The digestive system, or gut, comprises the stomach, intestines, and colon. Each organ has a distinctive function. Together, they allow the digestion of food, the absorption of nutrients, and the excretion of waste from the body. Digestive health plays a key role in maintaining overall wellness. If a person has poor gut health, it may disrupt the functions of these organs.
When the gut is not healthy enough to function properly, you may experience various symptoms, such as indigestion, bloating, constipation, acid reflux, diarrhea, and more. In some cases, these symptoms get aggravated, leading to more serious conditions like Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel syndrome. Poor gut health may also lead to skin issues and autoimmune diseases. It is, therefore, crucial to take care of your digestive health.
While some foods regulate digestion and improve gut health, others do just the opposite. They affect your gut and liver negatively, housing unwanted diseases in the body. To ensure good gut and liver health, you must avoid the consumption of the following food items.
High-Fatty Foods
Foods that are high in fat are a curse for your gut and liver health. Junk food and processed food items are rich in trans fat. The liver breaks down the fat and converts it into energy. However, these fats build up in the liver and start damaging the liver. The poor absorption of these nutrients also leads to several digestive problems. It is therefore advised to cut these food items from your daily diet.
Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners may harm your body in ways you cannot imagine. The substances used in these sweeteners disturb the balance of bacteria in the gut, leading to unwanted digestive problems. Drinks like energy drinks, cola, and other soft drinks contain high amounts of artificial sweeteners, and you should reduce their consumption for better gut and liver health.
High Sugar
Similar to artificial sugar, over-consuming sugar in natural form may also harm you more than it benefits your body. Foods rich in high sugar content contribute to liver damage. High blood sugar levels in the body may lead to an increase in the amount of fat in the liver. According to doctors, consuming too much sugar may also multiply the growth of worms in the body, leading to various autoimmune diseases and skin conditions.
High Salt
Salt is necessary to add taste to your food. But it should always be consumed in moderation. High salt intake may result in various problems in the body. As per reports, taking more salt may increase the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. If you consume salt in higher amounts, ensure you reduce its consumption for a healthy gut and liver.
Red Meat
Red meat, or processed meat, comprises saturated fats in high amounts. Although occasional consumption of red meat doesn’t cause any harm to your body, eating red meat daily is not recommended. When eaten frequently, red meat or processed meat may damage the liver. Over-consumption of red meat also results in indigestion if you don’t pair your meals with equal amounts of fiber and other nutrients.
Takeaway
To live a healthy life, you must take proper care of your gut. The above-listed food items will not damage your liver and gut health immediately, but affect your internal organs slowly. Always consume these products in moderation.
