A simple habit like tea with biscuits is a big health risk!

It is one of the most popular practices of Bengalis to eat biscuits dipped in a cup of tea to relieve afternoon laziness or after waking up in the morning. But is this seemingly common daily habit silently putting your digestive system and stomach health at risk?

According to experts, these combined ingredients of tea and biscuits can seriously damage the protective wall of our digestive system or 'gut barrier'.

Why is the protective wall of the digestive system important?

Our digestive system has a natural protective layer or 'gut barrier'. It prevents harmful bacteria and germs from mixing with the blood and helps in the absorption of nutrients in food. In addition, it is very important to keep this protective layer active to maintain the body's immunity and keep the digestive process normal.

How tea and biscuits are damaging the digestive system

The caffeine in tea and the processed ingredients in biscuits combine to cause severe side effects on the stomach:

Harmful effects of flour: The refined flour in biscuits has almost zero fiber content. It destroys the beneficial bacteria or 'microbiome' of the digestive system. As a result, the stomach does not fill up easily and people eat more biscuits than necessary.

Excess sugar and artificial ingredients: Excess sugar, artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers and vegetable oils in biscuits cause inflammation in the stomach and cause the growth of harmful bacteria.

Caffeine and acidity: On an empty stomach or after a long fast, the caffeine in tea irritates the sensitive lining of the stomach, which multiplies the problem of acidity.

Increase in indigestion and stomach problems during the monsoon

During the monsoon, due to high humidity in the air, the digestive process naturally slows down. Moreover, the growth of bacteria in food, decreased physical activity, and irregular eating habits increase the level of flatulence and indigestion during this time.

Some warning signs to watch out for

If your digestive system or 'gut barrier' is damaged, the body signals through the following symptoms:

Frequent flatulence and gas

Stomach acidity and heaviness after eating

Digestive problems or sensitivity to certain foods

Feeling excessive fatigue and irregular bowel movements

Urgent warning

If you experience abnormal weight loss along with flatulence, chronic diarrhea, blood in your stool, or severe abdominal pain, you should not ignore it and immediately consult a digestive system specialist.

In addition, some nutritional changes can be made in the diet to maintain good stomach health instead of the harmful habit of tea and biscuits:

Healthy breakfast: Instead of biscuits, eat fried chickpeas, nuts and seeds, fruit and yogurt, or vegetable sandwiches made with red flour bread.

Beneficial drinks: Instead of regular tea, ginger tea, cumin water, or fennel soaked water are quite comfortable for the digestive system.

Easily digestible foods: Homemade yogurt, fermented foods, bananas, oats, pulses, boiled vegetables help increase stomach stability and digestion.

A little awareness in daily diet can protect your digestive system from long-term damage.

Source: NDTV