What Are the Most Difficult Foods to Digest? | Optimum Health Rehab (2024)

Author: Collin Land

Whether a regular occurrence or an occasional discomfort, most people experience the misery of indigestion. We all know the symptoms: abdominal pain, lethargy, bloating and nausea. But what exactly causes indigestion and why is it especially problematic to some?

Healthy digestion happens when there is a balance between the body and the number of bacteria inhabiting the gut. A healthy gut flora strengthens our health and immunity, fuels weight loss and combats depression. Conversely, eating processed foods, taking medications and consuming alcohol disturbs this delicate balance and ultimately weakens our health.

Indigestion can be especially unpleasant for those suffering from chronic diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and diabetes, potentially causing severe abdominal pain and spikes in blood sugar, respectively.

Eating a healthy and nourishing diet helps to restore and maintain a healthy gut and enables your body to thrive. To avoid the unpleasant symptoms of indigestion, eliminate or limit these eight foods from your diet:

1 .Processed foods

The affordability and omnipresence of processed foods make our lives easier. However, instant ramen and frozen dinners can be detrimental to your health if consumed in large quantities. Processed foods contain artificial additives, dyes and preservatives that irritate the gut and prevent the liver from detoxifying.

2. Dairy

Milk and milk products are hard to digest because of lactose – a sugar that most adults are unable to digest because of the absence of lactase in the digestive tract. If you find it difficult to eliminate dairy from your diet, try to substitute fresh products with aged cheese, kefir and yogurt. These fermented foods contain far less lactose than milk.

3. Alcohol

The famous glass of wine with dinner seems harmless and even beneficial to your health. However, consuming alcohol should be limited to special occasions only, as it burdens the liver, preventing it from detoxifying your body. Consumed in large amounts, alcohol can slow down the process of fat metabolism, which can lead to weight gain and obesity.

4. Artificial Sweeteners

Sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose and dextrose, can cause inflammation and digestive issues like gas and diarrhea. If you’re trying to cut back on sugar, it is better to reduce your sugar intake than to switch to artificial sweeteners. Alternatively, you can choose a healthier, low-calorie sugar substitute like xylitol or stevia.

5. Carb-Dense Foods

There is a reason why carbohydrates get a bad name. They might be delicious and a staple in many homes, but foods like white rice, pasta, bread and donuts increase inflammation in the gut, leading to weight gain and long-term health consequences.

6. Excessive Raw Vegetables

Vegetables are high in the fiber cellulose which can be difficult for some people to digest. Even though you need fiber for healthy digestion, going crazy with raw veggies can cause an upset stomach.

Cooking vegetables reduces the amount of this type of fiber and makes them easier to digest.However, you don’t have to give up snacking on celery and baby carrots. Just make sure you are consuming them in small amounts.

7. Acidic Fruit

Like raw vegetables, fruits are a great source of fiber and vitamins but should be eaten in moderation. Specifically, citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes irritate and disturb the gut flora.They are especially not recommended if you already have diarrhea and indigestion as they may worsen your condition.

8. Caffeine

Starting the day with a cup of joe is an absolute must for many people. While caffeine can help you wake up, burn fat and relieve constipation, drinking coffee on an empty stomach can lead to excess production of stomach acid and ulcers. Keep in mind that non-herbal tea, decaf coffee, soda and chocolate are also rich in caffeine and should be consumed in moderation.

Pinpoint and Treat Your Food Intolerances with a Food Sensitivity Test and a Personal Diet Plan from Georgia Nutritionists at Optimum Health Rehab

Our team at Optimum Health Rehab strives to encourage the healing and strengthening of our patients’ bodies and minds with proper nutrition. We also have wellness specialists with extensive experience in lifestyle changes and natural approaches to improving digestive health.

The gastrointestinal experts at Optimum Health Rehab understand how difficult it can be to craft the perfect food list and diet plan to satisfy your personal needs. If your diet is causing you discomfort and you don’t know how or where to start, we can help you make long-lasting and healthful changes.

Digestive Disorders

What Are the Most Difficult Foods to Digest? | Optimum Health Rehab (2024)

FAQs

What foods don't take long to digest? ›

Foods that are easier to digest include toast, white rice, bananas, eggs, chicken, salmon, gelatine, applesauce, and oatmeal. Symptoms of digestive problems include acid reflux, bloating, or abdominal pain.

Which nutrient is hardest to digest? ›

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the body can't digest. Though most carbohydrates are broken down into sugar molecules called glucose, fiber cannot be broken down into sugar molecules, and instead it passes through the body undigested.

Is peanut butter hard to digest? ›

How peanut butter is digested depends on the brand, how it's made, and what other ingredients are included. For one that is easier to digest, look for a natural creamy peanut butter that doesn't contain lots of sugar. It's best to eat smaller amounts, as the high fat content can make peanut butter difficult to digest.

Which food Cannot be digested by the body? ›

The only dietary components that are not digested in the stomach are fats and carbohydrates. This is due to the fact that amylase enzymes can only function in alkaline environments and are not found in the human digestive tract.

What foods are bad for your colon? ›

Avoiding fatty meats, like sausage, bacon, and chicken skin; dairy products like ice cream, cheese, butter, and heavy cream; and foods that are fried in animal oil, like chips and French fries, is the healthier choice. Sugary Drinks and Snacks: Excess sugar appears to be a contributor, too.

What foods dont fully digest? ›

Certain foods aren't broken down properly.

The bacteria in your body should be able to properly break down your food, but sometimes high-fiber foods are especially difficult to digest. Corn, carrots, cereal, seeds, and nuts are among the most common culprits as the starches in these foods can be difficult to digest.

Are eggs hard to digest? ›

In addition to being packed with nutrients, eggs are usually easy to digest compared to some other high-protein foods, such as meat and legumes. Due to their sulphur content, eggs can contribute to intestinal gas for some individuals, but they are beneficial for other digestive symptoms.

What foods are hard to digest as you get older? ›

Fatty Meats

High-fat meats like bacon and certain cuts of beef can be more difficult to digest. They require more bile and stomach acid for digestion, which can be taxing on your system.

What is the hardest substance to digest? ›

Bile's most important role is breaking down fats. This is the hardest part of food to digest. Carbohydrates and proteins tend to break down more easily. Fats need more chemical interaction in order to be changed into energy.

What food takes the longest to fully digest? ›

The foods with the longest time to digest are bacon, beef, lamb, whole milk hard cheese, and nuts. These foods take an average of about 4 hours for your body to digest. The digestion process still occurs even when asleep.

What is the slowest digesting food? ›

Some slow digesting vegetables include peas, carrots, eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, and red peppers. Grain choices to consider include oat bran, rolled oats, brown rice, and wheat tortillas.

What is the number one food that causes bloating? ›

Beans. It's hardly a surprise to see beans atop the list of bloat-causing foods. After all, the legendary powers of this legume have even captured the attention of lyricists: Beans, beans, the musical fruit… Science is behind that tune, explains Czerwony.

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