Worst Foods for Gut Health: How To Improve Your Gut Health

How sugar affects your gut microbiome

Bacteria, like all living things, require a food source. Unfortunately, some bacteria, especially more harmful ones, thrive too well on sugar. The resulting imbalance among your microbiota can lead to many health problems (1).

Studies on mouse models indicated that if this bacterial imbalance continues, chronic diseases can develop. This could be inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and even cancer ( 2 , 3, 4). 

A healthy microbiome can reduce the risk of inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and metabolic diseases like diabetes (5, 1, 6).

Basically, as the harmful bacteria multiply, they make a hole in your intestinal lining (7). They then pass through the gut tissue and enter the bloodstream. This is what often causes intestinal inflammation.

To what extent dietary sugar disrupts microbiome function is an interesting question. However, here are some symptoms that may be related to sugar consumption and damage to the human gut:

• Abdominal bloating
• Gassy stomach 
• Unexplainable diarrhea
• Unusual constipation

The expert view on gut microbiome

The balance and diversity of gut microbes depend on what you eat. We spoke to a leader in the field and author of the best sellers “Wheat Belly” and “Super Gut,” Dr. William Davis:

A lot of (gut disruption) is due to sugar overconsumption as well as antibiotic exposure. So, there’s a long list of reasons why the modern diet is a perfect storm to disrupt your gastrointestinal microbiome.

In short, the modern diet of processed carbohydrates (or simple sugars), low fiber, and high sugar diet is of great concern. If you consume these foods often enough, the diversity and number of good bacteria in your intestinal tract decrease (8, 9, 10).

Notwithstanding sugar, Dr. Davis highlights other complications. He explains how fecal microbes migrating from the lower to the upper digestive tract affect some 50% of Americans. These more powerful bacteria can easily penetrate the intestinal wall and cause diseases.

Excess sugar linked to colon cancer

The effects of sugar on the gut microbiome imbalance can be quite dire. It is becoming increasingly clear that this can be a tipping point to CRC or colorectal cancer (11, 12).  

This cancer affects the large intestine and part of the rectum. It’s the third most common cancer in the world and the second leading cause of death from cancer (13, 14).

More specifically, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and processed fructose increase the risk of dying from colon cancer. There is also a higher risk of cancer returning after surgery or chemotherapy (15, 16). 

Sugar and the small intestine

Another gut syndrome on the increase is SIBO or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. In this case, bacteria in the large intestine overmultiply and migrate to the small intestine. Here they become problematic since a healthy intestinal tract thrives on the correct balance of bacteria (17). 

SIBO typically affects people with IBS, fatty liver disease, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, pancreas inflammation, renal failure, and celiac disease (18, 19).

A key symptom of SIBO can be bloating, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea. The overgrown bacteria break down carbohydrates in the small intestine instead of the large intestine where they normally live (20, 18).

How to improve gut health: Eliminating sugar and choosing the right foods

Eliminating sugar in 7 simple steps

You may think avoiding sweet things is near impossible. However, here are seven simple ways to gradually reduce your sugar intake.

1. Get to know other names for sugar

Sugar is a lot more than sweet little granules. Most people are aware of sugary bombs, especially high-fructose corn syrup, in processed foods and concentrated fruit juices. But here are other sugary scoundrels to keep an eye out for while shopping: 

• Agave nectar
• Barley malt
• Brown rice syrup 
• Florida crystals
• Panocho

Go here to get the complete list of the 56 names of sugar.

2. Avoid low-fat foods

Some people think low-fat foods are good. One problem is they don’t make you feel full for very long. The other is they are often high in sugar (21). On the other hand, full-fat foods contain more protein and amino acids, which provide better satiety (22).

