Introduction
When it comes to eating healthy, it can be hard to know what to eat and what to avoid. Fortunately, science has done the hard work for us and identified the worst foods for our bodies. Eating these foods can lead to a variety of health issues, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and more. In this article, we’ll look at the worst foods for your body according to science, and provide some healthier alternatives. We’ll also discuss why these foods are so bad for you and how you can avoid them. So, if you’re looking to make healthier choices, read on to learn more about the worst foods for your body.
The Worst Foods for Your Body, According to Science — Eat This Not That
When it comes to eating healthy, it can be hard to know what to avoid. With so many conflicting opinions out there, it can be difficult to know which foods are actually bad for your body. Fortunately, science has done the work for us and identified the worst foods for your body.
Processed Meats
Processed meats, such as bacon, hot dogs, and deli meats, are high in saturated fat and sodium. Eating too much of these foods can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer. It’s best to limit your intake of processed meats and opt for leaner, healthier proteins like fish, poultry, and beans.
Sugary Drinks
Sugary drinks, such as soda, energy drinks, and sweetened teas, are loaded with empty calories and added sugar. Consuming too much of these drinks can lead to weight gain, diabetes, and other health problems. It’s best to avoid sugary drinks and opt for water, unsweetened tea, or sparkling water instead.
Refined Grains
Refined grains, such as white bread, white rice, and white pasta, are stripped of their fiber and other nutrients. Eating too much of these foods can lead to weight gain and an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. It’s best to opt for whole grains, such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, and quinoa, which are packed with fiber and other nutrients.
Fried Foods
Fried foods, such as french fries, chicken nuggets, and mozzarella sticks, are high in fat and calories. Eating too much of these foods can lead to weight gain and an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. It’s best to limit your intake of fried foods and opt for healthier alternatives, such as baked or grilled foods.
Processed Snacks
Processed snacks, such as chips, crackers, and cookies, are often high in calories, fat, and sugar. Eating too much of these foods can lead to weight gain and an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. It’s best to limit your intake of processed snacks and opt for healthier alternatives, such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
By avoiding these worst foods for your body, you can help keep yourself healthy and reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases. Eating a balanced diet of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, is the best way to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs.
They say, “you are what you eat,” but nobody really listens. If they did, the weight-loss industry would look much different. Yet with so many treats on grocery shelves that pack in the calories and the sugar, it can be hard to resist those tasty temptations.
That’s why we made a list of the worst foods for your body, the generic ones that you shouldn’t waste your time on if you’re trying to lose weight.
So if you’re looking to lose a few pounds, here are the worst foods for your body to avoid. Plus, don’t miss these 22 Meals to Melt Belly Fat in 2022.
Betcha can’t eat just one…serving. That’s only about 18 chips. Can you stop there? Good luck if you’re eating the salt and vinegar variety. Salt & vinegar chips deliver 500 milligrams of sodium and about 1/4 teaspoon of salt, which is about one-third of the total milligrams of sodium that The American Heart Association says the average adult should aim for in a day. A New England Journal of Medicine study found that potato chips added more pounds to consumers’ bodies than sugary drinks, processed meats, red meat, and other foods. So stay clear of these Unhealthiest Potato Chips on the Planet.
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Chicken is considered a healthier alternative to red meats because it’s lower in saturated fat than beef and a great source of protein. But coat it in flour and deep fry it in a sizzling bath of hot oil, and you’ve just turned a nutritious protein into one of the unhealthiest of meals.
When you batter and fry chicken in oil, the food absorbs a lot of fat, which boosts the calorie content of the meal. Even worse, frying foods at high temperature in vegetable oils (like canola and corn oil) or seed oils (like sesame or grapeseed) form trans fats, which are associated with increased risk of heart disease, cancer, and obesity, according to the Journal of Food Science and Technology. The saturated fats from skin-on chicken also raise LDL (bad) cholesterol, which contributes to plaque in the arteries, putting you at a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.
Not convinced? Here’s What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Deep-Fried Foods.
The name tips you off to why they’re pretty darn bad for you: Dough! They are made up of white flour, sugar, and vegetable shortening—and then they are deep-fried. This means donuts also contain trans fats, the worst type that increases your bad cholesterol and lowers your good cholesterol, according to the Mayo Clinic.
