When you are trying to improve your health and lose weight,
there are certain foods that you should avoid.
Many of these foods are obviously unhealthy because they contain ingredients that are known to cause weight gain.
However, some other foods which are not so obviously linked to weight gain can nevertheless turn out to be just as bad for you.
These foods are deeply problematic, because most people do not know to avoid them and therefore end up consuming them much more often than they should. Here are 5 foods that you should never eat again:
1. Fried Foods (cont)
Popular Examples of Fried Foods to Avoid
Some of the most common examples of fried foods that you should avoid include the following:
French fries
Anything that is fried, even vegetables, will be a source of trans fat and contain a potent cancer-causing substance called acrylamide.
While this chemical can be formed in many foods when they’re heated to a temperature above 120 degrees Celsius (i.e. 248 degrees Fahrenheit), French fries and potato chips are the biggest offenders.
It is often said that one French fry is worse for your health than one cigarette.
Deep fried chicken
While a mere 320 calories per thigh seems skimpy, remember that you’ll likely eat at least 3 (and perhaps even as many as 10).
Since one thigh contains 25 grams of fat, eating deep fried chicken quickly leads to weight gain.
Further, let’s not forget Popcorn Chicken; just one serving contains a staggering 1,300 calories and 80 grams of fat (19 grams of which are saturated fat).
Fried chicken is even worse for you when you consider the fact that frying oil is very rarely changed.
Doughnuts
Doughnuts are fried, sugary, and almost always contain trans-fat as well as white flour. Store-bought doughnuts are made up of about 35% to 40% trans-fat, and an average doughnut contains about 200 to 300 calories (which are mostly from sugar) and few other nutrients.
Furthermore, in the US, canola, soybean, and corn oils are made primarily from genetically engineered crops, which come with their own set of health risks.
It is common knowledge that fried foods are not healthy and should be avoided whenever it is feasible.
In addition to causing you to pile on the pounds, these foods are of little nutritional value and can cause some serious health problems.
They are associated with higher cholesterol and higher blood pressure, both of which decrease your cardiovascular health and make you more likely to suffer from heart disease or strokes.
Fried foods can also upset the digestive system, leading to uncomfortable acid reflux, and potentially exacerbating the cramps or gas pains associated with irritable bowel syndrome.
Unfortunately, many people exclusively associate fried foods with the French fries, chicken nuggets, onion rings and burgers that you can buy at fast food restaurants.
These people remain unaware that they may also be consuming unhealthy fried foods at home.
If you want to improve your health, you should never fry your meals in a pan on the stove or in a deep fat fryer. Instead, consider baking or broiling.
For example, you can oven-bake lean chicken breasts with a coating of herbs and spices, creating a delicious dinner that has very little fat content and provides you with plenty of protein. Meanwhile, red meat can be garnished with vinegar and minced garlic, and then broiled over coals.
2. White Bread
White bread is a staple in most pantries, but the truth is that it doesn’t have any nutritional value. White bread contains a lot of sugar and it doesn’t have the ability to keep you satisfied, so within a few hours you are likely to find yourself feeling hungry and reaching for snacks.
As a result of these factors, it is unsurprising that research on those who eat white bread shows a correlation between eating larger quantities of white bread and being more likely to gain unwanted weight over a period of 12 years. As it turns out, even breads that claim to be wheat could contain more sugar than grain and should often be avoided.
Ideally, you should replace your white bread with whole grain or whole wheat bread whenever possible, as whole wheat bread is positively good for your health.
For example, it is a source of gamma-oryzanol, which lowers cholesterol levels if consumed on a regular basis, and some studies even suggest that women who eat the largest amount of whole grains are around 40% less likely to develop breast cancer (when compared to women who eat the smallest amount of whole grains).
In addition, don’t forget that you can also substitute white bread on your sandwiches with lettuce leaves or whole grain tortillas.
3. Cream-based Salad Dressings
Salads have a reputation for being healthy, so many people turn to them when they are dieting and trying to eat more nutritious foods.
This is an excellent idea in many cases, as salads can be very nutritious and are often low in calories.
However, it is important to avoid making an unqualified claim that all salads are healthy; in reality, they can become quite bad for you when they are drenched in cream-based dressings.
Although these types of dressings add a lot of extra flavor to salads and can make a meal more enjoyable, it is crucial to remember that they contain a lot of fat and calories. In fact, there can be end up being be more calories in your salad dressing than in the rest of your entire salad, completely undermining your attempts to shed excess weight.
As an alternative, why not experiment with oil-based salad dressings? In addition to tasting lighter, they have fewer calories and are much better for you. With the addition of a little salt and pepper (or some tasty herbs like oregano), an oil-based dressing can turn a salad into a great meal. You can also buy flavored oils that you can use as a basis for a salad dressing; some of these oils are infused with strong and pleasant tastes like garlic, lemon or pepper.
4. White Rice
Rice is a common ingredient in recipes, and it is also a popular side dish chosen to accompany meat dishes.Most people simply assume that rice is healthy, but the nutritional value of rice is entirely dependent on the type of rice you choose.
Crucially, white rice is just like white bread; it can encourage your body to store excess fat that it doesn’t need and make it harder to lose weight. In addition, it has little nutritional value.
When it comes to choosing rice for a meal or a side dish, always opt for brown rice if you want to boost your overall health. Brown rice is full of fiber, vitamins and nutrients.
The high fiber content helps you to feel full and satisfied for longer (reducing your likelihood of overeating or reaching for a pack of cookies), and some studies also suggest that the plant lignans in brown rice can reduce your risk of developing heart disease (perhaps by combating arterial hardening).
However, the benefits don’t end here. Brown rice continues to be a popular subject of nutritional research, with experts currently exploring everything from a link to a reduction in asthma symptoms to the possibility that people who eat the most brown rice are less likely to develop cancer.
In sum, brown rice not only lacks the properties that link white rice to health risks, but it also contains a whole host of extra properties that are directly connected to health benefits.
High fructose corn syrup is a common sweetener that is often found in popular sodas, processed foods, baked goods and pasta sauces.
There is heated debate about whether high fructose corn syrup is good or bad for your body, and the scientific community has yet to reach a consensus.
However, as it stands, there is certainly some compelling evidence that it can quickly cause you to gain extra weight and even stimulate an increased craving for sugar or sugary foods.
There are also justified concerns that overeating sugary foods and foods that are high in fructose corn syrup may even increase your risk of suffering from diabetes or developing other health problems. Due to the fact that high fructose corn syrup may increase triglyceride levels, it could also be linked to a higher likelihood of heart disease.
Try to avoid any processed sugars and opt for healthier dessert options such as fresh fruits and berries. When it comes to finding alternatives to sodas that contain high fructose corn syrup, you have a few different options.
You could opt for fruit juice or diet soda, but it is worth remembering that the former can be very high in sugar and that the latter is associated with its own set of health concerns.
Water is always the healthiest choice, and it can be made more refreshing with a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime.
