Did you know that in the United States alone, there were around 22.4 million that were diagnosed with digestive system diseases, according to a National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey in 2016? As several diseases fall under the category of digestive system diseases, this number is quite remarkable, simply because proper diet and lifestyle greatly affect the outcome of these diseases.

Diseases of the digestive system differ in type and severity. However, similar to any illness, almost everything starts with something small and unnoticeable, and when left untreated to uncared for, it can become worse and more damaging to the person. This is why doctors usually emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle by staying active and eating right.

In case you are part of the population who suffers from digestive diseases, following a bland diet for a couple of weeks may be beneficial for you and your well-being.

The bland diet is a diet plan that emphasizes food that is easy to digest and will allow your gastrointestinal tract (GIT) to rest from the stress it experiences because of your digestive disease. Physicians usually recommend the bland diet to those who will undergo and have undergone GI surgeries to allow their GIT to heal. This diet program is also a good one to follow if you're being asked by your doctor to slowly transition into a more structured and beneficial meal program.

Here are some more things you can expect to learn more about the bland diet in this guide:

What the bland diet is all aboutThe pros and cons of bland dietingFoods to eat and avoidCurating your meal plansA simple 2-week plan for doing the bland diet