I'm a gastroenterologist - these are the five things I would never eat (2023)

FAQs

What foods to avoid to live longer? ›

“Consuming excessive amounts of foods high in added sugars and refined carbohydrates such as white flour, foods high in saturated fat and/or trans fat and frequent consumption of red and processed meats have a negative effect on our health,” Murray said.

Due to their high lectin content, excessive potato consumption could lead to digestive difficulties. Despite being a healthy source of vitamins and minerals, potatoes are actually one of the most problematic lectin-containing foods.

Foods most often linked to intestinal gas include: Beans and lentils. Asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and other vegetables. Fructose, a natural sugar found in artichokes, onions, pears, wheat, and some soft drinks.

Including lean protein, vegetables, and nuts in the diet every day can help people stay healthy and prevent certain chronic conditions. Some plant foods, such as cruciferous vegetables and berries, contain particularly beneficial compounds, including polyphenols and glucosinolates.

Peanut butter is loaded with so many good, health-promoting nutrients, including vitamin E, magnesium, iron, selenium and vitamin B6. Research shows that people who regularly eat nuts and nut butter, including peanut butter, are less likely to develop heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Try to get tomatoes, blueberries, green leafy veggies like spinach and kale, turmeric, and nuts (especially walnuts) into your diet. And those omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon and other oily fish, are inflammation fighters, too.

What food makes me live longer? ›

People who more carefully followed any of the healthy eating patterns — which all share a focus on consuming more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes — were also less likely to die from cancer, cardiovascular illness, and respiratory and neurodegenerative disease.

The most common culprits are dairy products, sugary treats, and high-fat meats. So go easy on marbled steaks and sausages, cheese, ice cream, cakes, cookies, and frozen or packaged meals, which tend to lack much fiber.

Peanut butter contains prebiotics which feed beneficial bacteria in the microbiome; however, it's important to keep in mind that consuming too much peanut butter can cause digestive distress. Excessive intake can lead to a build up of gas in the intestines due to its high fiber content.

Water keeps things moving along, balances the good bacteria in the gut, and protects the intestines. Consider sipping alkaline water, which supports a healthy colon and encourages the growth of probiotics.

But when you think about all of the delicious things you can eat as part of a microbiome-friendly menu, it's not gross at all. As Dr. Raj explained on Monday's Rachael Ray Show, one of the three best foods to "renovate your gut health" is actually ice cream.

Fatty foods, such as chips, burgers and fried foods, are harder to digest and can cause stomach pain and heartburn. Cut back on greasy fried foods to ease your stomach's workload. Try to eat more lean meat and fish, drink skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, and grill rather than fry foods.

Peanut butter is easy to digest for some people, but tough for others, and it's been connected to worsening acid reflux symptoms anecdotally. While your GI tract is angry, it's safer to hold off on the PB.

In limited quantities, steamed vegetables like broccoli, spinach and carrots are mild enough for your colon. Canned fruits and vegetables can also be gentle on your colon. The acidic base in the canned vegetables helps to diminish the insoluble fiber content. Canned peaches, pears, applesauce, green beans, etc.

Does peanut butter reduce bloating? ›

Because of its high-fat content, peanut butter can be especially difficult to digest for some people, leading to indigestion or bloating.

Excess upper intestinal gas can result from swallowing more than a usual amount of air, overeating, smoking or chewing gum. Excess lower intestinal gas can be caused by eating too much of certain foods, by the inability to fully digest certain foods or by a disruption in the bacteria normally found in the colon.

Many people experience bloating and/or gut upset when they eat a lot of salad. This commonly occurs if someone is going quickly from a less healthy, low-fibre diet to a healthier, high-fibre diet.

In fact, drinking water during or after a meal helps how your body breaks down and processes food (digestion). Water is vital for good health. Water and other drinks help break down food so that your body can take in (absorb) the nutrients. Water also makes stool softer, which helps prevent constipation.

Acidic Foods

Tomato sauce and citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit, are acidic and can irritate the stomach lining, causing digestive problems.

In the case of Intermittent fasting, skipping your dinner is better and easier. You can have your dinner either early or have a heavy snack and can begin your fasting. Research suggests that fasting in the evening and overnight, then eating early in the morning is the better way to follow this diet to lose weight.

Oatmeal + fruit + nut butter.

The best breakfasts have carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, and fiber. In this combo, the oatmeal gives you complex carbs and fiber, keeps your blood sugar under control, and helps maintain an ideal balance of bacteria in your gut. The nut butter adds protein and healthy fats.

