If you always dreamed of attaining a perfect physique for the world to envy, you would have already prepared a long list of foods that you should include in your daily diet. However, not many people realize that there are several types of foods that need to be avoided even if they are labeled as “low calorie” diet foods. It is highly important to read the labels of ready-to-eat foods to figure out the ingredients used. Processed foods or ready-made products are loaded with artificial preservatives, artificial colors, and artificial sweeteners that may not necessarily go down well with the body when consumed in the long run.
Consuming natural foods is one of the most effective secrets to stay healthy in a natural manner. Natural foods help your body to metabolize easily without over burdening your internal organs.
Listed below are ten common unhealthy foods, which we tend to include in our daily diet without giving them a second thought:
1. Empty calories
If you cannot give up on drinking sodas and carbonated beverages then your goal of losing extra flab and staying fit would remain a dream and would never materialize into reality. These drinks are loaded with empty calories and sugars. Empty calories make your stomach feel “full”, but do not provide any type of nutritional satisfaction to your mind or body. Sugars on the other hand cause your glucose levels to spike initially, but drop down drastically. Sugars add extra and unhealthy calories, making you put on more weight, dashing your chances of staying fit or healthy.
2. Artificial sweeteners
These substances promise to provide very little calories and are advertised by many companies as being a safe alternative to natural sugars. While diabetics find these substances to be a safe abode for having sweet stuff, artificial sweeteners have become a hot topic for public debates among scientists and nutritionists who are trying to figure out whether they are really acceptable and good for the body when consumed in the long run. Certain sweeteners like sucralase have been known to impair the functioning of thyroid glands. Additionally, artificial sweeteners are recognized by the body as foreign substances and are therefore metabolized differently, making your liver and kidney function more than they would normally do.
3. Trans fats
These fats are deadly. They cause a sudden increase in the levels of bad cholesterol, increasing the chances of atherosclerosis, hypertension and several types of chronic diseases. Since most food labels report “zero percent trans fat” for foods containing less than five percent trans fat, many people might be unknowingly consuming a large amount of trans fat thinking that those foods are “devoid” of bad fat. If the food label contains “hydrogenated oils”, they are automatically rich in trans fats. Processed foods, certain types of desserts, margarine are also rich in trans fat.
4. French fries
These foods are extremely rich in oil and salt. A combination of high oil and salt intake can spell disaster when consumed on a regular basis. These foods will force your body to put on weight and will make you easily prone to hypertension.
5. Canned foods
These foods are preserved using high levels of sugars or salts. However, a high presence of sugar or salt will make your body prone to high blood pressure, diabetes and impair the body’s functioning. Try to include fresh foods wherever possible
6. Ready to eat processed foods
These foods are loaded with artificial preservatives. The latter are used to make the food look fresh and taste delicious. These preservatives are very controversial and are known to cause cancers and several types of immune related disorders.
7. White bread
This is devoid of several nutrients including essential vitamins and minerals. These are rich in simple sugars that make you gain weight. Obesity is a common by product of consuming excess white bread.
8. Preserved meat
Meat preserved with nitrates and nitrites is known to have carcinogenic effects on the body, increasing the chances of developing cancers. It is always advisable to eat fresh meat.
9. Foods with extra cheese
Cheese is rich in saturated fats, increasing your chances of becoming obese and falling prey to cardiac disorders like atherosclerosis, fatty liver syndrome, etc.
10. Bacon
Its high level of fat and sodium content should be a cause of concern for anyone looking to stay healthy and ward off chronic diseases. Moderation is necessary in such cases.
Remember to snack healthy and include a host of freshly available fruits and vegetables in your diet rather than opting for processed or canned foods. This will give your body a fresh boost of various nutrients that would help your body to function normally without falling prey to various diseases.