A healthy diet is paramount to any healthy lifestyle, but for those who are trying to modify their diet to target a specific geographic tongue cause should be aware of the impact of processed food on geographic tongue. There are a number of foods that cause the affected areas of the tongue to become sore or irritated once symptoms appear, but recent studies have shown that overly-processed food, especially those that have a high sugar content, might also be a cause of it as well. While there is no guarantee that avoiding processed foods will keep geographic tongue from developing, as there are many other factors involved (gender, race, age), knowing which foods that negatively affect the tongue will significantly reduce the risk.
Processed foods, such as pre-packaged meals, bagged flour, and a great many snack foods like potato chips, (especially flavored chips,) canned nuts, and ready-to-eat foods like lunch meat and hot dogs, contain many preservatives and additives that have been marked as a geographic tongue cause. This is because if individuals who are already prone to the oral syndrome consume a lot of processed food, the extra chemicals that are put into them during the processing stage can begin to irritate the tongue over time. When geographic tongue occurs, the surface of the tongue loses areas of its papillae, leaving them smooth and reddish in color. The additives may contribute to this process by wearing away the tiny nubs that contain taste buds. The more processed a food is, the harder it is on both the tongue and the taste buds.
While it may be difficult to avoid this geographic tongue cause, as processed foods are such a huge part of daily life, especially in America, it is possible. People who want to try and avoid this harmless yet chronic condition can make some easy changes, such as replacing white bread with whole grain brands, choosing fresh fruits and vegetables instead of buying the canned variety, and avoiding overly-processed meats. Roasted chicken and lean beef are better choices. Bagged snacks, especially those that are labeled as hot or spicy, should be cut from the diet altogether. Plan meals more carefully so that ready-made meals have to be used less often, as the more processed a food is, the more unnatural chemicals and preservatives it contains. » Read more: Processed Foods Targeted As a Geographic Tongue Cause
