The Good, The Bad And The Ugly: The Best And Worst Foods For Your Gut

We present to you the good, the bad and the ugly for your gut...

In theory, we should be able to digest any type of food we put into our mouths. Our ancestors would have done it before us.

But modern food processing, production and preparation means our tummies don’t always agree with everything we eat.

We can treat ourselves, we just have to make sure it’s all in moderation and it’s combined with a healthy lifestyle.

Here’s what your tummy finds easy, and very difficult, to digest…

The Difficult To Digest…

High-Fat And Fried Food

These foods can overwhelm your tummy, resulting in an acid reflux and heartburn. Our bodies can only handle so much at one time. We don’t want to get all Gillian McKeith on you, but a pale-coloured stool is proof of a high-fat diet.

Chilli Peppers

These delicious little devils can irritate the oesophagus and lead to heartburn pain. This can cuase big problems for people who suffer from chronic heartburn or irritable bowel syndrome.

Dairy

We do need dairy in our lives and the best places to get it is from milk and cheese. But, for the lactose intolerant, this can cause diarrhoea, gas, bloating and cramps.

Alcohol

Alcohol relaxes the body but it also relaxes the oesophageal sphincter, which can lead to acid reflux or heartburn. Drinking also can inflame the stomach lining, impairing certain enzymes and preventing nutrients from being absorbed.  Guidelines suggest no more than two drinks a day for men and one for women.

Chocolate

We’re really not having a good day where the chocolate news is concerned. A 2005 study suggested that chocolate may be a problem in those with IBS or chronic constipation. It could be the milk contained in the chocolate that could be irritating the lactose intolerant.

Be sure to keep chewing your corn...

Corn

Corn is rich in fibre and very good for you, but it’s also rich in cellulose. This is a type of fibre that humans can’t break down easily because we lack a certain enzyme. If you chew corn for long enough it will digest just fine, so give it time to pass through your mouth.

The Easy-Peasy , Lemon-Squeezy...

Yogurt

Yogurt contains a lot of healthy bacteria, we’d know this from the adverts alone… These replenish the normal flora within the gastrointestinal tract so it's healthy.

Lean Meat And Fish

Lean meats like chicken and fish will go down a lot easier than a juicy steak. Red meats can be fattier and our bodies find it easier to digest leaner meats.

Whole Grains

Whole-wheat bread, oats and brown rice are a great source of fibre which helps digestion. Fiber also can help you feel full and lower cholesterol.

Wholegrain and banana... why not make a banana bread?

Bananas

Bananas help restore normal bowel function. If you have a touch of constipation or diarrhoea, a banana can be a great quick fix.

Ginger

This spice has been used for thousands of years as a safe way to relieve nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, morning sickness, gas, loss of appetite, and colic. Consume in moderation.