Gorging on ice creams or indulging in chicken nuggets can give you a hard time digesting these foods. This NutriNeat post lists some foods that are hard to digest.
Did You Know?
For proper digestion, it is recommended to have meals slowly and chew the food thoroughly.
Frequent digestion problems can be attributed to consumption of foods that are hard to digest. Foods that slow down the digestion process can make you feel extremely uncomfortable. They take a longer time to digest, as well as strain your stomach. Also, people suffering from medical conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or those affected with stomach flu, need to be careful about foods that are difficult to digest.
Here are some food items that are difficult to digest, and should always be eaten in moderation.
Foods that are Tough to Digest
Fried Foods
Fried foods are not easy to digest, and must be avoided when you have digestion problems. The act of frying a food product makes it extremely oily and fatty. Fried foods, such as chicken nuggets, can be heavy on the gut and can worsen medical conditions like inflammatory bowel disease.
Dairy Products
Dairy products, especially ice cream, can also be tough to digest. Most ice creams are full of fats, thereby making them difficult to digest. Also, if you are lactose intolerant, milk and dairy products, such as cheese and ice creams, have no place in your diet as they contain lactose.
Raw Foods
Although raw foods, such as salads, are excellent sources of nutrition, they are hard to digest. People with digestion problems certainly won’t be able to tolerate the intake of raw foods. Raw vegetables are full of insoluble fiber that can cause indigestion when taken in excess. People eating raw cabbage or broccoli are prone to stomach discomfort as they are gas-producing foods, which may lead to bloating. In fact, raw cabbage is one of the toughest to break down, and hence is difficult to digest. Similarly, eating raw onions can trigger stomach discomfort as they contain too much of fiber, which may lead to gas.
Acidic Foods
Foods that are highly acidic can also be a primary contributory factor for stomach distress. Acidic foods, such as tomatoes, corn, and lentils, can disturb your pH balance and exacerbate digestion problems.
Spicy Foods
Spicy foodstuffs, such as chili peppers, also come in the list of hard-to-digest foods as they can trigger symptoms of heartburn. The burning sensation while consuming spicy foods can be a cause of great discomfort, and moreover, can also irritate the lining of the digestive tract.
Processed Foods
Processed foods can cause problems in digestion as they are devoid of fiber, which may lead to constipation. Processed foods such as cakes, chips, white bread, fast foods, luncheon meat, and candies are loaded with fats, sodium, white flour, and moreover, provide very little nutrition. Regular consumption of processed foods will surely pave the way for a wide range of digestion problems.
Beans
Beans can also be bothersome to your stomach and difficult to digest. They contain high amounts of indigestible carbohydrate (raffinose) that can cause bloating and gas. So, a hearty bean meal consisting of chickpeas and kidney beans is bound to make you feel bloated and cause flatulence.
Chocolates
Though chocolates contain mood-lifting compounds, they can cause tummy trouble when taken in excess. Most chocolate products are high in milk, that may cause stomach discomfort. Also, people with acid reflux disease may not be able to tolerate intake of chocolates. Theobromine, caffeine, and cocoa are some of the important constituents of chocolate products that can slacken the sphincter muscle, causing stomach acids to enter the throat. Thus, too much intake of chocolates can increase the risk of acid reflux.
Citrus Juices
Citrus juices are incredibly healthy but still can cause digestive stress. Citrus juices are acidic in nature and tend to aggravate acid reflux symptoms, and may even irritate the esophagus. IBS patients are likely to experience stomach discomfort from drinking orange juice.
Sugar-Free Gum
Artificial sweeteners, particularly sorbitol, is an indispensable part of sugar-free gums. While you may feel happy that you are chewing a sugar-free gum, the presence of sorbitol may indicate trouble for your tummy. Sorbitol is broken down slowly in the body, and takes more time to digest. Also, partially undigested sorbitol can lead to gas build-up in the intestine. So, chewing a sorbitol-based gum continuously may cause bloating, abdominal cramps, and flatulence.
These foods are tough to digest, but does that mean you should avoid them completely. Absolutely not! Moderation is the key when it comes to having foods that are difficult to digest. Indulgence is something one has to avoid to maintain digestive health. Healthy eating, that involves monitoring portion size, is an integral part of a good balanced diet, and can go a long way in supporting normal digestion.
On the whole, if you want to keep your digestive system healthy, it is essential to limit consumption of foods that are hard to digest.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical professional.