Enzymatic Therapy: Three Sweets for Digestive Health
Three Sweets for Digestive Health
There are several familiar candy ingredients that have a history that might surprise you. Some of the sweet treats you encounter at the candy shop may have gotten their start long ago as a remedy for digestive ailments.
Peppermint
It’s the oldest and most popular flavor of the mint-flavored candies, and peppermints are a common sight at restaurants, in a dish by the register. They may sweeten your breath after a spicy meal (think garlic), but there’s another reason the traditional after-dinner mints are associated with food. Peppermint has a healthy history as a digestive aid. The oil of peppermint can reduce cramps and gas, and can relax the smooth muscle of the intestines. It’s known to improve the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, too.
You can find peppermint in dietary supplements designed to provide digestive comfort. When looking for it as a supplement in tablet form, make sure the product has an enteric coating to protect it from stomach acids. Peppermint needs to get past the stomach and into the intestines where it provides soothing effects.
Licorice
This uniquely-flavored candy is found in many different forms around the world. Your association with licorice might be as a chewable nugget, as a rope, or a twist. Some licorice candies are not actually made with licorice extract, but may be flavored with anise seed oil, a substance with a similar taste. For centuries, real licorice root has been recognized for its support of stomach lining and the intestines. It’s also considered a mild laxative. Licorice root extract is found in dietary supplements designed for this same purpose.
Natural licorice contains glycyrrhizic acid, a substance that can raise blood pressure if taken in certain quantities over a period of time. The extract can be processed to remove the glycyrrhizic acid, creating de-glycyrrhizinated acid, or DGL. Supplements with DGL provide safer digestive relief.
Marshmallow
A campfire, a long stick, and a gooey, sugary blob is what comes to most people’s minds when thinking about marshmallows. Nowadays, this pudgy candy is made with gelatin, but did you know that the marshmallow in this chewy treat originally came from the root of a flower? The marshmallow root has viscous qualities that coat and soothe the walls of the intestines. Several health benefits are associated with marshmallow, and as a digestive aid, it’s a mucilant, meaning it protects mucous membranes and inflamed tissues.