FOOD SENSITIVITIES: 10 BEST & WORST FOODS FOR YOUR TUMMY

Gas, stomach aches, constipation and diarrhea are common signs your digestive system is off-kilter. Did you know that brittle hair and low energy can also point to tummy troubles? A healthy digestive system begins with a good diet. Eat the right stuff and improve digestion. Eat badly and you feel like a human garbage can. How you eat can affect the way you feel too. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is also home to our most precious disease-fighting resource: the immune system. Two-thirds of the immune system is in the digestive tract. There are more neurotransmitters in the GI than in the brain and more nerve endings than in the spine. Your digestive system is vital to your health and happiness. So how do you keep it working well? Avoid these 5 gut enemies:

1. RED MEAT: the more red meat you eat, the higher your risk of colorectal cancer. That's because it is typically high in saturated fat, which is tied to cancer of the small intestine.

2. PROCESSED MEAT: Lunch meats, hot dogs, sausages and other processed meats are packed with saturated fat, sodium and nitrates. Processed meats have been linked to colon cancer, possibly because they are cooked at high temperatures, which can increase carcinogens.

3. HYDROGENATED OILS: Trans fats, created when liquid oils are hydrogenated, aren't found in nature. They're an inexpensive way to make fats last longer on supermarket shelves, but your body pays a high price: they're hard to digest and have been linked to many health problems, including increased bad (LDL) cholesterol, decreased good (HDL) cholesterol and colon cancer.

4. GLUTEN: About 2 million Americans suffer from gluten intolerance. Gluten is a protein found in barley, rye, spelt, wheat and countless other foods such as processed meats, soy sauce, ice cream, cheese, cookies, pasta, ketchup, salad dressings and more.

5. LACTOSE: Another cause of stomach aches is lactose, the principal sugar found in milk. Lactose intolerance affects 30-50 million Americans. Avoiding milk can help, but you don't have to give up all dairy. Some lactose-intolerant people do fine with small amounts of milk.

Best Foods For Your Gut:

1. Dietary Fiber/PRUNES: Fiber keeps things moving through your digestive system and out. Otherwise, your colon is stuck with toxins that can build up and cause major health problems.

2. Probiotics/YOGURT: Probiotics are those "good bugs" you hear health nuts raving about. Why would anyone willingly eat bacteria? Our intestinal flora is made up of trillions of good bacteria that aid in digestion and promote immunity and health. In fact, four pounds of our body weight comes from the bacteria that live in the digestive tract. The No. 1 probiotic food is yogurt. When choosing yogurt, make sure the cultures are listed as "live" or "active." Yogurts with added fiber are even better.

3. Prebiotics/LENTILS: Prebiotics are food for probiotics. Prebiotics help good bacteria thrive while driving down the number of disease-producing bacteria trying to invade the digestive tract. They also promote a more acidic intestinal environment, which helps the body absorb nutrients in food such as the minerals calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium. Fortunately, prebiotics are found in many of the foods we already eat.

4. Gluten-free grains/QUINOA: Gluten - a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye - isn't necessarily bad for you. But it does cause stomach aches for many people. Expanding your grain repertoire is a good idea whether or not you're gluten intolerant. Quinoa is an excellent option. This gluten-free grain is a complete protein, meaning it provides all eight essential amino acids. It's also fiber-rich and bursting with minerals.

5. Fermented foods/SOURDOUGH: Sometimes your GI tract just needs a break. Fermented foods are the solution. Fermenting or culturing makes food more digestible by actually 'predigesting' it for you. Fermenting also increases our absorption of the other nutrients in the food. Pickles, sauerkraut, kefir, miso, tempeh and Japanese tamari or soy sauce are all easy-to-digest fermented foods.

Don't forget the most essential "food" of all - water. Digestion can't occur without water, so be sure to drink eight 8oz glasses throughout the day.

source: www.lifescript.com