Water is the best choice for quenching your thirst. Coffee and tea, without added sweeteners, are healthy choices, too. Some beverages should be limited or consumed in moderation, including fruit juice, milk, and those made with low-calorie sweeteners, like diet drinks.

Health Benefits

Fermented pickles are full of good bacteria called probiotics, which are important for gut health. Fights diseases. Cucumbers are high in an antioxidant called beta-carotene, which your body turns into vitamin A.

What are the 5 foods you should eat every day? ›

Salt or sodium

Salt, or specifically the sodium in salt, is a major contributor to high blood pressure and heart disease. This is because of how it affects fluid balance in the blood. Table salt is around 40 percent sodium. Some amount of salt is important for health, but it's easy to eat too much.

Although celery has a high water content, it contains numerous vitamins and minerals, including potassium and calcium, which are important for heart health. It also contains folate and vitamin K, both of which are required for the formation of red blood cells and effective blood clotting.

As it turns out, according to both medical doctors and naturalistic nutritionists, as well as university researchers and numerous medical studies done all across the globe, fruit jams, jellies and preserves provide our bodies with beneficial quick boosts of energy and in fact, are only bout half the calories, even far ...

Hot dogs could shorten one's life by 36 minutes. Salted peanuts, baked salmon and rice with beans could add between 10 and 15 minutes. The study suggests that eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches could add 33 minutes.

Black tea

Black tea has similar benefits to green tea, such as containing caffeine and antioxidants (polyphenols, L-theanine and flavanols). Having these healthy substances make black tea a great source of boost in longevity.

Radishes are a great vegetable to eat every day. They are low in calories and fat, and high in fiber. Radishes also contain vitamins C and B6, as well as magnesium, potassium, and iron. This vegetable is a great source of antioxidants.

What is the healthiest lifestyle to live? ›

Be physically active every day. Eat a healthy diet rich in whole grains, lean protein, vegetables, and fruits. Reduce or avoid unhealthy saturated fats and trans fats. Instead, use healthier monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Plant protein is linked to longevity

According to the research review, bumping up your daily plant protein intake by just 3 percent may lower your early-mortality risk by 5 percent. Let's say, for example, that you consume about 2,500 calories a day.

People who eat 12g of chocolate a day – roughly the equivalent of two pieces of a bar of chocolate - have a 12 per cent lower risk of dying, compared to those who don't eat chocolate at all, according to new research published by the US National Cancer Institute.

Research on the Mediterranean diet shows that this diet — rich in fresh veggies and fruit, olive oil, whole grains, legumes, fresh meat, and fish — is associated with an enriched microbiota that promoted “an anti-inflammatory environment low in taxa with pro-inflammatory properties capable of altering intestinal ...

As part of a balanced diet, eggs contribute to a healthy digestive tract and can be helpful during acute digestive problems. In addition to being packed with nutrients, eggs are usually easy to digest compared to some other high-protein foods, such as meat and legumes.

While for lactose-intolerant people, some cheese can provoke gas and even diarrhea, in others, an excess of cheese has the reputation for causing constipation due to its high fat content. The best way to mix cheese and gut health is in a balanced meal; this helps you avoid accidentally over-indulging.

Numerous in vivo studies using animal models show that honey acts as a prebiotic, specifically by promoting the populations of probiotic bacteria, including Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp., (104, 106, 107, 119), and alleviating symptoms of constipation and ulcerative colitis (107, 119).

Bromelain in pineapples, if eaten on an empty stomach, also helps to reduce pain and inflammation, including gut inflammation. As a result, it may help to promote a healthy gut lining and prevent the leaky gut syndrome. You can find pineapples at any grocery store or health food store.

Potatoes are an easy to digest starchy food at the best of times but mashing them into a puree helps breaks down the fibres, making them even more of a doddle to digest. They also provide essential nutrients, including electrolyte-balancing potassium.

What foods speed up bowels? ›

Most studies agree that calcium-rich dairy products can make you less likely to develop colon growths (called adenomas) and colorectal cancer.

Is cheese a good source? A. Probiotics, good bacteria that can contribute to gut and overall health, can be found in some types of cheese as well as in dietary supplements, fermented foods, and yogurt. Typically, probiotics are in cheeses that have been aged but not heated afterward.

Chicken. While you may just eat chicken for an easy weeknight meal, it's actually a good food to add to your diet. And although you may crave a perfectly grilled steak from time to time, high-fat foods like red meat can promote bacteria in the colon that increases the risk of clogging your arteries.

Fermented foods like pickles are basically probiotic superfoods, packed full of good bacteria that can support the health of your gastrointestinal microbiome and are good for your gut bacteria. Be sure to go for fermented pickles rather than vinegar-pickled.