Your nighttime routine can have a big impact on many aspects of your health. Putting your phone away before sleep, setting a regular bedtime, and limiting evening caffeine intake are all solutions we have covered for better sleep, but today we are looking at steps to take before bed to boost your gut health. 

To soothe your stomach, especially at night, start by setting fairly consistent meal times. This helps your body get into a digestion rhythm. Next, try one (or more!) of these five techniques for nighttime tummy bliss.

1. Snack on some ginger: Ginger calms the digestive system and can help ease gas and bloating. Brew up some ginger tea, eat candied ginger as an evening treat, or include it in your dinner.
2. Practice light yoga: Yoga, especially poses with twisting, has been shown to promote healthy digestion. Follow a slow and calming yoga class online or just practice some poses on your own before bed. Focus on gentle yoga with low intensity. This can also help calm your mind before bed and improve overall sleep. 
3. Let your brain relax: If you’ve ever experienced a stomach ache before a big meeting or important event, you know the toll that stress can take on your digestive system. Setting aside time before bed to unplug and slow down is important for calming your mind and your gut before sleep. Try ten minutes of meditation or opt for yoga to hit two birds with one stone!
4. Eat some prunes: These classic digestion-boosters actually do work. Not only does their fiber keep everything moving along smoothly, they also contain magnesium, calcium, and vitamin B6 which help produce melatonin, a hormone that makes us sleepy. Don’t have more than three or you might be running to the bathroom rather than getting peaceful rest. 
5. Put electronics away: This is a number one rule for better sleep, but it also helps our digestion. Emails, the news, calendar reminders, and a host of other phone distractions can amplify our stress levels before bed. As we discussed above, stress has a host of negative impacts on our gut health. You have all day to tie your stomach in knots over work and the state of the world. Take time before bed to take a break from the demands of the digital world. 

We at The Optimist Daily are big advocates of gut health. Looking for more healthy digestion tips? Check out our articles on eating and living for optimal gut health!