Did you know there are foods that make digestive issues worse?

While it may be hard to think that there are foods that make digestive issues worse, in reality, these otherwise healthy foods can be the ones that sign you up for more bloating, abdominal pain, and indigestion!

Once we are in the midst of digestive issues, it can be hard to know what to avoid and what not to, unless you already know what they are.

After all, if you are having indigestion and you are not suffering from nausea, you may be having issues with bloating.

Once you are nauseated, you do not feel like eating much to begin with, but once you are bloated, it can feel like this digestive issue will just pass on its own.

The sad truth is that it is not only what you eat that can make or break your digestive issues, but also what you eat when you are dealing with them, to begin with.

I learned the hard way how much worse digestive issues can get when you make bad food choices, so I started to read more about the topic and figured out what I need to steer clear of when I have digestive issues!

If you want to make sure that you avoid foods that make digestive issues worse, make sure you keep reading!

What do you do when you have tummy issues? Is there any food you avoid at all costs? Let us know in the comments below!

Acidic Foods

While citrus fruits are the first that come to mind when we think about acidic foods, they are not the only ones that are common, and you should not be eating too many of them when you have digestive issues.

Tomatoes and tomato sauce or juice are the other culprits we need to be wary of, as they are also acidic.

But why should we avoid acidic foods to begin with? The high amount of acid in them can irritate the stomach lining, which can trigger further digestive issues.

One other culprit that people do not manage to pinpoint as acidic food when they have an upset stomach is sodas and all carbonated beverages.

So do yourself a favor and skip the pop and acidic fruits until after your stomach is better.

Fried Foods

Other foods you need to be careful of are fried foods. The reason is not that fried foods are the worst things for our health (though you should not rely on them too much in your diet), but rather that they can move through your body undigested.

If they are not digested, they can move faster, and the quick pace can lead to further digestive issues since it can give you diarrhea.

The other scenario is that the undigested food is going to be residing in your tract for way too long, and this will lead to bloating and a full feeling.

Since many fried foods are low in fiber, they are going to take longer to digest, no matter what your side dish is with them!

This is why, as a general rule of thumb, you should avoid eating anything if you are dealing with constipation or diarrhea.

A good piece of wisdom from my grandma is that when you have indigestion, you should steer clear of all food since it slows down the emptying of your stomach when you want the exact opposite to happen.

Spicy Foods

No matter what type of digestive issues you may be having, including the likes of nausea and vomiting, in addition to the ones we have mentioned before, you need to avoid stimulating foods.

Some of the most stimulating foods for the digestive system include spicy foods.

Specialists in the field of gastrointestinal issues and registered dieticians warn against eating spicy foods when you are not feeling well, as it can cause you more problems than you are willing to put up with.

The catch here is that spicy foods are incredibly “versatile” and that they have a different effect on every person since we are all different. For some, they can end up not having any issues; for others, it can worsen their digestive issues, cause indigestion, and even cause diarrhea.

The rule of thumb is that if you have any sort of upset stomach, you should not be going to really flavorful dishes but rather stick to the bland ones that will not further upset your digestive system.

And this also includes avoiding any spices that you are sensitive to!

Dairy Products

If you’re lactose intolerant, then you already know that you should not be eating any dairy products. For those of us who cannot digest lactose, it is a surefire cause of digestive issues.

However, if you can generally eat it or tolerate it in small quantities, then you should know that it can be a bad reaction since dairy may be harder to digest due to sugar, milk, and other properties.

If you have problems with your digestion, not eating dairy products may solve some of your issues, especially if you find yourself bloated or having gas when you eat this category of products.

On the other hand, if you are ingesting high amounts of lactose when it reaches your large intestine, you can end up having worsened problems with diarrhea. Or it can even cause it if your stomach is already upset.

Despite all of this, you can still end up consuming dairy products, including the likes of hard cheeses and yogurt, when you struggle with digestive issues since they have little to no lactose in their composition.

Processed Foods

A lot of processed foods can end up making your constipation worse; a lot of them are truly lacking in fiber, which is needed in order to regulate bowel movement.

Thus, it is counterintuitive when you are dealing with digestive issues.

What’s more, specialists urge us to remember that a lot of processed foods more often than not contain preservatives and artificial coloring, which can cause people who are sensitive to additives or even allergic to them to have bouts of digestive issues caused by them.

Some types of processed foods also contain lactose, even if they do not appear to do so at first, which can increase the discomfort you are experiencing and give you gas.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid processed and pre-packaged foods as much as you can until you are clear with your digestive issues.

Alcohol

Another thing you should be avoiding is alcohol. If you are having digestive issues, especially if you are feeling nauseated, you should avoid all alcoholic drinks.

These types of drinks can end up making you feel sicker. Specialists explain that alcohol can be toxic to your stomach lining and that it also influences liver metabolism, so when you are feeling under the weather already, the last thing you need to do is add alcohol to the mix.

Food has been seen to help with a lot of conditions and ailments, especially in the case of digestive issues. If you want to see how you can cook food to help yourself heal, make sure you check out this Reader’s Digest cookbook with amazing superfood recipes!

However, there are a lot of other foods that are going to help you have good digestion once you are out of murky waters with the likes of indigestion. If you want to see which foods are going to boost your digestion, make sure you read our article here!