Healthy Gut: What NOT to Eat!

There is so much we can be doing to support a healthy gut, and this starts with what you DON’T eat!

 

Some very common food additives that are bad for gut health are in the foods we think are health foods, but in fact are wreaking havoc on our gut microbiome.

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Two very common additives are gums and emulsifiers. These are ingredients such as xanthan gum, soy lecithin, guar gum or carrageenan. Additives like these are put into foods to help improve their texture, and keep all ingredients in the product mixed together.

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For instance, most almond milk that you buy will have an emulsifier to keep the water, almonds, and oils added all together, as one homogeneous mixture, so things don’t separate. But there is a high price to pay for not having to shake your milk to get it all mixed before pouring: the tax on your gut health.

 

You see, these gums and emulsifiers are made from various ingredients in a laboratory that kill off the good microbes in your gut. This can result in an imbalance. When there is an imbalance, the bad guys proliferate and this results in bloating, gas, and even painful stomach pains along with constipation or loose stool. But there’s a lot more you can be at risk for when you are eating foods with these additives:

 

Carrageenan for instance, has been called out by scientists for it’s contribution to bloating and irritable bowel disease, even colon cancer!

 

Foods to eat for a happy gut:

There really is a simple fix to gut health. Eat simple. Eat real foods, with real ingredients. Cut out the lab made emulsifiers, and read your labels. I would suggest to anyone who is looking to improve their gut health that they should add in fermented foods. Sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt. But be mindful, you want unpasteurized fermented foods. Fermented foods that have been treated through the process of pasteurization will have all of the good bacteria killed off. Also, many plant based yogurts have emulsifiers in them so look closely at your label. I love GT's Cocoyo, no fake ingredients, and the label boasts 100 billion bacteria at the time of bottling!

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Another thing you can do to help your natural microbiome in your gut to heal is to cut out fake sugar. I know this is very difficult for some people to hear. However, there is no sense in eating foods with all of these beneficial bacteria or taking a probiotic if you are going to keep eating the fake sugar which is having a negative impact on your gut bacteria. If you want a healthy sweetener, and are trying to cut processed sugar, try something more natural such as maple syrup, honey, or dates!

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If you are looking for ways to cut out unhelpful sugars, but still want the desserts,

check out the food blog:

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http://www.eatsmartcooking.com

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Here you will find dozens of recipes with simple, good for you ingredients.

From desserts, to snacks, dinners and lunches on the go!