Well the saying goes “we are what we eat” and although it is one of the most popular phrases, the reality is that nobody takes it into account with due seriousness. The truth is that with such an extensive offer of sweets, fast food and processed products, rich in calories, sugar and fat, it can be very difficult to resist so many temptations.
So if you’re looking to lose weight and generally opt for a healthier eating style , these are the worst foods of all time and one that you should avoid at all costs. Not only are they highly caloric , their recurrent consumption is related to an increased risk of chronic and degenerative diseases , they also reduce energy levels and alter mood.
1. French fries
French fries are probably the most tempting and accessible snack, apart from all it is practically impossible to eat just one portion (which is around 18 pieces). Many things are derived from the consumption of this type of snack, firstly it is evident that they are very caloric and fatty, secondly they provide a significant amount of sodium. For example, salt and vinegar chips contain 500mg of sodium , which is the equivalent of 1/4 teaspoon of salt, which means that you will be consuming approximately one third of the total milligrams of sodium, which according to the American Heart Association an average adult should consume in a day.
Additionally, there are interesting references, as is the case of a study from the New England Journal of Medicine , in which it was found that French fries are responsible for adding more pounds to the body of consumers than the same sugary drinks, processed meats , red meat and other processed products, very risky for health.
2. Fried chicken
While it is true that chicken is considered one of the best healthy protein alternatives , since it is low in calories, fat and a magnificent source of complete amino acids. This is not to say that covering it with flour and frying it in exorbitant amounts of boiling oil is healthy, in fact it is the way to turn one of the most nutritious sources of high biological value proteins into one of the most unhealthy foods.
What happens when you coat and fry the chicken in oil is that the food absorbs a lot of fat and automatically the caloric content increases considerably. What is more concerning is that the process of frying foods in vegetable or seed oils causes trans fats to form and is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, cancer and obesity.
As revealed by the Journal of Food Science and Technology , the consumption of saturated fats such as chicken with skin and fried , increases the levels of bad cholesterol “LDL” in the blood and contributes to the formation of plaque in the arteries. .
3. Donuts
Undoubtedly we all occasionally enjoy a succulent donut, however without hesitation we can say that they are on the list of the 5 worst foods and this is directly related to two factors: fried dough.
Donuts are made up of white flour, sugar and vegetable shortening, and then fried in oil at high temperatures. Therefore, they are not only very caloric and rich in fat and sugar; They provide trans fats , which according to information released by the Mayo Clinic increase bad cholesterol and lead to a higher risk of degenerative diseases.
4. Fondant
If it is true that fondant cakes have become fashionable, especially for their immense possibilities of decorating and personalizing cakes. However, the bad news is that it is practically edible plasticine and a lot of sugar , in fact it contains about 25 grams per serving, water, fat or vegetable shortening and glycerol.
Recently a new ingredient has been discovered: propylene glycol , which according to information released by the National Kidney Foundation has been linked to alterations in kidney health.
5. Coffee cream
For many there is no coffee without a good dose of cream and sugar, the truth is that it is one of the worst habits that exist and that it takes away everything healthy from coffee. Coffee creamers are these little jars that last forever and are typically made from partially hydrogenated oils , in a few simple words: trans fats.
It is well known that these substances increase the risk of developing heart disease , stroke and raise bad cholesterol , they are also related to weight gain.
6. Margarine
At some point there was the belief that margarine being of vegetable origin is a healthier option than butter, however, on many occasions they are highly processed variants that stand out for the use of hydrogenated oils, which the more solid they are.
Most margarines contain trans fats . It is a kind of imitation of butter , in which they usually add many preservatives, additives, flavorings and chemicals. According to a study of Epidemiology , the butter tends to be a better option for your toast as they have very few links between encontado butter consumption and heart disease.
7. Canned soups
If true, canned soups are a quick alternative, which gets us out of a lot of trouble. However, even the variants with many beans and vegetables , which can be rich in fiber, have the great defect of being very rich in sodium . They can normally contain up to 500 mg of sodium , which is why according to the American Heart Association , they are on the list of foods notoriously harmful to the heart.
8. Cheesy French Fries
It is well known that French fries are on the list of the most harmful foods for health and especially body weight, therefore it is not surprising that things get worse when exorbitant amounts of salty and greasy cheese sauce are added.
Just one serving of cheese can contain about 430mg of sodium and about 10% of the recommended fats per day. They are related to alterations in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and sugar , and of course they are a food that results in alterations in heart health.
