Tummy issues? Here are three St. Patrick’s Day meal recipes your gut will love

(Three-leaf clover, Image credit: Instagram)

Everyone is Irish on March 17!  If you’re planning on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year, whether by hosting your own party, or if you just want to have a St. Patrick’s-inspired meal, you can still incorporate healthy decisions for your digestive health – especially if you’re trying to improve your gut health or if you suffer from gastrointestinal issues.

From our good friends at Gastro-MD, here are their favorite St. Patrick’s Day recipes geared toward better digestion.

1. Healthy Colcannon

What’s St. Patrick’s Day without some traditional Irish dishes? Colcannon is commonly made with potatoes, milk, butter, and cabbage. However, it may not be the healthiest when made in a conventional way due to the amount of butter and cream that goes into making the dish.

That’s why we love this recipe by Being Nutritious. They give us a healthy version of this iconic St. Patrick’s Day dish. The recipe replaces butter with plain Greek yogurt which is a probiotic and incredibly beneficial to the gut. Instead of cabbage, you can use the more nutrient-dense kale or spinach. Leafy greens like kale and spinach are excellent sources of fiber and contain a specific sugar that helps promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut.

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2. Healthy Corned Beef

When colcannon isn’t the main dish, it’s served as a side dish that best pairs with corned beef. Rather than buying pre-made corned beef that has artificial additives which can harm your digestive health, try a healthier homemade version instead.

Here’s a healthy corned beef recipe by Wellness Mama that we love. By slow-cooking it for hours, you’re ensuring the beef brisket is extremely tender and falls apart easily. The more tender the meat is, the easier for you to chew thoroughly – which is great for your digestion.

For the brisket, all you need are the following:

• Corned beef brisket
• Garlic
• Black pepper

3. Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie is another traditional Irish dish that people have come to expect on St. Patrick’s Day. Traditionally, shepherd’s pie uses lamb and mashed potatoes. Treat yourself to a healthier version of this iconic comfort food by replacing some of its traditional ingredients with leaner alternatives that are good for the gut.

Our favorite healthy shepherd’s pie recipe comes from Healthy Fitness Meals. This recipe replaces lamb with lean turkey meat. Instead of mashed potatoes for the topping, this recipe calls for mashed sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes contain both soluble and insoluble fiber and antioxidants which are beneficial for gut health; they’re also healthier than regular potatoes which are comparatively higher on the glycemic index and more likely to make blood sugar spike.

Here’s what you need:

• Sweet potatoes
• Italian seasoning
• Sea salt and pepper
• Olive oil
• Yellow onion
• Lean turkey meat
• Tomato paste
• Garlic clove
• Dried oregano
• Smoke paprika
• Chicken broth
• Frozen peas

(Sources: Dr. Donna Powell | Gastro MD and Dr. Renee M. Marchioni Beery | Gastro MD)

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From Ace News Today, have a safe, happy and healthy St. Patrick’s Day!

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

(Cover photo, St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun: Image credit: Twitter)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram