5 Foods A Physician With 20+ Years Of Health Knowledge Would Never Eat

In a recent TikTok, William Li, M.D., physician, vascular biologist, and author of Eat To Beat Disease, shared the five things he would never eat after 20 years of experience in the health world, and we're taking notes:

Healthy gut bacteria help with a number of positive functions in the body, so when they're thrown out of whack by artificial sweeteners, you'll likely feel the effects. "Our healthy gut bacteria also text messages our brain and helps our brain release healthy social hormones. So when you eat artificial sweeteners, you're actually [affecting] a lot of other healthy systems in your body," Li adds.

Love going to the movies and getting a big tub of buttery popcorn? You may be doing your gut a disservice. "It's not really butter. It's actually a mix of chemicals with a lot of synthetic preservatives that are just made to taste like butter," warns Li. While enjoying this undeniably delicious treat on the occasion won't really do any harm, if you're frequently going to the movies it may be a good (and cost-effective!) idea to bring some of your own snacks.

Listen, if you're taking an early morning flight, we don't blame you for needing a coffee. But as Li warns, getting your java straight from the plane may not be a great call. "The coffee on an airplane is made from hot water from the tanks of an airplane, and most airlines don't clean their tanks except maybe four times a year," he explains. "Think about it, if you had a tank of hot water that you didn't clean that much at all, what do you think is going to be in that cup?" There's a reason there are so many coffee shops situated in the airport—take advantage of them before you board!

If you raise your eyebrow at seafood from the buffet table, just know you're not alone. "Shrimp that has been cooked, peeled, and laid out on the counter—you have no idea how much handling has gone into it," warns Li. Think about it this way: The less someone else has handled your food, the better. While this is less about the nutrients that this particular food provides, your gut will thank you for avoiding potential contaminants (especially bad microbes).

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Moderation is key. But when it comes to maple syrup from a diner, you might want to think twice. "It's imitation maple syrup, which means it's made out of high-fructose corn syrup, and it's got food coloring, artificial flavorings, and it's got a ton of sugar," explains Li. "If you're going to go for the maple syrup, go for the real thing."

At the end of the day, you can enjoy whatever foods you love, but if you're considering your gut health, it can be helpful to avoid fueling your body with less nutritious ingredients that may cause undue irritation. Li's list offers some pointers for keeping your health in check. And regardless, taking a probiotic can give your gut the extra love it needs.*