The health of your gut can impact much more than your digestion. Your mood, sleep quality, skin, and immune system are all affected by the condition of your gut. An unhealthy gut can even have consequences for your heart and brain health! With this in mind, it’s no wonder that many people have taken an interest in how they can prevent gut inflammation. 

Your diet is a key factor in the state of your digestive system. Here, we’ll discuss the foods that may be stimulating unnecessary inflammation in your body. 

Gluten

While some people are able to consume gluten without any problems, it can trigger inflammation for others. When people who have a gluten sensitivity consume gluten, it stimulates the immune system and inflammation occurs as a result. If you notice bloating, abdominal pain, brain fog, and other symptoms whenever you consume gluten, removing it from your diet may help to improve your overall health. 

Dairy

Dairy is another food item that, for some people, can cause inflammation. Bloating, digestive upset, skin irritation, acne, and increased mucus production are all possible signs that dairy may be increasing inflammation in your body. 

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol stimulates additional acid production in the stomach. This can lead to gastritis, which occurs when the stomach lining becomes inflamed. Excess alcohol consumption can also compromise the gut microbiome, which includes a balance of bacteria. If this balance is thrown off by alcohol, the bad bacteria in the stomach can overwhelm the good bacteria, leading to gastrointestinal issues. 

Greasy Foods

Greasy, high-fat foods slow down the body’s digestive process. Specifically, these foods make the stomach empty at a slower rate. This causes food to sit in the stomach for longer, which can cause irritation, bloating, stomach pain, and nausea. 

Dr. Kalidas at The Center for Natural and Integrative Medicine can help improve the health of your gut with an integrative treatment plan. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!