Beyond Processed Foods - Rubin

[Guest guest]

Issue 12: Beyond Processed Foods

Causes of Digestive Disorders: Beyond Processed Foods

Processed foods are not the only culprits in causing digestive

disorders. Here is a list of other causes of GI disease and how they

can adversely affect digestive health:

High intake of carbohydrates: Many

carbohydrates are not digested, and undigested carbohydrates do not

pass harmlessly through the small intestine. They stay in the gut,

where they can potentially feed “bad” bacteria. As a result, there is

damage to the intestinal wall and digestion is impaired.

High intake of sugar:

Refined white sugar, like carbohydrates, can feed the “bad”

microorganisms in the intestines. One such organism, a yeast called

Candida albicans, loves sugar. Eating too much white sugar can cause

Candida and thrush. Sugar can also feed bacteria that irritate the

lining of the GI tract.

Hydrogenated oils:

Margarine and vegetable shortening are examples of hydrogenated oils.

These oils are found in potato chips, crackers, and most commercially

prepared baked goods, where they preserve food and make it last longer

on the shelf. In the hydrogenated process, liquid (polyunsaturated)

oils are saturated with hydrogen atoms to make them solid at room

temperature. Hydrogenation has the effect of turning polyunsaturated

fats into toxic, unnatural fats called trans fatty acids.

Artificial sweeteners:

Sweeteners that include sorbitol, mannitol, or xylitol can aggravate

irritable bowel syndrome and cause diarrhea in sensitive individuals.

Diet foods, chewing gum, and medicines such as cough syrup and antacids

contain sorbitol.

Alcohol:

The excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages damages the intestinal

tract and strains the liver. The liver is responsible for producing

bile, the substance that breaks down fat in the digestive process.

Nicotine and caffeine:

These substances injure the stomach and esophagus. They relax the

sphincter muscle that controls the passage of food from the esophagus

to the stomach. Consequently, hydrochloric acid from the stomach can

splash into the esophagus to cause heartburn and gastroesophageal

reflux disease.

Antibiotics:

Antibiotics can have a devastating effect on the gut. They wipe out

bacteria—both friendly and unfriendly. Harmful bacteria, yeast and

fungi that were kept in check by friendly bacteria suddenly have a free

reign and can proliferate in the intestines. Additionally, some strains

of bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, and these powerful strains of

bacteria remain in the gut to cause all kinds of trouble.

And that’s not even the whole list! There is much more, and we will explore those topics in the coming weeks.

[Guest guest]

Issue 12: Beyond Processed Foods

Causes of Digestive Disorders: Beyond Processed Foods

Processed foods are not the only culprits in causing digestive

disorders. Here is a list of other causes of GI disease and how they

can adversely affect digestive health:

High intake of carbohydrates: Many

carbohydrates are not digested, and undigested carbohydrates do not

pass harmlessly through the small intestine. They stay in the gut,

where they can potentially feed “bad” bacteria. As a result, there is

damage to the intestinal wall and digestion is impaired.

High intake of sugar:

Refined white sugar, like carbohydrates, can feed the “bad”

microorganisms in the intestines. One such organism, a yeast called

Candida albicans, loves sugar. Eating too much white sugar can cause

Candida and thrush. Sugar can also feed bacteria that irritate the

lining of the GI tract.

Hydrogenated oils:

Margarine and vegetable shortening are examples of hydrogenated oils.

These oils are found in potato chips, crackers, and most commercially

prepared baked goods, where they preserve food and make it last longer

on the shelf. In the hydrogenated process, liquid (polyunsaturated)

oils are saturated with hydrogen atoms to make them solid at room

temperature. Hydrogenation has the effect of turning polyunsaturated

fats into toxic, unnatural fats called trans fatty acids.

Artificial sweeteners:

Sweeteners that include sorbitol, mannitol, or xylitol can aggravate

irritable bowel syndrome and cause diarrhea in sensitive individuals.

Diet foods, chewing gum, and medicines such as cough syrup and antacids

contain sorbitol.

Alcohol:

The excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages damages the intestinal

tract and strains the liver. The liver is responsible for producing

bile, the substance that breaks down fat in the digestive process.

Nicotine and caffeine:

These substances injure the stomach and esophagus. They relax the

sphincter muscle that controls the passage of food from the esophagus

to the stomach. Consequently, hydrochloric acid from the stomach can

splash into the esophagus to cause heartburn and gastroesophageal

reflux disease.

Antibiotics:

Antibiotics can have a devastating effect on the gut. They wipe out

bacteria—both friendly and unfriendly. Harmful bacteria, yeast and

fungi that were kept in check by friendly bacteria suddenly have a free

reign and can proliferate in the intestines. Additionally, some strains

of bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, and these powerful strains of

bacteria remain in the gut to cause all kinds of trouble.

And that’s not even the whole list! There is much more, and we will explore those topics in the coming weeks.