10 Foods That Will Damage Your Gut Health & 10 That Will Heal It

Too much sugar in your diet wrecks gut health by causing inflammation. Whether it’s from overly sugary foods like baked goods or highly sweet beverages

Sugary Foods

Loaded with sugar, unhealthy fats, and empty calories, processed foods target gut health through inflammation and impaired digestion.

Processed Foods

Fried foods may taste good, but they don’t do you any good. Rich in trans fats and coated in flour, fried foods love to pick fights with our insides and often lead to inflammation or exacerbated IBS symptoms.

Fried Foods

Red meat, especially fatty cuts like steaks and ribs, wreaks havoc on your system. It has a lot of protein going for it, but also comes hand-in-hand with high levels of saturated fats

Red Meat

High-sodium diets are best avoided to preserve gut health. Too much salt can quickly dehydrate you, which impacts the stomach and can easily lead to inflammation and cramps.

Salty Foods

On the surface, artificial sweeteners seem like a good choice—they cut down your sugar intake and are great options for diabetics.

Artificial Sweeteners

Much like with sugary foods, highly sugary drinks like soda or fruit juice are detrimental to gut health.

Sugary Drinks

Alcohol does a number on your system, least of all your stomach. Too much of it damages your gut’s lining, impedes nutrient absorption, and causes symptoms like inflammation or bloating.

Alcohol

While dairy is often thought of as a gut-safe food group, it can be the exact opposite for others. For some, dairy products are a one-way ticket to all kinds of unpleasant symptoms like bloating, gas, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.

Dairy

Coffee affects everyone differently—while your morning mug isn’t necessarily bad, excessive caffeine can harm others, leading to bloating, gas, or longer bathroom breaks.

Excessive Caffeine

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