Doctor lists the three foods he avoids eating to keep his gut healthy - and it's bad news for curry and fried chicken fans

  • Good gut health contributes to overall well being and proper functioning organs
  • Australian lifestyle site My Domaine spoke to a digestive expert about the topic
  • He urged people to avoid inflammatory foods like curries, wheat and gluten
  • Eating prebiotic snacks like shiitake mushrooms and fish strengthens the gut

If it's true that your body is a temple, science suggests the most sacred of all internal spaces is the gut.

Good gut health contributes to the smooth functioning of our entire organ system, improving digestion, weight management and even mental well being. 

Australian publication My Domaine recently spoke to gut and digestion expert and doctor, Dr Vincent Pedre, about the foods we should eat to promote beneficial gut bacteria and what we should avoid at all costs.

Good gut health contributes to the smooth functioning of our entire organ system, improving digestion, weight management and even mental well being (pictured, Sydney-based nutritionist Jessica Sepel with gut boosting dark green vegetables)

Good gut health contributes to the smooth functioning of our entire organ system, improving digestion, weight management and even mental well being (pictured, Sydney-based nutritionist Jessica Sepel with gut boosting dark green vegetables)

What is Dr Pedre's advice for surviving the festive season?

Many colorful foods at summer parties are loaded with sugar, gluten, dyes, and artificial colors. During the moment, it seems fun and carefree. Sugar and gluten disrupt the balance of the microbiome, and food additives can toxic to your body.

Occasionally indulging is fine, but keep it within reason. A seasonal and organic berry salad is your best option. Plus the fruit is exceptional this time of year and you can usually support a local farm with your purchase.

When you fill your plate, try to eat slowly and savor the delicious and healthy options you have chosen. Eating slow and mindfully will improve your digestion as well. 

Source: Happy Gut Life 

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According to Dr Pedre, the gut is the 'foundation of our health' from which all of our illnesses derive.

To strengthen gut resilience, he advised eliminating three main food categories starting with wheat and gluten.

Because of its molecular make up, gluten is a magnet for water and binds substances inside the body leading to constipation and sluggish digestion.

The US-based medic also stressed the danger of eating a diet filled with fried foods, particularly chicken which is deep cooked in flour. 

Eating a diet filled with fried foods, particularly chicken which is deep cooked in gluten-laced flour, is damaging to gut health

Eating a diet filled with fried foods, particularly chicken which is deep cooked in gluten-laced flour, is damaging to gut health

Curries like Indian vindaloo are likely to irritate the gut lining and trigger bowel and digestive issues

Curries like Indian vindaloo are likely to irritate the gut lining and trigger bowel and digestive issues

'This means you're ingesting gluten too – it's a double whammy,' he said.

The third food type to steer clear of is excessively spicy foods, such as jalapeno or habanero peppers and tongue-tingling curries like Indian vindaloo which Dr Pedre said are likely to irritate the gut lining and trigger bowel and digestive issues.

But it's not all doom, gloom and dietary restrictions, as Dr Pedre revealed there are plenty of tasty treats which stimulate the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.

DR PEDRE'S 24-HOUR GUT DETOX MENU

Breakfast: Almond milk smoothie with hypo-allergenic protein powder, blueberries, spinach and mint

Lunch: Grass fed beef bone broth, with marrow bone, lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, sea salt, black pepper, celery, onion and thyme

Dinner: Beef or turkey Cuban picadillo with garlic, turmeric, thyme, sea salt, black pepper, pimento-stuffed olives, apple cider vinegar, dash of white wine, coconut oil and parsley

Source: My Domaine

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Immune-boosting shiitake mushrooms are a great vegetarian choice for promoting gut health

Immune-boosting shiitake mushrooms are a great vegetarian choice for promoting gut health

Dr Pedre suggested opting for fish skewers instead of steak or battered chicken

Dr Pedre suggested opting for fish skewers instead of steak or battered chicken

'My safe bet when I eat out is going to a Greek restaurant. The menu is always packed with dishes easy on digestion, like salads, grilled vegetables and grilled or baked meat,' he said.

Dr Pedre suggested opting for fish skewers instead of steak or battered chicken, and garnishing home cooked dishes with kitchen staples like ginger and scallions which contain health-giving anti-inflammatory properties.

Immune-boosting shiitake mushrooms are a great vegetarian choice for promoting gut health.

He recommended starting the day with a slice of lemon in lukewarm water to gently wake the digestive system and liver. 

Dr Pedre urged anyone who has taken even one course of antibiotics in their life to embark on a 24-hour gut cleanse, after revealing just a single dose destroys gut flora which takes up to 12 months to regenerate.

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