It is a well-known fact that a balanced diet is crucial to keep your body healthy. A balanced diet in this context includes a range of fresh fruits, whole grains and vegetables. In today’s society, keeping healthy is proving difficult. This is because we are eating highly processed foods and skip eating fresh fruits and vegetables. In America the common diet includes fast food commonly referred to as junk food. However, the term junk food is not limited to fast food but also includes protein bars, yogurt and juice which most people perceive as healthy. 

The Standard American Diet, commonly known as SAD is mainly composed of junk food. SAD includes packaged foods and highly processed foods which are known to cause health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and are of little or no nutritional value. 

A SAD case

You might ask yourself, when and how did the SAD get so bad? Well, the average American diet includes a considerable portion of junk food. This junk food is packaged in highly colored boxes, cans or bags to attract the customers. To further attract customers, they label these packages as health foods. This is completely untrue as the ingredients in these processed foods include high-fructose syrup, added sugars, refined carbohydrates, filler oils, nitrates, preservatives, chemicals and artificial colors. These ingredients have been scientifically proven to completely destroy your gut health. 

How Does Junk Food Destroy Your Gut Health?

What is the relationship between junk food and bad gut health? The ingredients mentioned above provide food and optimum conditions for the bad’ bacteria in your gut to grow and multiply. They grow very fast at the expense of good’ bacteria putting your entire gut health at risk. When bad bacteria like Salmonella takes over your gastrointestinal tract, not only is your digestion at risk but also your gut health. You can introduce probiotic bacteria (good bacteria) to your gut by taking Probiotic suppliments. Probiotic suppliments are becoming a choice for many as it hard to find the foods that introduce probiotic bacteria into your gut. 

Is my Diet Destroying my Gut Health?

In America, only one in four people eat a fruit serving a day, only 1 in 10 eats the recommended amount of vegetables. If you consume the foods listed below; then, yes, your diet is destroying your gut health. 

Trans Fats

· Margarine

· Doughnuts

· Microwave Popcorn

· Fried fast food

· Packaged cookies, crackers and pies

· Frozen foods i.e pizza

· Breakfast Sandwiches

Sugar

· Soda, bottled juices, sports drinks and condiments

 

Refined Carbohydrates

· White bread

· Pasta Breakfast cereals

· White Rice

The above listed foods are bad for your gut and feed your bad bacteria putting your gut health at risk. If you continue feeding these bacteria, your gut health will continue to deteriorate day after day. Poo gut health leads to slow metabolism, poor sleep quality, intestinal parasites, irritable bowels and nutrient deficiency just to mention a few.

Which Foods are Good for Your Gut?

By eating probiotic foods such as pea, Avocado, Banana Dandelion, Kimchi Apple, Leeks, Asparagus and kefir, you introduce probiotic bacteria which support good gut health. Another great way to introduce probiotic bacteria to your gut is by taking probiotic suppliments. 

It is up to you to take control of your gut health by adjusting your diet accordingly and introducing probiotic bacteria to your system. By taking probiotic suppliments, you stand a great chance of improving your gut health.