Gut health damaged by supermarket bread, fried foods, sugar, vegan cheese

Some of the most common foods in your kitchen may be silently harming your gut health.

As gut health continues to dominate wellness conversations, experts say diet plays a central role in shaping the microbiome.

When gut bacteria are out of balance, it can contribute to gastrointestinal issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating, constipation and diarrhea, Robin DeCicco, a certified holistic nutritionist in New York City, told Fox News Digital.

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Here are four foods that experts say may do more harm than good to the gut.

supermarket bread

Packaged bread sold in many markets may be more harmful to intestinal health than thought.

Many supermarket breads are heavily processed and contain ingredients that can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut, DeCicco said.

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He added that many commercial breads are made with refined flours and additives designed to extend shelf life, but those ingredients often come at the expense of fiber.

fried foods

Foods fried or cooked in large amounts of oil can be particularly damaging to the intestines.

Fried foods are often linked to poor gut health because they are cooked in large amounts of oil. (iStock)

“It becomes difficult for the body to digest such high-fat foods,” DeCicco said.

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He added that many fried foods are cooked in refined vegetable oils, which can further contribute to intestinal imbalance when consumed regularly.

Sugar

Foods and drinks high in added sugar are among the biggest contributors to poor gut health.

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Ice cream, in particular, combines large amounts of sugar with ingredients that may be difficult to digest for some people.

Experts warn that high-sugar foods and drinks can harm gut health and cause digestive problems. (iStock)

“Foods high in sugar are not beneficial in any way; they contribute to overall inflammation, obesity, diabetes and heart disease,” DeCicco said.

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Frequent blood sugar spikes can directly disrupt the gut microbiome, he said.

“The more we eat foods that affect blood sugar and cause a spike in insulin, the worse it is for our gut because sugar is actually fuel for the overgrowth of harmful bacteria,” DeCicco said.

vegan cheese

While plant-based cheese alternatives are popular, some highly processed cheese varieties can be harmful to gut health.

Highly processed vegan cheeses may contribute to intestinal inflammation due to the additives and fillers they contain. (iStock)

Some highly processed vegan cheeses can trigger intestinal inflammation because of the additives and fillers used to bind the products together, DeCicco said.

He recommends sticking to real, whole foods.

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“When you need to choose a replacement, make sure the replacement is actually made from real materials,” DeCicco said.