It is easy to say that there are no bad foods and that moderation is everything but guess what? There are bad foods. Eating anything every once in a while will not completely disrupt your health. But that doesn’t mean diet sodas aren’t bad. That also doesn’t mean you’re a bad person for drinking them. Aside from those random times when we all succumb to “bad” foods, there foods that nutritionists, steer clear of all the time or at least try to avoid as much as possible.
Here’s a list of our top ten foods to avoid:
Hot dogs
Processed meats in general are just one of the worst things you can put into your body. They’re high in sodium and saturated fats (not the good kind, like those found in coconut) and filled with sodium nitrite (a commonly used preservative that adds color and flavor to meats) and often other chemicals and dyes.
Consumption of processed meats, but not red meats, is associated with higher incidence of coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus. High intake of red and processed meat is associated with significant increased risk of colorectal, colon and rectal cancers. If you want to reduce your risk of cancer, avoid them.
Diet soda
Just because something is calorie-free doesn’t mean it’s chemical-free. Artificial sweeteners found in diet soda are known to trigger insulin, which sends your body into fat storage mode and may lead to weight gain, even though the soda contains no calories itself.
Diet soda has also been linked to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, when compared to regular soda.
Candy bars
Candy bars are incredibly unhealthy. They’re high in sugar, refined wheat flour, and processed fats while also very low in essential nutrients. What’s more, these treats will leave you hungry because of the way that your body metabolizes these sugar bombs.
Alternatively, eat fruit or a piece of quality dark chocolate instead.
High-calorie coffee drinks
Coffee is loaded with antioxidants and offers many benefits. Notably, coffee drinkers have a lower risk of serious diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s. At the same time, the creamers, syrups, additives, and sugars that are frequently added to coffee are highly unhealthy. These products are just as harmful as any other sugar-sweetened beverage. Alternatively, drink plain coffee instead. You can add small amounts of heavy cream or full-fat milk if you desire.
Instant noodles
When something has the word “instant” in its name, it’s likely something you’re going to want to try to avoid. They have done something to the food to make it instant. They’ve probably stripped it down and taken away a bit of the fiber and the stuff that we actually want. Plus, the amount of sodium in instant noodles is extremely high, and they contain what’s called monosodium glutamate (MSG), which has its own set of problems. It is a flavor enhancer and is an addictive substance, so we keep going back as a repeat customer. But with it, it can increase hunger, and that causes us to eat more.
White Rice
White rice is refined and processed, which means it’s generally more destructive to your health than alternatives like ancient grains or wild rice. The main reason? It can have a negative impact on your blood sugar levels. In fact, because of that impact on blood sugar levels, eating white rice in excess has even been linked to increasing your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Energy drinks
The reason energy drinks taste so good? They’re packed with artificial flavorings and sugar. They can have higher amounts of sugar in it, or they’ll use artificial flavors which can cause a lot of inflammation of the body. And when it comes to these energy drinks, most companies won’t disclose what those artificial flavorings actually are. Chemicals are used to recreate natural flavors.
Table salt
We’re all prone to sprinkling a bit of salt on our food before we eat it here and there. And while a little bit of salt is okay, it’s better to try and opt for sea salt or Himalayan salt over your standard table salt. That’s because table salt has been bleached and stripped of its natural minerals. Plus, it’s high in sodium, which can cause inflammation.
Sugary Cereal
They contain unheathy ingredients like; Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), refined carbs, added sugar
There’s no sugar-coating it: sugar wreaks havoc on the body. Consuming too much of the white stuff can lead to obesity, which often causes other health problems like diabetes and heart disease.
Margarine
Unhealthy Ingredient: Palm oil
You know the creamy taste of margarine had to come from somewhere, and usually it’s from the addition of vegetable oils—and many blends can include palm oil, which has a high saturated fat content and can also cause inflammation. Alternatively, you can replace margarine with olive oil.
