Close
Photo:Getty Images
Getty Images
With all the buzz about gut health these days, you may be grocery shopping with your microbiome in mind. It’s a worthy goal, after all: This microbiome refers to the trillions of bacteria, fungi and yeasts that live in your digestive tract, and it’s been shown to be play a role in maintaining a healthy immune system, as well as your body’s ability to stave off chronic diseases.
Poor Gut Health Might Be the Reason You’re Not Losing Weight—Here Are 4 Things You Can Do About It
The Best Gut-Healthy Frozen Food at Costco
If you’re turning to the frozen food aisle for a gut-healthy choice, you’ll want to head straight to the vegetable section. There you’ll findKirkland’s Frozen Broccoli Florets. Not only are these cruciferous vegetables packed with gut-healthy fiber, they can also be incorporated into quick and easy meals. “I associate frozen foods with convenience, and most people typically have a few things stocked up for those busy days,” saysDanielle Townsend, RDN, a registered dietitian with Primary Healthcare Centers in Trenton, Georgia. And that’s where picking up a package of this broccoli comes in.
Frozen vegetables like the Kirkland Frozen Broccoli Florets are perfect for adding a vegetable to a quick meal. You can steam the florets for a quick side (try ourTangy Broccoli with Almonds) orsautéthem in a stir-fry dish. If you’re preparing a sheet-pan meal or are baking your meal in the oven, broccoli is an excellent choice, as itroastseasily alongside other dishes in the oven.
What to Look For in Gut-Healthy Frozen Food
When it comes to gut health specifically, frozen food or meals that contain vegetables, fruit and beans are good choices, says Townsend. These foods are all packed with fiber. Fiber is important for gut health because it supplies “food” for good bacteria to eat so they can thrive.Specifically, broccoli stems providecellulose, a type of insoluble fiber that these bacteria enjoy so much.
12 Fiber-Rich Foods to Help with Good Gut Bacteria
You’ll also want to skip foods high in added sugar as these can have a negative effect on gut health when consumed regularly. “Added sugar and ultra-processed foods can degrade the healthy environment you’re trying to build in the gut,” says Townsend. Although preliminary research has suggested that high-sugar diets can promote gut dysfunction, more research is needed on humans to confirm this link.Still, it’s recommended tolimit added sugarsfor a variety of health reasons, including weight management, heart health and blood sugar regulation.
The Bottom Line
Choosing gut-healthy foods doesn’t mean missing out on convenience. You can have both when it comes to fiber-rich veggies likeKirkland’s Frozen Broccoli Florets, conveniently packaged in the frozen food aisle at Costco.
Frequently Asked QuestionsFrozen foods that are minimally processed, such as single-ingredient frozen vegetables, fruits, beans and grains, are the best for a gut-healthy diet. Examples include frozen wild rice, edamame and frozen brown rice, to name a few. More highly processed frozen foods with added ingredients, particularly those with added sodium, saturated fat and sugar, should be limited in the diet.While all vegetables contain beneficial compounds for gut health, some provide more gut-healthy fiber than others. Our top three choices for thebest frozen vegetablesfor gut health are frozen broccoli, okra and root vegetables.Yes, it’s OK to eat frozen food every day, if the foods are minimally processed with few added ingredients. Minimally processed frozen foods are an excellent and convenient way to incorporate nutrient-dense foods in the diet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frozen foods that are minimally processed, such as single-ingredient frozen vegetables, fruits, beans and grains, are the best for a gut-healthy diet. Examples include frozen wild rice, edamame and frozen brown rice, to name a few. More highly processed frozen foods with added ingredients, particularly those with added sodium, saturated fat and sugar, should be limited in the diet.
While all vegetables contain beneficial compounds for gut health, some provide more gut-healthy fiber than others. Our top three choices for thebest frozen vegetablesfor gut health are frozen broccoli, okra and root vegetables.
Yes, it’s OK to eat frozen food every day, if the foods are minimally processed with few added ingredients. Minimally processed frozen foods are an excellent and convenient way to incorporate nutrient-dense foods in the diet.
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Rinninella E, Cintoni M, Raoul P, et al.Food Components and Dietary Habits: Keys for a Healthy Gut Microbiota Composition.Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2393. doi:10.3390/nu11102393Zhang P.Influence of Foods and Nutrition on the Gut Microbiome and Implications for Intestinal Health.Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(17):9588. doi:10.3390/ijms23179588Narula N, Wong ECL, Dehghan M, et al.Association of ultra-processed food intake with risk of inflammatory bowel disease: prospective cohort study.BMJ. 2021;374:n1554. doi:10.1136/bmj.n1554Arnone D, Chabot C, Heba AC, et al.Sugars and Gastrointestinal Health.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;20(9):1912-1924.e7. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2021.12.011
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Rinninella E, Cintoni M, Raoul P, et al.Food Components and Dietary Habits: Keys for a Healthy Gut Microbiota Composition.Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2393. doi:10.3390/nu11102393Zhang P.Influence of Foods and Nutrition on the Gut Microbiome and Implications for Intestinal Health.Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(17):9588. doi:10.3390/ijms23179588Narula N, Wong ECL, Dehghan M, et al.Association of ultra-processed food intake with risk of inflammatory bowel disease: prospective cohort study.BMJ. 2021;374:n1554. doi:10.1136/bmj.n1554Arnone D, Chabot C, Heba AC, et al.Sugars and Gastrointestinal Health.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;20(9):1912-1924.e7. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2021.12.011
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
Rinninella E, Cintoni M, Raoul P, et al.Food Components and Dietary Habits: Keys for a Healthy Gut Microbiota Composition.Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2393. doi:10.3390/nu11102393Zhang P.Influence of Foods and Nutrition on the Gut Microbiome and Implications for Intestinal Health.Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(17):9588. doi:10.3390/ijms23179588Narula N, Wong ECL, Dehghan M, et al.Association of ultra-processed food intake with risk of inflammatory bowel disease: prospective cohort study.BMJ. 2021;374:n1554. doi:10.1136/bmj.n1554Arnone D, Chabot C, Heba AC, et al.Sugars and Gastrointestinal Health.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;20(9):1912-1924.e7. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2021.12.011
Rinninella E, Cintoni M, Raoul P, et al.Food Components and Dietary Habits: Keys for a Healthy Gut Microbiota Composition.Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2393. doi:10.3390/nu11102393
Zhang P.Influence of Foods and Nutrition on the Gut Microbiome and Implications for Intestinal Health.Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(17):9588. doi:10.3390/ijms23179588
Narula N, Wong ECL, Dehghan M, et al.Association of ultra-processed food intake with risk of inflammatory bowel disease: prospective cohort study.BMJ. 2021;374:n1554. doi:10.1136/bmj.n1554
Arnone D, Chabot C, Heba AC, et al.Sugars and Gastrointestinal Health.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;20(9):1912-1924.e7. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2021.12.011
