and protein, but not all grains are easy to digest. High fiber rice, such as brown rice, can contribute to digestive issues, including diarrhea, bloating, and gas.<\/p>\n When looking for grains that are easy on the digestive system, white rather than brown, black, or red rice may be a better option. Enriched white rice will have added\u00a0vitamins<\/a>\u00a0and minerals, which enhance its nutritional value.<\/p>\n Half a cup of long grain, dry, brown rice\u00a0provides<\/a>:<\/p>\n Half a cup of enriched, dry, medium, white rice\u00a0contains<\/a>:<\/p>\n Adding oils and other fat sources to rice may also make it hard to digest. It is best to opt for plain rice and add toppings with caution until you find out which ones are most suitable.<\/p>\n Learn more here<\/a>\u00a0about the health benefits of rice and the different types available.<\/p>\n Look out for enriched, white rice in the grocery store, or\u00a0purchase it online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bananas<\/a>\u00a0provide carbohydrates, fiber,\u00a0potassium<\/a>, and many other vitamins and minerals. Most people can digest them well.<\/p>\n They also provide fluid, which is important for people with diarrhea or\u00a0constipation<\/a>.<\/p>\n A medium banana weighing 118 g\u00a0contains<\/a>:<\/p>\n The riper the banana, the more carbohydrate turns to sugar. People on a\u00a0diabetes<\/a>\u00a0meal plan may need to consider the carbohydrates and sugar that come from bananas when doing their daily calculations.<\/p>\n Bananas are a high\u00a0FODMAP<\/a>\u00a0fruit. The FODMAP diet categorizes food according to how it affects people with IBS. High FODMAP fruits can be hard for a person with IBS to tolerate than low FODMAP fruits, such as strawberries and grapes. Bananas may trigger bloating, cramping, and other symptoms in people with IBS.<\/p>\n Learn more\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0about the health benefits of bananas.<\/p>\n Fruit is part of a healthy diet and is rich in nutrients and\u00a0antioxidants<\/a>. However, the fiber in fruit can lead to digestive problems.<\/p>\n Cooking helps break down the fiber, making it easier to digest. For this reason, applesauce can be easier to digest than an uncooked apple.<\/p>\n Applesauce also\u00a0contains pectinTrusted Source<\/a>, a soluble fiber that\u00a0may help treatTrusted Source<\/a>\u00a0some types of diarrhea.<\/p>\n Depending on the type of apple, a\u00a0244-g cup<\/a>\u00a0of unsweetened applesauce can provide:<\/p>\n People on a low sugar diet will need to account for the sugar in applesauce.<\/p>\n Apples and applesauce contain fermentable carbohydrates that feed gut bacteria, but these may aggravate symptoms of IBS.<\/p>\n This guide tells you how to make applesauce at home:<\/p>\n 1. Peel, core, and slice apples.<\/p>\n 2. Put in a pan with a tablespoonful of water, just enough to stop the apples from sticking.<\/p>\n 3. Cover and cook on a low heat for around 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.<\/p>\n 4. Mash or sieve to remove unwanted lumps.<\/p>\n 5. Serve hot or cold.<\/p>\n The advantage of making applesauce at home is that people can be sure it is fresh and has no additives.<\/p>\n Premade applesauce is available\u00a0for purchase online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Boiled, poached, or scrambled eggs are easy to prepare, eat, and digest. They are often suitable for people who are recovering from a stomach virus or nausea.<\/p>\n The white contains less fat and is easier to digest, but many people with digestive problems can also tolerate the yolk.<\/p>\n A\u00a0large boiled or poached egg<\/a>\u00a0provides a wide range of nutrients, including:<\/p>\n When scrambling eggs, add low fat milk rather than cream or butter, as animal fats can be hard to tolerate for some people.<\/p>\n It is important to cook all eggs fully, as raw egg carries a risk of salmonella poisoning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sweet potatoes provide soluble fiber, which can be easier to digest than insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber also increases the good bacteria in the intestines, contributing to a healthy digestive system.<\/p>\n Sweet potatoes also contain potassium, an electrolyte that is often lost during digestive upsets.<\/p>\n A\u00a0247-g cup<\/a>\u00a0of mashed sweet potato contains:<\/p>\n People who experience IBS will need to keep their portions small to avoid a flare-up of symptoms since sweet potatoes are a medium source of FODMAPs.<\/p>\n Find out more<\/a>\u00a0about sweet potatoes.<\/p>\n Chicken is a source of lean protein, which helps the body repair itself. Chicken also provides a range of minerals and B vitamins.<\/p>\n Chicken tends to be easy to digest. It also contains no fiber, making it a good choice for people with digestive issues, such as IBS.<\/p>\n Baked or grilled, skinless chicken is a healthful option, as it contains the least fat.<\/p>\n A\u00a0100-g serving<\/a>\u00a0of stewed chicken breast without the skin provides:<\/p>\n People should make sure they fully cook chicken to reduce the risk of salmonella poisoning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Salmon contains protein,\u00a0omega-3<\/a>\u00a0fatty acids, and a wide range of minerals and B vitamins. Baking salmon without adding fat or oil will help make it easy to digest.<\/p>\n A\u00a0100-g serving<\/a>\u00a0of baked salmon without added fat provides:<\/p>\n During pregnancy, it is essential to cook salmon fully and only to choose salmon that comes from a reputable source. Large, oily fish can contain high levels of mercury, but salmon is typically low in mercury.<\/p>\n Raw salmon will be harder to digest than cooked salmon. In rare cases, it\u00a0can contain<\/a>\u00a0small parasites, which can cause anisakidosis. Symptoms of this infection include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.<\/p>\n Hospitals often serve\u00a0gelatin<\/a>\u00a0desserts after surgery. Gelatin contains no fiber or oil and is easy to digest. It can help manage\u00a0dehydration<\/a>. Sweetened gelatin can also provide energy.<\/p>\n The nutritional value of gelatin dishes varies and depends on their other ingredients, but a\u00a0240-g cup<\/a>\u00a0serving of a typical gelatin dessert may provide:<\/p>\n<\/a>1. Toast<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>2. White rice<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>3. Bananas<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>4. Applesauce<\/h2>\n
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To make applesauce<\/h3>\n
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