It’s basically edible playdough. What’s in it? Sugar (25 grams per serving), water, gelatin, vegetable fat or shortening, and glycerol. Yum. Oh, and that last ingredient, propylene glycol, has been linked to poor kidney health, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
Cured lunch meats contain a preservative called sodium nitrate which may trigger chronic inflammation in the arteries, leading to atherosclerosis, the narrowing of the arteries. But if you really want to make a sandwich, you should evaluate our list of 30 Best and Worst Packaged Deli Meats.
Everyone recognizes French fries as the poster child of bad-for-you foods, so it’s no surprise that you instantly make them worse when you glob on that gooey, salty cheese sauce. Store-bought cheese sauces like Kraft Cheese Wiz can contain 430 milligrams of sodium, or 19% of your daily recommended value of sodium. Plus, it contains almost 10% of your daily recommended fats in one serving alone –and that’s all before the fries. why not make your own healthier version with our Not-So-Unhealthy Cheese Fries Recipe?
Made with vodka, Kahlua, and heavy cream (or half-and-half) the White Russian is packed with nearly 600 calories and 16 grams of sugar. That’s a cocktail recipe for a belly shaped like a bowling ball.
RELATED: The Worst Drinks on the Planet
Even those soups with a bumper crop of beans and vegetables can be super salty. For example, you’d be hard-pressed to find a palatable split pea soup under 500 milligrams of sodium per serving. No wonder canned soups are on the American Heart Association’s “Salty Six” of notoriously bad-for-your-heart foods.
RELATED: 16 Quick & Healthy Soup Recipes That Could Help You Lose Weight
So convenient, right? There are a few in your desk drawer right now, no? Tell you what: Toss ’em. These last-forever coffee creamers are typically made from partially hydrogenated oils—in other terms: trans fats. Remember, trans fats raise your risk of developing heart disease or stroke by elevating your LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Consuming a stick of margarine increases the risk for coronary heart disease because it contains trans fats. The more solid the margarine, the more trans fats, according to a study in Epidemiology. Butter is often a better choice for your toast. A 2016 review in PLOS One found very few links between butter consumption and heart disease.
First off—what is this pinkish-brown mystery meat made of? According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, hot dogs are made from the trimmings of better cuts of beef that make up ground beef, steaks, etc. mixed with nitrates to help the meat proteins bond together. Similar to the majority of the other foods found in this article, hot dogs are high in saturated fats and sodium and many contain nitrates, a preservative linked to cancer, according to The National Cancer Institute.
Adopting a plant-based diet is a smart move, unless you are choosing products that swap another unhealthy ingredient for the beef.
“Some plant-based burgers are going to have added fat, and oftentimes, the added fat is a saturated fat,” says Katherine Zertasky, a Mayo Clinic registered dietitian nutritionist. “Saturated fat has an association with raising our bad cholesterol, and the concern is that it may increase our heart disease risk.” Another red flag for veggie burgers: sodium content. Some are very salty with upwards of 900 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Instead, look for one of these 10 Best Frozen Veggie Burgers You Can Buy at the Grocery Store.
Admit it: you know you’re getting zero fiber and a lot of carbs and sugar from that bowl of cereal. That’s why it’s considered the worst breakfast for weight loss. A better idea for breakfast would be to add little chocolate milk to your piping hot oatmeal, which is full of dietary fiber.
What makes something so wholesome sounding as honey wheat bread a candidate for our worst list? The fact that it’s so wholesome sounding. It tricks us into thinking it’s healthy. Problem is, honey wheat bread is not much different from white bread. Like most white bread, its grain has been stripped of its fiber, yes, despite the word “wheat” in its name. Unless the label reads “whole wheat” or “whole grain,” the bread isn’t made with whole grains. Make a habit of eating only 100% whole wheat or whole grain bread.
RELATED: We Tasted 9 White Breads & This Is the Best
This is one of the worst breakfast foods you can consume. It’s a big ball of white-flour dough, the equivalent in carbs of about five slices of white bread toast. Even if an average bagel contains about 250 calories, you’ll feel hungry soon after. It’ll raise your blood sugar quickly, followed by an equally speedy drop, which will make you crave more. Which is why you should keep your distance from these The Unhealthiest Store-Bought Bagels.
Plus, be sure to incorporate these Eating Habits to Lose Abdominal Fat As You Age, Say Dietitians.