2 Processed Foods That May Lead To An Inflamed Stomach, Experts Warn

No matter how great you start your day, if you’re experiencing common side effects of an inflamed stomach (bloating and gas), it can really put a damper on things. And unfortunately, plenty of different foods could be to blame—specifically processed foods. Processed foods typically contain high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and artificial flavors that make them high in salt, sugar, and fat. At the same time, they are also lower in protein and fiber, which are important nutrients your body needs. Without them, your stomach can become irritated (inflamed).

We reached out to Heidi Moretti, a registered dietitian, Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, a registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements, Dr. Amy Lee, a board-certified doctor in internal medicine, medical nutrition, and obesity medicine and partner of Nucific, and Lisa Richards, a registered nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet, to learn more about the two processed foods that may lead to an inflamed stomach. They agree that potato chips and donuts are the biggest culprits for stomach irritation because they’re both fried and high in advanced glycation end products (or AGEs). These compounds directly encourage stomach inflammation. Read on to find out more!

Potato Chips

The carbohydrates in refined foods, like potato chips, move through your digestive system quickly. This can lead to stomach inflammation symptoms like bloating, cramping, and gas. And, the high fat and calorie content in potato chips only increase your weight and blood sugar levels either.

"Potato chips are traditionally processed and fried with added sodium or artificial flavors," Best says. "The consumer may also use [high-fat] dips or cheeses when eating them and is likely to mindlessly eat them without noticing the quantity." This can lead to stomach inflammation and excess visceral fat!

Dr. Lee adds, "If you eat a few chips, the calories really don’t add onto the waistline." But let's be real: We almost always eat a handful, amirite? And because of the added salt, there's a possibility that your mouth will feel dry and dehydrated. She continues, "The sense of thirst and food cravings are pretty similar psychologically, so a lot of people don’t grab a bottle of water to quench a thirst but may find themselves eating more food, hence calories that could be stored."

Similarly, Richards warns, "Potato chips are also generally made from refined carbohydrates that have been fried. This adds excess carbs, fat, and sodium into your diet." Yikes! Overall, potato chips are high in calories but low in nutritional value. They don't satiate us in the same way that low-calorie but nutrient-dense foods that are high in fiber and water do. So, it's better to just ditch the potato chips and instead opt for healthier snacks like apple slices and nut butter.

Donuts

There's no denying that sugar is delicious (not to mention addicting), but unfortunately, it’s also terrible for your overall health–especially when it comes to age-related diseases. While there are tons of unhealthy processed foods out there, donuts are among the worst because they are both fried and high in refined sugar.

Sugar and high fructose corn syrup can be especially damaging to your gut health and can cause inflammation in the stomach. "Sugar and high fructose corn syrup are very inflammatory foods that can also cause bloating and digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome," Moretti notes. She emphasizes that these ingredients "can cause unwanted bacteria to overgrow and produce gas in the gut, causing bloating and distress." No one wants that!

So, there you have it: experts say that potato chips and donuts are the worst processed foods for an inflamed stomach. We understand that cutting out all processed foods can be extremely difficult considering how many foods are considered processed. But in the grand scheme of things, it's best to limit your intake as much as possible if you want to reduce bloating, cramping, gas, and weight gain.