No matter how good your day is, if you're experiencing bloating and gas - common side effects of an upset stomach - it's really hard to keep a smile on your face. Unfortunately, many different foods can be the culprit of stomach problems and the discomfort associated with it.
Here are foods that cause stomach problems, which you should avoid, in order to avoid making your condition worse:
Artificial sweeteners and sugar-free products
A study found that when people consume artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose and saccharin, they change the gut bacteria that control the metabolism. This can lead to a number of gastrointestinal problems, including an increased tendency to turn food into fat.
Also avoid candy and chewing gum, as these products often have added sorbitol, maltitol, xylitol and other sugar alcohols that can cause bloating, gas, or laxative effects when consumed in excess. In addition, chewing gum stimulates the stomach to release acids that your body doesn't need, which can contribute to the development of stomach ulcers.
Coffee and sodas
Coffee irritates the stomach, especially if consumed on an empty stomach. Also, caffeine speeds up the digestive tract and can cause diarrhea. The fact that caffeine is also a diuretic also means that it can lead to dehydration and even nausea. What's more, the invigorating drink causes the stomach to produce hydrochloric acid, which can cause heartburn and indigestion. If you feel that something is wrong with your gastrointestinal tract after drinking coffee, it is better to avoid it or, as a last resort, limit it to one cup a day.
Stomach discomfort can be caused by fizzy drinks - keep them to a minimum as well as alcohol. Apart from being an enemy to our weight and our liver, it is also an enemy of the stomach. Excessive use of alcoholic beverages irritates the lining of the stomach and causes gas or diarrhea alternating with constipation.
Greasy and fried foods
Fried foods, in addition to being unhealthy, are also harmful to the stomach. This is also true for fatty foods, as both types require more time to digest. In addition, they can lead to diarrhea or, conversely, to bloating and constipation. On the plus side, we can say that they are very high in calories and you gain weight from them.
Citrus fruit
Acidic foods such as tomato juice, as well as citrus fruits - lemons, oranges, grapefruits, etc., contain acid and can lead to stomach problems. This is because they irritate the lining of the stomach, leading to heartburn or reflux. If your stomach is tense, you better replace them with apple sauce or bananas.
Spicy foods
If you are a fan of spicy foods, our advice is to limit their consumption, since spicy food irritates the inside of the esophagus and can lead to heartburn. The same thing happens when you eat onions and garlic. Do not consume them too often, because they are not well absorbed in the small intestine, causing many problems such as gas, bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea or constipation.
Cereals
Gluten can be one of the most common culprits when it comes to wreaking the digestive system. Regardless of whether you have celiac disease or not, Harvard Medical School says more and more people are unable to digest gluten. If you find that your stomach gets bloated, painful, gassy, or have diarrhea after eating foods like pastries and pasta, wheat is definitely the culprit.
Dairy products
Dairy products are difficult to digest foods. If you have a problem with lactose, eating ice cream can cause stomach discomfort, gas or diarrhea. In case you suffer from lactose intolerance, also avoid soft cheeses and milk. Otherwise, stomach discomfort is guaranteed. However, with digestive problems, you can snack on hard cheeses and low-fat yogurt, as they have a beneficial effect on the intestines by improving the natural flora in the gastrointestinal tract.
Broccoli and raw cabbage
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are undoubtedly very healthy, but they contain complex sugars that can create gas in the intestines and bloating and heaviness in the abdomen. To avoid this discomfort, it is advisable to limit the consumption of these vegetables or at least blanch them slightly before consumption.
Raw foods
Bacteria in raw animal products can cause food poisoning. So take proper precautions when handling perishable foods such as raw meat, poultry, eggs and seafood. Remember to cook foods to the right temperatures to kill bacteria and don't leave them unrefrigerated for longer than two hours to prevent the growth of bacteria.
And if spending the night on the toilet with food poisoning isn't enough of a warning, keep in mind that harmful bacteria like Escherichia coli and salmonella can potentially be life-threatening, so play it safe and avoid expired foods.
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