The digestive systems of most urban office workers are not in good condition, which is caused by their usual eating habits. Below, the editor has compiled a list of common foods that are most likely to harm the digestive system.
1. Fried Foods
Fried foods like fried chicken chunks and french fries are inevitably high in oil and fat, and the accumulation of these two substances in the stomach can lead to disease. Oil produces a substance called "acrylamide" at high temperatures, which is difficult to digest.
A nutritionist said: "If you already suffer from certain diseases, you should pay special attention to eating less oily and high-fat fried foods, otherwise it may cause some discomfort symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea, etc."
Solution: To satisfy your cravings, you can get a delicious feeling without giving up fried food. For example, if you want a crunchy experience, eating salty potato chips is definitely unhealthy, but you can find other ways to make potato chips, such as baking instead of frying, or choosing low-fat or fat-free foods, such as crisp crackers, hollow popcorn, etc.
2. Spicy Foods
Chili can stimulate the inner wall of the esophagus, causing an unpleasant heartburn after eating and increasing the burden on the stomach.
Even if you add some sour cream to cool it down, you will still get the same stimulation. Moreover, adding things like sour cream can lead to other side effects.
Solution: For people with poor digestion or a "heaty" body, if you really can't resist the temptation of spicy food, you might as well choose some mildly spicy foods and eat less green and red chili peppers.
3. Chocolate
Eating a large amount of chocolate not only brings excess calories, but also people who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease have experienced the uncomfortable stimulation after eating chocolate. This is because chocolate can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, causing stomach acid to reflux and irritate the esophagus and throat.
Solution: When choosing chocolate, it is best to choose dark chocolate. This is because dark chocolate contains various beneficial minerals for the human body, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, etc. Among all chocolates, it has the lowest sugar and fat content.
4. Citrus Juice
Acidic drinks can stimulate the esophagus, causing the sensory nerves to be stimulated, and the stimulated area will become red and swollen.
If the first thing you do after waking up in the morning is to drink a large glass of citrus juice, it will increase the acidity in your stomach and intestines. If you are drinking sweet lemonade with a high concentration of fructose at this time, you need to be even more careful, because excessive sugar intake can cause diarrhea.
Solution: Citrus juice contains a lot of vitamin C and is suitable for regular drinking. As long as you choose the right time to drink it, you don't have to worry about irritating the esophagus. The best time to drink acidic juices like citrus juice is with meals or between meals.
In addition, dark chocolate can also lower blood pressure and prevent atherosclerosis. However, even good things shouldn't be eaten too much; you can only eat up to two small pieces a day.
5. Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes are low in calories, high in protein, and contain various vitamins and trace elements, known as an ideal weight-loss food. It seems that 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 listed first.
But mashed potatoes with cream or cheese are not as good as you might imagine. In the United States, there are 30 to 50 million people with lactose intolerance, but if you are also one of them, you are not suitable for enjoying creamy mashed potatoes. This is because the milk, cream, or cheese added to mashed potatoes will make your stomach very uncomfortable.
Solution: It is best not to buy takeout mashed potatoes. You can easily make pure mashed potatoes at home with fresh potatoes, steamed or boiled without any seasonings.
6. Raw Onions
Onions, garlic, and chives are full of various nutrients and are very beneficial to health, such as protecting the heart, but they can also cause digestive discomfort, such as gas, abdominal cramps, etc. However, cooking seems to neutralize the nutrient mix that causes digestive discomfort.
Solution: Nutrition experts suggest that when eating these foods, you can use a mixed raw and cooked cooking method. This way, you can not only reap the health benefits but also avoid negative effects.
7. Ice Cream
There is no quick way to determine if you are lactose intolerant; you will only know after you sit down and eat a large bowl of ice cream. When you feel bloated, have abdominal cramps, and gas, these physical reactions are telling you to stay away from these dairy-rich foods.
Excessive consumption of cold foods like ice cream, popsicles, and iced beverages can affect the normal functioning of the digestive system, making food difficult to digest and easily damaging the spleen and stomach. Although they are infinitely delicious to eat, they will lead to a loss of appetite afterwards, and also stimulate the spleen and stomach, forming a vicious cycle of bloating and abdominal pain.
Solution: If you don't want to give up cool frozen foods, the only solution is to switch to lactose-free frozen foods, such as pastes made from beans or rice flour. But even if you are not lactose intolerant, ice cream contains a lot of fat, and fat stays in the stomach longer than other foods. Therefore, it is best to eat less or no cold raw foods.
8. Broccoli and Cabbage
Broccoli and cabbage are both outstanding vegetables in the "cruciferous" family, not only rich in vitamins and dietary fiber, but also have the effects of preventing cancer and anti-aging.
But even though they are rich in dietary fiber and various nutrients, these vegetables cannot be completely trusted as healthy. Because high-fiber vegetables can help expand your stomach capacity and easily lead to the accumulation of excess gas in the intestines.
Solution: The solution is simple. Just blanch them in hot water before eating to soften them, which will deactivate the gas-producing sulfur compounds. These two vegetables are most suitable for cold salads and stir-frying.
9. Beans
Beans are notorious for causing indigestion. The oligosaccharides in beans, such as stachyose and raffinose, are fermented by intestinal bacteria, which can produce some gases, leading to symptoms such as belching, bowel sounds, bloating, and abdominal pain.
Patients with severe peptic ulcers should not eat bean products because of their high purine content, which can promote gastric juice secretion. Patients with acute gastritis and chronic superficial gastritis should also avoid bean products to prevent stimulating gastric acid secretion and causing gastrointestinal bloating.
Solution: Cooking beans in soup can help digest this food. By adding water, it helps to digest the large amount of fiber in beans, or you can extend the cooking time. Also, gradually increase bean products in your diet. This will slowly increase the demand for enzymes needed to digest beans without causing side effects.