10 Foods You Should Avoid
- Dietitian.Lauren Hmede
- Oct 24, 2019
- 2 min read
1. Soda
Drinking sugary soda can lead to tooth decay, obesity, fatty liver disease, high triglycerides, type 2 diabetes and other health issues.
If you adore soda, by all means, have it as a treat once or twice a week.
2. Canned Fruit
Lots of canned fruit at the store is made with heavy syrups (aka lots of added sugar). Ditch the can and go fresh to avoid excess sugar.
Fresh fruit is typically a better bet. Dried and frozen fruit can be healthy choices too-just make sure those don't have added sugar by checking the ingredient list.
3. Margarine
There are tons of other oils out there that are way better for your everyday needs like olive oil, avocado oil and coconut oil.
Some newer margarine blends are made with healthier oils, but some versions contain partially hydrogenated oils (read: trans fat) so check the ingredient list.
4. Energy Drinks
Break that habit of reaching for a an energy drink by not buying them and keeping them in the house.
Aim for tea or coffee to caffienate naturally and if you do need to keep an energy drink at home, read the label and make sure you check the ingredients.
Avoid ones with lots of sugar or strange ingredient names you don't know, and only go natural.
5. Pretzels
They are a food you can easily have too many of in one sitting and give you pretty much zero nutrition.
Instead try something else that's crunchy like carrot or jicama sticks or look for whole grain crackers with tons of fiber.
6. Artificial Sweeteners
These chemicals taste 200-more than 7,000 times sweeter than table sugar. While they market this as a benefit since you might be able to use less, that sweet taste can disrupt your taste buds and your recognition of foods that should actually taste sweet.
Plus, regular use can increase appetite and disrupt the good bacteria in our digestive tract, she adds, so look for natural sources instead.
7. Deli Meats
Not fresh, lean meat from the butcher, but high-sodium, processed deli meats are definitely not good for your health.
Nitrates and nitrates are added to the most common cured meats such as bacon, sausage, ham and other lunch meats.
Try making a sandwich with chicken breast or try hummus, eggs or cheese as protein-rich fillings.
8. Muffins
While many try to avoid parabens in skincare and body care products, propyl paraben is an additive used in some products like tortillas and muffins.
Parabens have potential endocrine disrupting properties, meaning they can disrupt hormone's actions in the body and beyond that, they're packed with more sugar, saturated fat and calories than the ones you would make at home.
9. Microwave Popcorn
The problem with bagged microwave popcorn is that it has tons of additives and many have partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats) in the ingredients.
Trans fat has been associated with increasing the risk of heart disease and is actually banned in many restaurants.
10. Cheese in a Can
It's a mixture of different processed ingredients, all of which add up to a not-so-healthy product.
If you want cheese, opt for a string cheese or a slice of cheddar, both of which provide protein and calcium to your diet.
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