{"id":161498,"date":"2025-08-20T16:12:20","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T16:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/161498\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T16:12:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T16:12:20","slug":"here-are-5-healthy-supermarket-foods-i-never-buy-as-a-gastroenterologist-and-neither-should-you-health-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/161498\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Here are 5 \u2018healthy\u2019 supermarket foods I never buy as a gastroenterologist, and neither should you\u2019 | Health News"},"content":{"rendered":"

They say you are what you eat, and across social media, experts are sharing their two cents on what\u2019s great for gut health and what helps lower blood sugar levels. Taking a cue from Dr Pal Manickam, a renowned gastroenterologist, we learnt about 5 supermarket foods that do more harm than good.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere are 5 \u2018healthy\u2019 supermarket foods I never buy as a gastroenterologist\u2026 and neither should you!\u201d said the health expert, highlighting fruit juices, packaged sweetened lassis, probiotic supplements, sugar-free biscuits, processed meat, and frozen foods.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nFruit juices and health drinks<\/p>\n

\u201cJust because it says 100% fruit, does not mean it\u2019s healthy. These are often just water with the fiber stripped out. You\u2019re better off eating the whole fruit,\u201d said Dr Manickam.<\/p>\n

Story continues below this ad<\/p>\n

Dr Dipak Bhangale, Consultant,\u00a0Gastroenterology-Hepatology<\/strong><\/a>, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Navi Mumbai<\/a>, added that packaged mango juice, together with energy drinks and malted \u201chealth\u201d powders, receives\u00a0marketing treatment that presents them as nutritious products.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe actual composition of these products includes excessive levels of added sugars along with preservatives and emulsifiers, which disrupt gut microbiota and elevate the risk of developing insulin resistance and fatty liver disease,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Probiotic supplements<\/p>\n

\u201cIt works only for a few people. Most of the time, they do not even survive the stomach acid. Instead, try getting your probiotics from natural fermented foods like curd, porridge, and idlis,\u201d suggested Dr Manickam.<\/p>\n

Diet or sugar-free biscuits<\/p>\n

\u201cThey sound like a healthy alternative, but they are actually a source of artificial sweeteners<\/a><\/strong> and gut-irritating ingredients. They affect both your blood sugar and gut microbiome. Don\u2019t be fooled by the \u2018diabetic friendly\u2019 label either,\u201d said the expert.<\/p>\n

Story continues below this ad<\/p>\n

\"fruit Fruit juices are just sugar without fibre. (Source: Freepik)
\nProcessed meats and frozen foods<\/p>\n

The category of processed meats includes items like frozen kebabs, sausages, and nuggets. Dr Bhangale shared that Indian supermarkets frequently stock frozen non-veg snacks, which undergo extensive processing and include sodium nitrite as a preservative. \u201cThe potential for developing colorectal problems along with persistent intestinal inflammation escalates throughout extended periods,\u201d he opined.<\/p>\n

Sweetened flavoured yoghurts and packaged lassi<\/p>\n

These products frequently include artificial fruit flavours alongside thickeners and added sugars. Dr Bhangale believes such dairy-based products can negatively impact gut health when consumed in excess, particularly among those with lactose intolerance or sugar sensitivity. \u201cIf you really want to indulge in one, opt for one with minimal sugar or just go for plain curd and add your own fruit as a topping,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

While not mentioned in the video, Dr Bhangale said packaged instant noodles also fall under the category. \u201cIndian families frequently consume these noodles, which contain refined flour (maida), high sodium levels, artificial flavor boosters (such as MSG), and palm oil. Frequent consumption causes gut lining irritation while promoting bloating and disrupting digestive processes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Dr Bhangale also added the category of refined vegetable oils, which includes products such as sunflower oil, safflower oil, and soybean oil. \u201cRefined oils prevalent in Indian cuisine undergo chemical treatments and contain elevated levels of omega-6 fatty acids. An elevated omega-6 to omega-3 ratio triggers gut inflammation alongside metabolic disturbances,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Story continues below this ad<\/p>\n

DISCLAIMER:\u00a0This article is based on information from the public domain and\/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"They say you are what you eat, and across social media, experts are sharing their two cents on…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":161499,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[5740,4081,93566,93565,93569,93568,4078,17563,210,93567,1182,92735,93571,93572,93570,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-161498","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-blood-sugar","9":"tag-diet-tips","10":"tag-dr-dipak-bhangale","11":"tag-dr-pal-manickam","12":"tag-fruit-juice","13":"tag-gastroenterologist","14":"tag-gut-health","15":"tag-gut-microbiome","16":"tag-health","17":"tag-healthy-supermarket-foods","18":"tag-nutrition","19":"tag-probiotic-supplements","20":"tag-processed-meat","21":"tag-refined-oils","22":"tag-sugar-free-biscuits","23":"tag-united-states","24":"tag-unitedstates","25":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115061977646857757","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=161498"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161498\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/161499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=161498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=161498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=161498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}