6 foods harmful to intestinal health
Illustrative photo (Freepik)
A poorly functioning gut can lead to severe side effects such as fatigue, skin problems, and weight gain. Unfortunately, many of the worst foods for gut health are often found in everyday diets, according to coach Yurii Popko.
How food is digested
Problematic skin (eczema, acne, and rashes) and hair loss are linked to improper gut function.
According to the expert, food first travels down the esophagus into the stomach, where proteins, amino acids, as well as vitamins and minerals (mainly iron and vitamin B12) are broken down and absorbed.
The liver synthesizes bile acids, which flow through the bile ducts and accumulate in the gallbladder.
"Next, the food bolus from the stomach meets bile acids from the liver and enzymes from the pancreas in the duodenum, and then everything moves into the intestines," the expert says
The gut consists of two sections: the small and large intestines.
The primary absorption of nutrients through the intestinal wall, including proteins, fats, carbohydrates, trace elements, vitamins, and minerals, occurs in the small intestine.
Thus, if the mucosa of the small intestine is damaged or if there is excessive bacterial and fungal growth, we will have problems with hair, skin, allergies, dermatitis, bloating, and difficulties during bowel movements.
Foods harmful to gut
Alcohol
Of course, the stronger it is, the more damage it will cause, as it contains more ethyl alcohol. Therefore, if you have skin problems or hair loss, alcohol should be completely avoided. This is because it destroys the gut's mucosal lining.
If you are healthy, you can occasionally have 100-150 ml of dry wine. However, alcohol alters the quantity and quality of gut bacteria.
Beneficial bacteria mainly include bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.
If you abuse alcohol, the number of beneficial bacteria decreases, while the number of harmful ones increases, leading to fungi and viruses.
Sugar
Sugar is found in almost every list of undesirable foods.
Since it negatively affects most organs, or rather, its excess does, it is almost impossible to eliminate it completely.
Sugar promotes the development of pathogenic flora, meaning it nourishes harmful bacteria (Candida, streptococci, staphylococci, and others), which in turn leads to thrush, candidiasis, acne, dermatitis, and eczema.
Fruits and fructose
Regarding fruits and fructose, the daily amount the body can absorb is no more than 30 grams per day, which is approximately two moderately sweet fruits.
Exceeding this limit will contribute to the growth of pathogenic microflora.
Refined carbohydrates
These also include processed grain products such as buns, cookies, bread, and first-grade white flour.
These products lack fiber, which feeds beneficial bacteria, and they are devoid of vitamins and minerals, meaning they will turn into glucose within half an hour, the excess of which triggers pathogenic flora.
Gluten products
Gluten is essentially glue. Most people digest it easily, but if your gastrointestinal function is already impaired, you should avoid gluten-containing products.
People diagnosed with celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, and barley. When people with celiac disease consume gluten-containing products, their immune system reacts by damaging the small intestine.
Milk
Milk contains lactose, a milk sugar. A large portion of the population has primary or secondary lactase deficiency.
The gut, more specifically its mucosa, is responsible for producing the enzyme lactase, which breaks down milk sugar—lactose.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
