Poor digestion has always been a problem that troubles people's daily lives. As the ancients often said, the condition of the digestive system is closely related to daily routines and eating habits. So, what are some foods that are suitable for regulating the digestive system in daily life? What should be noted when choosing foods for digestive health during the winter? Today, let's find out together!
7 Foods to Avoid with a Sensitive Stomach
Poor digestion is common for many people. So, what can be done about it? What should one pay attention to in their diet to protect the stomach? What are the most harmful foods for the digestive system? Let's learn about the top seven foods that are most damaging to the stomach.
1. Fried Foods
Fried foods like fried chicken and french fries are inevitably high in oil and fat. These two substances can accumulate in the stomach, leading to illness. When heated to high temperatures, oil produces a substance called "acrylamide," which is difficult to digest.
A nutritionist says: "If you already suffer from gastrointestinal diseases, it is especially important to eat less oily and fatty fried foods, as this can cause discomfort symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea."
Solution: To satisfy your cravings without frying, you can still get a delicious crunch. For instance, while salty potato chips are unhealthy, you can find other ways to prepare potato slices, such as baking them instead of frying. Alternatively, choose low-fat or fat-free foods like crisp crackers or hollow popcorn.
2. Spicy Foods
Chili peppers can irritate the inner lining of the esophagus, causing an unpleasant burning sensation after consumption and increasing the burden on the stomach.
Even if you add something like sour cream to cool it down, you'll still get the same irritation. Moreover, adding toppings like sour cream can lead to other side effects.
Solution: For those with a sensitive stomach or a "heaty" constitution, if you really can't resist the temptation of spicy food, you might opt for milder spicy dishes and eat fewer green and red chilies.
3. Chocolate
Consuming large amounts of chocolate not only brings excess calories, but those who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have experienced the unpleasant sensation that comes after eating it. This is because chocolate can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, causing stomach acid to flow back and irritate the esophagus and throat.
Solution: When choosing chocolate, dark chocolate is the best option. This is because dark chocolate contains various beneficial minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and copper, and among all types of chocolate, it has the lowest sugar and fat content.
4. Citrus Juice
Acidic beverages can irritate the esophagus, stimulating sensory nerves and causing the affected area to become red and swollen. If you start your day with a large glass of citrus juice, you will increase the acidity in your stomach. If you're drinking sweet lemonade with a high concentration of fructose, you should be even more cautious, as excessive sugar intake can cause diarrhea.
Solution: Citrus juice is rich in vitamin C and is suitable for regular consumption. As long as you choose the right time to drink it, you don't have to worry about irritating your esophagus. The best time to drink citrus juice or other acidic juices is with a meal or between meals.
5. Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes are a low-calorie, high-protein food containing a variety of vitamins and trace elements, known as an ideal food for weight loss. It seems nothing is more popular than a bowl of mashed potatoes. This is why when it comes to so-called "convenient foods," mashed potatoes is always at the top of the list.
But mashed potatoes with added cream or cheese are not as good as they seem. In the United States, 30 to 50 million people are lactose intolerant. If you are one of them, creamy mashed potatoes are not for you. This is because the milk, cream, or cheese added to the mashed potatoes can make your stomach very uncomfortable.
Solution: It's best not to buy pre-made mashed potatoes. You can easily make your own at home using fresh potatoes, steaming or boiling them to create pure mashed potatoes without any added ingredients.