Foods That Contribute to Gut Dysbiosis

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Gut dysbiosis is when the gut or digestive tract has insufficient friendly bacteria and overgrowth of harmful bacteria.?As gut dysbiosis persists, leaky gut syndrome arises – this simply means that harmful bacteria have eroded the gut wall to the point where it becomes so permeable that harmful bacteria and toxins can easily leak from the gut into the body.??

A leaky gut causes inflammation and insulin resistance, creating a perfect environment for diabetes and other conditions such as cancer, high blood pressure, arthritis, and autoimmune conditions to not only form but also get worse.??

Let’s look at foods and other factors that contribute to gut dysbiosis and ought to be minimized as much as possible.

Artificial sweeteners

People who opt for artificial sweeteners instead of added sugar only worsen their health.?Studies have found that artificial sweeteners are actually worse than added sugar and they significantly contribute to diabetes and obesity because they destroy healthy gut bacteria.?Common artificial sweeteners include Equal, Nutrasweet, Splenda, and Sweet n Low they are also found in diet and ‘sugar-free’ foods and beverages.?

?Meat

Meat is really bad for your gut because it creates a harsh setting for friendly bacteria.?By eating more meat, you are significantly reducing the population and diversity of friendly bacteria in the gut.?This harmful impact of meat on friendly gut bacteria is one major reason low-carbohydrate diets are bad for diabetes and health in general.?Low carbohydrate diets are typically high in meat and low in starch-containing foods.???

?Added sugar

Added sugar promotes disease-causing bugs in the gut while reducing the population of healthy bacteria.?Sweetened foods such as soft drinks, cookies, ice cream, doughnuts, sweet snacks, and breakfast cereals are some of the greatest sources of added sugar.?Just to be clear, added sugar is sugar that’s extracted from its natural food source and then added to food for sweetening.?The sugar you take by eating a whole fruit such as an apple or a mango is actually healthy sugar and not added sugar.?

?Antibiotics overuse

Overuse of antibiotics is a major threat to gut health because antibiotics kill all bacteria, irrespective of whether they are good or bad, creating a serious shortage of friendly gut bacteria.?A study conducted by The New York University School of Medicine linked repeated use of antibiotics in children to the development of type1 diabetes, a form of diabetes classified as an autoimmune condition because the body’s own immune system destroys the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells, leaving the body unable to control blood sugar on its own.???

To minimize the adverse effect of antibiotics on friendly gut bacteria, eating a wide range of fermented foods and fiber-rich foods following a course of antibiotics is strongly recommended.?

Processed foods

Here is something we need to realize. Just like we need food and a supportive environment in order to continue living, friendly bacteria need that too.?Fiber is the nutrient that feeds and nurtures friendly bacteria and processed foods are completely devoid of this nutrient. ?Therefore, a diet high in processed foods literally starves healthy gut bacteria, making it nearly impossible for them to survive for long.???

Common processed foods include white bread, polished rice, white pasta, cakes, donuts, peeled potatoes, cookies, and pretzels.??

By limiting your level of exposure to the factors mentioned above, you can prevent or manage diabetes as well as other chronic conditions and enjoy life-long good health.?

What’s in the next issue?

The next issue will cover inflammation and its connection to diabetes.?Don’t miss!

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?If you would like to learn more about what I will be covering in future articles, I invite you to watch this 20-minute video about how to handle diabetes sustainably

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Thanks for reading, I wish you the best of health.?See you next time.?

Your go-to diabetes guru,

Asunta Simoloka.???

?THIS NEWSLETTER IS NOT INTENDED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE.?THE READER SHOULD REGULARLY CONSULT A PHYSICIAN IN MATTERS RELATING TO HIS/HER HEALTH AND PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO ANY SYMPTOMS THAT MAY REQUIRE DIAGNOSIS OR MEDICAL ATTENTION.