A fry up can be the perfect start to a weekend morning as a real treat, but it can leave many of us feeling bloated and uncomfortable for the rest of the day – but there is one culprit
Having a Full English breakfast can be a real treat – whether it’s serving as a hangover cure, or a big family breakfast, piling on the bacon, sausage and egg can be mouth-watering.
However it’s no secret it can make you feel pretty slumped after, and pining to go back to bed for a nap. But that feeling might be down to just one of the fry up items on your plate.
Feeling bloated all day isn’t a nice feeling and according to the nutrition team at Supply Life, experts in food intolerance, say one of Britain’s favourite breakfasts hides a surprising culprit.
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It isn’t the bacon, sausage or eggs, but instead, the baked beans. While beans are packed with fibre and protein, they also contain natural sugars that many people can’t digest properly.
These sugars move into the large bowel, where gut bacteria break them down, releasing gas and pulling in water. The result? A tight waistband, a swollen belly and a whole day of discomfort, according to the experts.
These natural sugars found in the beans are part of FODMAPs. This term stands for a group of short, fast-fermenting carbohydrates found in many everyday foods and beans are rich in one type called GOS. In a sensitive gut.
FODMAPs aren’t absorbed well and instead, they ferment lower down, producing wind, bloating and cramps. Add toast, milk in your tea or coffee, and you may be stacking up several triggers at once – so it’s no wonder so many people feel uncomfortably full after a fry-up.
It’s a pretty common experience, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is closely linked to FODMAP intolerance, affects between 5% and 20% of people in the UK. So millions of people may be going undiagnosed.
While gluten may be another hidden digestive issue as coeliac disease affects around 1 in 100 Britons, but only a third are diagnosed – leaving about half a million people unaware they have it.
Milk could also be another trigger as adults can still develop a lactose intolerance at any age. So if a Full English leaves you feeling bloated, you’re far from alone, and there are small swaps you can make to enjoy a fry up without struggling afterwards.
The experts say you don’t need to give up your fry-up to feel better. Try swapping beans for grilled tomatoes and mushrooms for two weeks and note how you feel each day. If bread seems to be the issue, see your GP for proper coeliac testing before cutting gluten.
If milk is the problem, switch to lactose-free or reduce the amount, as many people tolerate small servings or hard cheeses without trouble. With a bit of detective work, guided by Supply Life’s simple “test, don’t guess” approach, you can enjoy the Full English you love – without the uncomfortable bloat that follows.
Do you have a story to share? Email niamh.kirk@reachplc.com
