While eating healthy food is essential to maintain optimal health, some foods can cause severe harm to your digestive system. Such foods can cause inflammation, discomfort, pain, bloating, and other adverse effects.

If you want to protect your gut health, you should avoid consuming the following foods:.

1. Fried Foods

Fried foods can be harmful to your stomach because they contain high levels of fat and calories. These foods tend to be low in fiber and nutrients and may have trans fats.

Additionally, when heated to high temperatures, they can produce harmful chemicals like acrylamide, which is associated with the increased risk of cancer.

When you consume fried foods, they tend to sit in your stomach for more extended periods because they are more difficult to digest.

The longer they sit in your stomach, the more likely they are to cause digestive issues like bloating, gas, and discomfort. Therefore, it is best to limit your intake of fried foods or avoid them altogether.

2. Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose are commonly used in many processed foods, sugar-free gum, and diet drinks.

While they contain fewer calories than sugar, they are not a healthy alternative, especially for people who have sensitive digestive systems.

These sweeteners do not get absorbed in the body, and as such, they reach the gut where gut microbes consume them by fermenting them. The fermentation process can produce gas, bloating, cramps, and diarrhea.

Moreover, artificial sweeteners have been linked to some gastrointestinal diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

3. Dairy

While milk, cheese, and yogurt are high in calcium and other essential nutrients, they can be tough on some people’s digestive systems, particularly those who are lactose intolerant.

Lactose intolerance is a condition that occurs when the body produces insufficient lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose, the sugar found in milk.

As a result, lactose remains undigested in the gut, and bacteria feed on it, leading to gas, bloating, cramping, and diarrhea.

Moreover, dairy products can cause inflammation in the gut, making them unsuitable for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

4. Spicy Foods

If you are a fan of spicy foods, you may need to rethink your choices. Spices like chili peppers, hot sauce, and cayenne pepper can irritate your stomach lining, causing heartburn, acid reflux, and stomach upset.

Also, spicy foods can exacerbate existing conditions like ulcers, gastritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. If you have such conditions, it’s best to avoid spicy foods or reduce their intake to minimize digestive symptoms.

5. Carbonated Drinks

Carbonated drinks like soda, seltzer, and sparkling water contain bubbles of carbon dioxide, which can cause gas, bloating, and discomfort when consumed in large amounts.

Drinking carbonated beverages can also make you feel full faster, making it more challenging to consume a balanced meal.

Besides, carbonated drinks can also cause acid reflux by triggering the release of stomach acids into the esophagus, leading to heartburn and indigestion. Therefore, it is best to limit your intake of carbonated drinks and opt for plain water instead.

Conclusion

Digestive issues can be caused by many factors, and diet is one of the most significant triggers.

Consuming the wrong types of foods, such as fried foods, artificial sweeteners, dairy, spicy foods, and carbonated drinks, can cause inflammation, discomfort, pain, and bloating.

Therefore, it is essential to be mindful of what you eat, choose foods that are easy to digest and nutrient-dense. You can also consult your healthcare provider or registered dietician to help you develop a meal plan that supports your gut health.