Digestion: Stay Away From These Bad Foods That Will Make You Sick

Digestion is the key to good health. Proper digestion reduces your risk for chronic illness and declining health. In this report, we list several foods you should avoid.

 

 

Digestion: Fried Foods

They’re high in fat and can bring on diarrhea. Rich sauces, fatty cuts of meat, and buttery or creamy desserts can cause problems, too.

Choose roasted or baked foods and light sauces that feature vegetables instead of butter or cream.

 

Citrus Fruits

Because they’re high in fiber, they can give some folks an upset stomach. Go easy on oranges, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits if your belly doesn’t feel right.

 

Artificial Sugar

Chew too much sugar-free gum made with sorbitol and you might get cramps and diarrhea. Food made with this artificial sweetener can also cause the same problems.

The FDA warns that you might get diarrhea if you eat 50 or more grams a day of sorbitol, though even much lower amounts reportedly cause trouble for some people.

 

Too Much Fiber

Fiber is a good thing but too much fiber is bad for your digestion and health. Foods high in this healthy carb, like whole grains and vegetables, are good for digestion. But too much will result in gas and bloating. Eat in moderation.

 

Beans

They’re loaded with healthy protein and fiber, but they also have hard-to-digest sugars that cause gas and cramping. Your body doesn’t have enzymes that can break them down. Bacteria in your gut do the work instead, giving off gas in the process.

Try this tip to get rid of some of the troublesome sugars: Soak dried beans for at least 4 hours and pour off the water before cooking.

I remember that way back as a kid in sleep away camp, we sang an interesting song every Thursday night at supper when the waiters brought out the main dish of beans and franks. I won’t sing it here.

 

Cabbage and Its Cousins

Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cabbage, have the same sugars that make beans gassy. Their high fiber can also make them hard to digest. It will be easier on your stomach if you cook them instead of eating raw. If you don’t cook them, eat small amounts.

 

Fructose

Foods sweetened with this ingredient, including sodas, candy, fruit juice, and pastries, are difficult for some people to digest. This can lead to diarrhea, bloating, and cramps.

 

Spicy Foods

Some people get indigestion or heartburn after eating them, especially when it’s a large meal. Studies suggest the hot ingredient in chili peppers, called capsaicin, is the reason.

 

Dairy Products

If they trigger diarrhea, bloating, and gas, you may be lactose intolerant. It means you don’t have an enzyme that digests a sugar in milk and other forms of dairy.

Avoid those foods or try an over-the-counter drop or pill that has the missing enzyme. Or, try soy milk.

 

Peppermint

It can relax the muscle at the top of the stomach, which lets food move back into your esophagus. That can cause heartburn. Other culprits include chocolate or coffee.

Experts say you can lower the pressure that pushes the food back up if you lose extra weight, eat smaller portions, and don’t lie down after eating.

 

Conclusion

Watch this entertaining video on the digestive process: