What Food Can Cause Appendicitis?

Foods That May Increase the Risk of Appendicitis

Again,foods do not directly lead to appendicitis. However, they can cause constipation, inflammation, and slow down the digestive process, thereby increasing the risk of appendix blockage.

1. Low-Fiber Foods

Fiber makes the stool soft and keeps it moving so it is easily passed through the intestines. When there is no fiber, the digestive process slows down, and the stool becomes hard. This can cause constipation and sometimes even a fecal lump formation which can block the opening of the appendix. You should avoid consuming these low fiber food items, for example:

• White bread, white rice
• Pastries and cakes
• Instant noodles
• Packaged snacks, like noodles

2. Processed and Junk Foods

Fast foods are high in unhealthy fats, salt, and preservatives, which can irritate the stomach lining and interfere with the normal functioning of the intestines causing the bowel movement to slow down. Long-term exposure to such an unfavorable gut environment increases the risk of infections. Hence, it’s good to minimize the usage of:

• Burgers, pizza, fries
• Sausages and hot dogs
• Sugary ‍‌‍‍‌drinks

3. Seeds and Hard-to-Digest Bits

Normally,‍‌‍‍‌ seeds and food particles are difficult to digest, pass through gut without any trouble, but sometimes, there might be a situation when undigested particles get stuck in the intestines, examples are:

• Guava and pomegranate seeds
• Popcorn kernels
• Sunflower seeds (in large amounts)

4. Red Meat and Fatty Animal Foods

If‍‌‍‍‌ you continue to consume such foods, your digestive system will struggle in breaking them down, and your stools will become bulky and difficult to pass. This can worsen constipation and gut inflammation. The animal fatty foods that you should avoid are:

• Mutton, pork, beef
• Processed meats
• Heavy non-veg gravies

5. Excess Dairy (for some people)

Lactose‍‌‍‍‌ intolerance people can have problems if they eat too much dairy products, such as bloating and constipation. Their bowel movements will become irregular, the large intestine will be filled with gas, and the appendix will be blocked.

Some dairy products that should not be consumed (in case of lactose ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌intolerance):

• Cheese-heavy meals
• Ice cream
• Full-fat milk