‘We are what we eat’ is a well knowing saying and it certainly is true. Our body reacts different to different foods. The first sign is always shown by the tummy- it can either get upset or you can visually see the difference 😀 A healthy digestive system begins with a good diet. Eat the right stuff and you improve digestion. Eat badly and you feel like a human garbage can! Here are the best and worst foods for your tummy:
WORST FOODS-
PROCESSED MEAT
Hot dogs, sausages and other processed meats are packed with saturated fat, sodium and nitrates. Processed meats have been linked to colon cancer, possibly because they are cooked at high temperatures, which can increase carcinogens. Always stick to fresh, lean cuts of meat and choose other forms of protein (legumes and grains).
FATTY AND FRIED FOOD
Both high-fat and fried food can overwhelm the stomach, resulting in acid reflux and heartburn. High-fat food also can result in pale-coloured stool, a phenomenon called steatorrhea, which is essentially excess fat in the faeces. People with irritable bowel syndrome need to stay away from foods high in fat because they can cause digestive problems.
POTATO CHIPS
What makes potato chips so epically bad for your belly is not what they have, but what they lack: the ability to make you feel satisfied. A handful of chips can turn into a big empty bag in no time simply because our bodies expect us to make them happy when we eat food. Daily chip consumption alone can be responsible for adding nearly two pounds of flab in approx. 4 years! Instead, nip your salty cravings in the bud with Beanitos, a chip made from navy beans, brown rice, oils and spices.
GLUTEN
Gluten intolerance can cause plenty of digestive complaints, including gas, cramping, bloating, indigestion and other GI symptoms! Gluten is a protein found in barley, rye, spelt, wheat and many other foods, including processed meats, soy sauce, ice cream, cheese, cookies, pasta, ketchup, salad dressings and more. Eating a gluten-free diet is the only solution to this food sensitivity.
DAIRY
Lactose intolerance, a common problem, occurs when people don’t make enough lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose. You need calcium in your diet, and an easy way to get it is from dairy products such as milk and cheese. But, for the lactose intolerant, these can cause diarrhoea, gas, and abdominal bloating and cramps.
BEST FOODS-
YOGHURT
You have trillions of bacteria in your gut that help you digest food, and yoghurt contains some types of these healthy bacteria. It replenishes the normal flora within the gastrointestinal tract so it’s healthy.
FRUITS
Bananas and blueberries, cantaloupe and honeydew, grapes, oranges, pineapple, papaya, strawberries and raspberries are the best fruits for your tummy. These sweet fruits have a balanced glucose-to-fructose ratio, which may be easier on your gut than those with more fructose.
LENTILS
Lentils are basically prebiotics. Prebiotics are food for probiotics. Prebiotics help good bacteria thrive while driving down the number of disease-producing bacteria trying to invade the digestive tract. Lentils, a legume, are a great source of prebiotics and dietary fibre.
NUTS AND SEEDS
Almonds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds are the best foods you could feed your tummy. Nuts and seeds are great sources of energizing protein, low-fermentable fibre, and anti-inflammatory fats.
FERMENTED FOODS
Fermenting or culturing makes food more digestible by actually ‘predigesting’ it for you. Fermenting also increases our absorption of the other nutrients in the food. Pickles, sauerkraut, kefir, miso, tempeh and Japanese tamari or soy sauce are all easy-to-digest fermented foods.