You’re bombarded with health advice everyday: Eat more fruits and vegetables; exercise daily; turn off the television; stop smoking … the directives never seem to stop. While making all those lifestyle changes at once might be too much to conquer, perhaps the best approach is to choose one thing at a time.
Here, we give you seven suggestions for foods you should really consider cutting out of your diet. These disease-causing, vitality-robbing products have grown more notorious over the past few years, with many major scientific studies proving the damage they’re doing to our health. Try weaning yourself off one for a few weeks, then move on to the next.
1. Processed foods
Not all processed, packaged foods are health hazards, but plenty are. Packaging foods often require added preservatives and sodium, which have been shown to increase risk of developing heart disease. Added sugars in processed foods also lowers HDL “good” cholesterol, and flavor enhancers like monosodium glutamate (MSG) can cause a host of problems, including obesity, a major health issue for America, Dr. Russell Blaylock tells NewsmaxHealth.com.
Some of the worst offenders include breads made with yeast, sodium-injected chicken, packaged pizza, pre-made pasta dishes, cold cuts, and pastries. However, frozen fruits and vegetables are a good substitute if fresh versions aren’t available. Produce is typically frozen and bagged at the peak of ripeness, and maintains its nutrients. Check the ingredients label for additives. For more on the pros and cons of processed foods, see the October issue of Newsmax magazine.
2. High-fructose corn syrup
This cheaper substitute for sugar used in packaged foods and beverages like cola, sweets, salad dressings, pickles, barbecue sauce, and juice has taken a publicity beating over the past few years. Researchers believe that although the sweetener, made from corn kernels, aids in preservation and food texture, it also messes with metabolism and how the brain signals that the body is full – two factors they say lead to obesity. (The same researchers also say regular sugar isn’t much better.) PepsiCo, Hunt’s, and Kraft Foods have started nixing it from their foods, but it still can be found almost anywhere. Think you’re safe eating “diet” foods? Think again. Just last week we found HFCS listed in the ingredients on the label of a package of Snackwells cookies …
3. Frozen or quick-serve meals
They may offer convenience, but these packaged meals contain the same warnings as the aforementioned processed foods (excess salt, preservatives, etc.). In addition, if you eat these you’re likely consuming more calories than you think. A study conducted by researchers at Tufts University found that these types of packaged meals contain 8 percent more calories than stated on the label. In fact, the researchers note, the Food and Drug Administration actually allows up to 20 percent more calories than the label states (but not less than 99 percent). If you must rely on packaged meals, look for those with lower levels of sodium (800 milligrams per serving or less) and a healthy dose of fiber (aim for 5 grams).
4. Sugar
You’ve been told it wreaks havoc on your teeth, and you’re probably aware that sugar is a major contributor to weight gain. However, studies over the past year have linked sugar to increased Alzheimer’s risk, cancer tumor growth, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. Sugar can also affect collagen and increase wrinkles, Dr. Nicolas Perricon told Discovery.com. Fluctuating blood sugar levels can also lead to fatigue and even depression. And, of course, excess sugar consumption is tied to increased diabetes risk. But this all isn’t just from table sugar. Sugar is added to many processed foods and is a major ingredient in many beverages. Check the labels, cook your own food, and start by substituting one sugary drink (cola, sweetened tea, juice) for plain water.
5. Refined salt
The latest ingredient taking a public bashing is salt. New York City officials recently launched an awareness campaign to reduce American salt consumption by 25 percent. Excessive intake of salt is linked to high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. An estimated one in three American adults has high blood pressure – a number that’s likely to increase. MayoClinic.com reports that salt use in U.S. diets breaks down like this:
• 5 percent added while cooking
• 6 percent added while eating
• 12 percent from natural sources
• 77 percent from processed and prepared foods
But the goal shouldn’t be to eliminate salt altogether. It is vital in keeping certain organs functioning and the fluids balanced in the body. NewsmaxHealth.com contributor Dr. David Brownstein recommends unrefined salt, such as Celtic Sea Salt, which he says contains more than 80 minerals and nutrients that the body needs.
6. White bread, pasta, and rice
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute in Milan studied the effects of foods that quickly release sugar into the bloodstream (categorized as glycemic index). White bread, pasta, and rice are high on the list. (Most fruits and vegetables are on the other end of the spectrum). During their study, they found that women with glycemic index scores were at more than double the risk to develop heart disease (although the men in the study did not encounter the same risk). White bread, pasta, and rice also have less fiber and nutrients than their whole-grain counterparts.
7. Soft drinks
Whether regular or diet, it’s time to ditch this drink from your menu. Regular colas are loaded with sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, which both boost obesity odds and mess with your appetite. The chemicals in these beverages are downright dangerous. Phosphoric acid leaches calcium from bones, erodes tooth enamel, and causes the formation of kidney stones. Additives in soft drinks can disrupt hormone balances, reducing sperm counts, according to a Danish story. Aspartame in some diet colas can lead to brain disorders and is especially troubling for diabetics, according to Dr. Russell Blaylock. To view his interview, Diet Colas ‘Disastrous’ for Diabetics.
No comments:
Post a Comment