Avoid These Three Foods for a Happier, Balanced Stomach
Gut Bacteria! Do you feel like you know yours well enough? If not, we are here to help. The trillion of microorganisms living in your digestive tract are your gut bacteria. Research has developed over the past decade to show that our gut microbiome significantly affects every aspect of our health — so take care of it! These aspects include immunity, fat storage, heart health, skin conditions, and balanced stomach. It can even make you less susceptible to stress, anxiety, and depression. Your gut is so in sync with the rest of your body that it has gained the nickname, “second brain”.
As with anything in life, it is all about balance. The goal is to have the good bacteria outweigh the bad bacteria. With all the aspects mentioned above at stake, this balance is vital. This balance is precarious and you have to keep a keen eye on it to ensure your body is in harmony. There are many things that affect this balance. Let’s begin with personal lifestyle, let’s say… your diet? Yes, the major factor that YOU can control to help with your microbiome in your stomach. Here are the top three foods you should be cutting back on to ensure a happy balanced stomach.
Conventional meats and poultry
Antibiotics do a great job of doing what they are supposed to do: killing all bacteria in your body. This includes good bacteria. We are not advising that you should turn down medication from your doctor. However, research has shown that when consuming unnecessary antibiotics you are putting your gut at risk.
When picking meat from livestock, avoid any indication that their might be antibiotics included in any processing. This includes what the livestock is being fed. The FDA has approved methods that should raise concern. This includes antimicrobial drugs that are given to the animals to treat disease, sometimes for the purpose of weight gain in the animal. Some of these substances being fed to the animals are made for humans as antibiotic resistance. What goes into the animal goes into humans upon consumption. Hence, the unnecessary consumption of antibiotics occurs.
In order to avoid these unwarranted chemicals in your livestock meat, the best rule of thumb is to go organic. If done right, you can avoid the price spike by purchasing your organic meat from a local butcher or farmer’s market rather than the grocery store. Buy in bulk and freeze what you don’t use right away. By doing a little research you can find a method that works best for you when choosing your natural meat selections.
Artificial sweeteners
The key word here is artificial. This means it is not made for our bodies. Research has found that the sucralose in Splenda can significantly throw off the balance in your microbiome. In the study, it was found that after one week of use, many of the participants’ bodies began to develop a glucose intolerance. This is bad. This is the first step to diabetes, as well as an assortment of other health issues.
Try natural sweeteners as a real substitute for the fake substitute. This does not mean eat all the sugar you want. In fact, eating too much natural sugar gives bacteria something to feed on in your gut, causing an off balance as well. So, try to cut back on all sugars but if your sweet tooth is acting up, natural is the way to go.
Soy
Especially the genetically modified kind. GMO’s are a controversial topic, particularly in the US, at the moment. The FDA has neglected to ban substances used in pesticide sprays that negatively affect the body. The herbicide used in GMO crops in the United States has consistently been known to kill beneficial stomach bacteria in animals. Research is continuing to prove the effects on humans. Regardless, it obviously is not a good thing to ingest considering the fact that it also contains phytic acid, which has been linked to unwanted gut issues.
Being conscious and aware of what is going into your body is always a good idea. It is important to point out that if you have been regularly munching on any of the above foods, don’t freak out, it is not the worst thing you can do to your body. However, if you are feeling constantly fatigued or experiencing digestion issues, correcting your diet will directly target your bacterial balance and achieving a balanced stomach.