Gut Disrupter #3: Food

Olivia Borer
Nov 19, 2015
2 min read

We’re almost halfway through our discovery of gut bacteria disrupters! Next up? Food.

(Admit it, you knew this one had to be included!)

Okay, let’s jump right in.

How Do Certain Foods Disrupt Our Gut?

I could go on and on here, but I’ll try and keep this short and sweet.

Basically, when we overconsume sugar (in all its sneaky, sneaky forms – check your labels!), grains, vegetable oils, trans fats, and processed foods, our gut bacteria become imbalanced.

Bad bacteria thrive on sugars and processed foods full of the big three: salt, sugar, and fat. When we consume these foods, we are directly feeding our bad bacteria and encouraging their growth while simultaneously decreasing both the good bacteria and our bacterial diversity in general. These changes to our gut bacteria happen very quickly, within days or even hours!

Then, like I talked about with antibiotics, a vicious cycle forms: our gut bacteria become depleted, so our gut signals to our brain to send nourishment in the form of quick energy. This quick energy source is usually sugar, because that’s what our bad bacteria want! So, we satisfy our craving for quick energy by eating sugar, and what happens? The bad gut bacteria thrive, the good gut bacteria are further depleted, and the cycle continues.

What Foods Can We Consume To Help Our Gut?

On the other hand, when we consume vegetables; fruits; probiotic-rich foods (like sauerkraut); and high-quality meats, eggs, seafood, and fats, our good bacteria thrive. They especially love vegetables, and when the good bacteria break down these healthy foods, they allow the nutrients contained in them to be absorbed by our cells.

Specifically, a class of foods called prebiotics are fibers that feed the good bacteria already in our gut (while probiotics add good bacteria to our gut). Common real food examples include garlic, onions, asparagus, and bananas.

When we eat these foods, there is no vicious cycle. Our blood sugar remains stable, our good bacteria thrive, and we feel good! Now, who doesn’t want that!

Bottom Line

Stay away from CRAP...