Monday 16/March/2026 – 06:24 AM
Dr. Palaniappan Manickam, a board-certified gastroenterologist, warns that some common breakfast foods may be harmful to your gut health, despite their popularity and delicious taste.
5 common meals that secretly harm the intestines
According to what was published by the Hindustan Times newspaper, he explained that many of these options contain empty carbohydrates, fats and sugar in high quantities, which may exhaust the digestive system early in the morning.
Dr. Manickam pointed out that mullet bread with potato curry, despite its deliciousness, is a fatty meal that raises blood sugar levels quickly, which increases the feeling of sleepiness after eating it and weighs down the stomach at the beginning of the day. He stressed that excessive consumption of fried potatoes with bread increases the burden on the intestines and affects its balance.
He also pointed out that white bread with butter and jam, a popular choice globally, is rich in simple carbohydrates and low in fibre, while butter and jam increase the fat and sugar content, which leads to a rapid rise in blood sugar levels and a feeling of hunger after only an hour.
He added that instant noodles and upma without vegetables are also imperfect options, as the former contains refined carbohydrates, sodium and additives that put a burden on the intestines, while the latter, when prepared without vegetables or legumes, becomes nutritionally poor and rich in empty calories.
Finally, Dr. Manickam warned against breakfast cereals sweetened with milk, such as sugary corn flakes, which do not provide any sufficient protein or fiber, but rather increase the consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates, which negatively affects intestinal health in the long term.
