Your gut health relies on the right combination of bacteria to digest your food and prevent inflammation and infection. In this article, we will cover 8 of the worst and best foods that affect your gut health.
Worst Foods for Your Gut Health
The worst foods that can affect your gut health negatively include:
Red Meat
Red meat can result in the growth of gut bacteria, which can clog your arteries. Alternatively, you should eat lean protein sources like fish or plant protein such as beans and tofu.
If you can’t completely avoid beef, pork, and lamb, choose leaner cuts, including loin, sirloin, and round.
Foods With Antibiotics
In most cases, antibiotics can’t differentiate between “good” and “bad” bacteria. Farmers also treat animals with antibiotics to stop them from getting infections. By eating these animal products, you end up killing the healthy bacteria in your gut.
In the worst-case scenario, you might end up with a hard-to-kill superbug when some bacteria become resistant to the antibiotics.
Fried Foods
According to studies on rats, fried foods are bad for consumption as the heated oil that soaks into them can damage healthy gut bacteria.
Caffeine
Coffee, soda, and lots of chocolate can increase the caffeine in your body and work up your intestines. This can often lead to diarrhea.
Best Foods for Your Gut Health
If you want healthier alternatives, these foods are a good place to start:
Fermented Foods
Fermenting is a method of preserving foods using yeast and bacteria. When you eat fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir, you also get their live bacteria content which is an excellent source of probiotics.
Leafy Green Vegetables
These are excellent options because they have a high fiber content, which can feed your good gut bacteria.
Bananas
Bananas provide your gut with inulin, a type of fiber that encourages the growth of good bacteria.
Whole Grains
It’s impossible for your body to break down fiber on its own. When the food gets to your large intestine, gut bacteria ferment it. This produces acids that feed cells in your intestines while keeping your gut safe from harmful bacteria.
Conclusion
Your gut health needs to be in good condition to help you absorb more nutrients and improve your immunity. With this article, you can tell what foods to consume and which ones to avoid completely.