Among fats, mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated are the best choices for better satiety and health. You can find good fats in these foods:

• Olive oil
• Avocados
• Butter and ghee
• Omega-3 oils
• Nuts and seeds
• Full-fat dairy products
• Dark chocolate

3. Reduce processed foods

Processed foods are sugar-enemy number one. Around 74% of food in the U.S. is mostly processed and with added sugars (23). The first step is to avoid buying refined wheat foods such as white bread, white rice, pasta, and cereals. Instead, switch to whole foods such as beans, legumes, lentils, vegetables, and fruits. Fruits, of course, contain a lot of fructose, so why are they on the good list? Whole fruits are more substantial and satiating. They are also packed with fiber, minerals, and vitamins, plus fructose comes in more manageable quantities.

4. Avoid ‘sugar-free’ products

If you see any drink or food shouting, “Sugar-free!” – stop and think again. It could be a trap. These ‘honey traps’ often contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucrose, and high fructose corn syrup. Studies suggest that artificial sweeteners increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and weight gain in normal and obese people. Especially in clinically obese women, artificial sweeteners trigger appetite and food cravings (24, 25, 26). 

5. Eat more protein

The protein stays in your stomach for longer. When you eat protein, you feel full for longer, which helps avoid food cravings or wanting to eat sugary snacks (27). 

Cereal and bread should not be your top breakfast choice. Instead, try eating fruits, steel-cut oats, or buckwheat spinach pancakes.

For non-vegetarians, eggs, ham, or sausages made from turkey or beef will keep you full until noon. Lean, grass-fed meats such as turkey, chicken, and ground beef are good anytime. 

6. Opt for healthy snacks

Sugar cravings may make you want to grab something sweet by 3 or 4 pm. Instead of going straight for cookies and cupcakes, we have some better options for you:

• Dark chocolate: 70% cacao dark chocolate will beat off cravings.
• Snack bars: Not all snack bars are healthy. Choose ones made from oats, dates, and nuts without added sugar.
• Smoothies: It’s fast and easy to make a smoothie with yogurt and whole berries. Whole berries have the best fiber content for your gut bacteria.
• Simple options: Boiled eggs for hunger pangs and fruits for sugar cravings are good bets.

7. Get quality sleep

Sleep disruption is more than ‘having a bad night.’ Low-quality sleep is well known to cause an increase in food cravings and snacking, especially high-energy foods with added sugars, and cause weight gain. (28). So, if you don’t sleep well, your appetite for sugary food will increase. Here are some tips for better sleep:

• Avoid caffeinated beverages after 4 pm.
• Eat a light dinner so your stomach can relax.
• No screen time at least 30 minutes before bed.
• Meditation can relax the mind and slow things down.

Best probiotic and prebiotic foods for your gut health

Studies suggest that gut-healthy prebiotic and probiotic foods are the best choices for preventing bad bacteria from taking over. Overall good microbiota diversity is the key (29, 30, 31, 32).

• Probiotics are beneficial bacteria found either in fermented food or specific supplements. 
• Prebiotics are foods that feed good bacteria. These come mostly from fiber. We can’t digest fiber, but our good bacteria love to eat it!

Prebiotic-rich fiber foods

Some great prebiotic fiber foods are mushrooms, garlic, onions, leeks, and all types of legumes. For breakfast, try whole oats, bananas, or watermelon. Less common options are artichokes and seaweed, and dandelion greens are excellent too.

The daily recommended intake of fiber is different based on age and gender. Consuming 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day is suggested for adults.

Best probiotic products: How to find them

Probiotics are a bit more of a challenge. Western go-to choices are yogurt, blue cheese, apple cider vinegar, and sauerkraut. You may want to try Asian or other so-called ethnic supermarkets for kefir, kombucha, kimchi, miso, natto, or tempeh. When buying fermented or probiotic foods, you also need to choose carefully. Some may not be effective or have unbeneficial ingredients. Here are some useful tips:

• Choose refrigerated foods with live bacteria.
• Avoid canned pickles, which have no live bacteria.
• Go for plain or sugar-free yogurt.
• Try simple homemade recipes.
• Make sure to review the sugar content in the food.