We all have our weaknesses and guilty food pleasures but not all foods are worth the splurge! Here are some foods you should stay away from because science says they’re not healthy for you.
Soda
Doesn’t matter if it’s diet or not, it’s not good for you. Harvard School of Public Health found that people who drink a can or two or more a day of soda are 26-percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who don’t drink the sugary drinks. Both diet and regular sodas have been linked to obesity, kidney damage and certain cancers.
Margarine
It was created in a lab to be healthier than butter because it wasn’t made with the animal fat linked to bad cholesterol. But lots of margarine products have trans fat - which is the worst fat! Trans fat increases blood cholesterol levels and raises the risk for heart disease like saturated fat but it also lowers good cholesterol levels. So just use real butter instead.
Farm-raised fish
They don’t have the same nutritional value as fish caught in the wild and it’s because of their diet. Wild fish eat aquatic plants to get their omega-3s but farmed fish are fed a high-corn diet. And farmed fish are often given antibiotics which can affect the people who eat them. Not to mention the ethical questions to think about.
Deli Meat
In America, deli counter meats like ham, salami, hot dogs and bacon are full of not only artery-clogging fats, but according to the US National Library of Medicine, they can also have up to 400-percent more sodium and 50-percent more preservatives than unprocessed red meats. It gets worse: Environmental Working Group reports that some deli meats have nitrates which have been linked to some kinds of cancers.
Non-Organic Eggs
A recent study found that poultry on factory farms are “routinely fed caffeine, active ingredients of Tylenol and Benadryl, banned antibiotics and even arsenic.” Yummy, right? With organic poultry and eggs you’re not taking a chance of eating these chemicals.
American cheese
“American cheese isn’t ‘cheese’ at all,” Dietitian Beth Warren explains. “It’s made in a factory of milk fats, solids, some whey protein, emulsifiers and food coloring.” Go for something real instead. Actual natural cheese like cheddar or Pecorino Romano is so much better. And as a side note, next time you want to buy packaged cheese, look at the label. If it says cheese food…trust that it ain’t.
Microwave Popcorn
According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, microwave popcorn bags are often lined with a chemical that has been shown to affect fertility, cancer risk and kidney function in animal and human studies.
Frappuccino’s
A delicious Grande mocha Frappuccino made with whole milk has 19 grams of fat and 480-calories, according to Forbes. Compare that to a large fast-food burger with all the condiments that only comes in at 438-calories. If you’re using a quarter of your daily calories on a splurge, try to make it one that has some nutritional value as well. As long as there’s still iced coffee, we’ll be okay!
White Bread
It’s made from refined ingredients so it doesn’t have much nutritional value and it’s got a high glycemic index, bad for the blood sugar and insulin levels. Eating a diet with too many foods with a high glycemic index can cause weight gain, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Eat whole grains with the bran and the fiber for a healthier choice.
Source: My Domaine
