As they say, you are what you eat. While food is a must every day, not all foods can be beneficial to you. Some are not worth the weight that you may gain from eating them. Dishes like fried foods, high-sugar foods, and high-calorie foods can drastically increase your weight and lead to a higher risk of getting diseases and developing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. For people on a weight loss path, it is almost mandatory to avoid them.
To help you find better food alternatives, make healthier investments, and stay away from these other foods when you want to lose weight:
Sugary Drinks
Sugar-sweetened beverages, like soda or sweetened iced tea, are among the unhealthiest foods on the planet. These beverages are heavily linked to weight gain and can have adverse health effects if consumed in large amounts. While these drinks contain a lot of calories, your brain doesn’t register them in a manner similar to solid food. In addition, these drinks either have high-fructose corn syrup or sugar. These are simple sugars, which your body can convert into fat if you are not releasing the energy from these sugars from either work or exercise. If you are serious about losing weight, spend your investment money on more organic beverages or just drink water.
French Fries and Potato Chips
We already know that French fries and potato chips are some of the unhealthiest foods on the market. They are very high in calories, and it’s easy to eat way too many of them. In observational studies, eating French fries and potato chips has a direct effect on weight gain. In addition, French fries and potato chips can contain large amounts of acrylamide if fried for a long time. While acrylamide is naturally occurring, you can find the substance in foods cooked above a certain temperature degree, typically at least 120°C. If you are currently losing weight, avoid French fries and potato chips altogether. Instead, consume alternatives such as boiled potatoes, which can be just as filling.
Candy Bars
Candy bars are incredibly unhealthy. Regardless of which brand you want to buy, a typical candy bar contains many unhealthy fats, added sugars, and refined flour. It’s also high in calories yet low on nutrients like iron and vitamin A. Typically, a candy bar may have 200-300 calories, and some larger bars may contain even more. As such, by eating a candy bar, you end up eating around 10% of your daily recommended calorie intake. It is a must to avoid them when losing weight. For alternatives, use your credit card to buy fresh fruit and homemade low-sugar popsicles.
Pastries, Cookies and Cakes
Pastries, cakes, and cookies contain high levels of sugar and fat. Some may even contain trans fats, which are harmful to the body linked to hypertension. In addition, these foods have a lot of simple sugars, which can lead to faster weight gain if you do not exercise or work out. While it is tempting to eat that piece of cake or cookie, you may end up becoming hungry very quickly after eating them. So, you consume even larger amounts of these foods. For alternatives, spend your investment money on low-sugar treats such as dark chocolate and fresh fruits.
The Bottom Line
The worst foods for weight loss are junk foods like chips, cookies, and candy. These foods have an immense amount of added sugar, refined wheat, and added fats. If you’re unsure if a food is healthy or unhealthy, read the label. However, watch out for misleading health claims and sugar that may masquerade other names on the ingredients list. Another point to remember is portion size. Many foods such as dried foods and cheese are high in calories. As such, it can be very easy to eat a lot of them. Overall, do not eat large portions and buy healthy foods to aid you in your weight loss, and don’t forget to get health insurance to be sure.
Photo Sources:
Cover – Pixabay / Free-Photos (made changes, added sticker from Pixabay / OpenClipart-Vectors)
Photo #1 – Pixabay / Lernestorod
Photo #2 – Pixabay / matthiasboeckel
Photo #3 – Pixabay / Alexas_Fotos
Photo #4 – Pixabay / LUM3N