Eating too many sweets can harm your health, especially your gut. High sugar disrupts gut bacteria, causing issues like bloating, gas, pain, and loose stools, says Caroline Thomason, RD, CDCES.
When grabbing a snack at the drive-thru, avoid French fries. They're high in fats and salt, which can harm your gut. Instead, try a fruit salad or yogurt parfait for a healthier choice.
Whole potatoes are good for your gut due to fiber and resistant starch. But fried potato chips, like French fries, are less healthy. High-fat snacks slow digestion and harm gut health.
If regular candy is bad for gut health, you might consider artificial sweeteners, but they have their own issues. They can disrupt gut bacteria, cause inflammation, and affect insulin and weight.
Heavily processed foods, like flavored cheese crackers or graham crackers, are bad for gut health. They contain unhealthy additives, high sugar, and low fiber, which harm healthy gut bacteria.
Processed meats like bologna, kielbasa, and bacon are bad for gut health. They can cause inflammation and change the gut microbiome.
Avoid processed deli meats like ham and turkey for better digestion. These can increase cancer risk. Enjoy them less often and in smaller amounts to stay healthier.
You can make healthier cookies at home using whole wheat flour, mashed banana or avocado, or high-fiber oats. Most store-bought cookies use refined grains, sugars, and preservatives instead.
Pork rinds are unhealthy snacks due to their high fat, no fiber, and heavy processing. A 2021 study showed pork fat harms gut health. Try veggie chips or lightly salted nuts instead.
Snack cakes are super processed, loaded with sugar, fat, preservatives, and fake flavors. They mess up gut health by causing inflammation and harming good bacteria.