Introduction:
Did you know that there are foods you are eating everyday that are killing you slowly? Most of us have number of these foods on our menu, but if you combine all of these, you will get a deadly combo and you need to start making a change in your diet. Without knowing it, people are unwittingly eating food that is slowly killing them. Many times, what is advertised as healthy, nutritious and fresh is actually the furthest from the truth. Considering that the latest trend these days is a call to be healthier and eat more conscientiously, it’s important to bring up the fact that many of these foods are indeed, not healthy or nutritious at all. Here are the list of those foods, do check it out!
1. Canned Tomatoes & Sauces:
Because of their high acidity, canned tomatoes tend to leach the chemical from the can lining, making them a much more concentrated source of BPA. While many manufacturers have begun phasing out the use of BPA, you may want to get your tomatoes and acidic citrus fruits fresh.
The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food.
2. Potato Chips:
Potato chips are bad, and not because they’re high in fat or calories. Instead, it’s because burnt chips, and certain other foods, contain a chemical known as acrylamide that could increase one’s cancer risk.
The sodium content in chips may negatively impact your cardiovascular health. A high intake of sodium can cause an increase in blood pressure, which can lead to stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease and kidney disease.
3. Soda or Sugary Drinks:
Sugary drinks lead to weight gain, and anything that leads to weight gain increases risk of conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and even certain cancers, explains Liebman. There are also other ingredients that may come into play. Drinking high amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda can have various adverse impacts on your health. These range from increased chances of tooth decay to a higher risk of heart disease and metabolic disorders. Soda is not good for a person’s health because it contains lots of sugar. Consuming too much soda may lead to weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , most people in America consume too many added sugars, which can lead to health problems.
4: White Sugar:
If you have a sweet tooth, there are much healthier ways to satisfy your cravings. Sugar is highly addictive, and others then spiking your glucose levels and creating fat. Avoid sugar as much as you can to decrease the risk of diseases such as fatty liver disease, a contributor to diabetes, which raises your risk for heart disease. Consuming too much added sugar can raise blood pressure and increase chronic inflammation, both of which are pathological pathways to heart disease. Enjoy a bowl of fruits or add honey to your recipes instead of sugar.
Disadvantages of Eating White Sugar:
- Sugar causes blood glucose to spike and plummet.
- Sugar increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
- Sugar interferes with immune function.
- A high-sugar diet often results in chromium deficiency.
- Sugar accelerates aging.
- Sugar causes tooth decay.
5. White Flour or Refined Flour:
In today’s world, a lot of food is made from white flour and it all turns to glue in the intestines. It has no fiber, it congests the system, slows down digestion which creates a sluggish metabolism, and can often lead to weight gain, stress, headaches and migraines and constipation.
The highly processed flour and additives in white, packaged bread can make it unhealthful.
Consuming too much white bread can contribute to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. However, buying bread with the word “whole” as the first ingredient still does not guarantee a healthful product.
Most commercial breads are unhealthy if eaten in large amounts, as they’re made from refined wheat, which is low in fiber and essential nutrients and may lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar.
6. Barbecued Meats:
The smell of barbecue might be hard to resist, but please try. Meat contains creatine, an organic acid that helps to supply the energy used by muscle cells. When you cook meat, a chemical reaction turns creatine into a group of compounds called heterocyclic amines.
Cooking meats over open flames where fat can drip and produce smoke think grilling can lead to the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs have also been linked to cancer formation (risk of pancreatic cancer or breast cancer). On the most basic level, the smoky flavor and the char that you get from a well-grilled steak is not particularly good for you. If you can’t resist try to limit the take of barbecue meat and consider to add some rosemary to reduce the amount and number of carcinogens.
7. Fast Foods:
Excess calories from fast-food meals can cause weight gain. This may lead toward obesity. Obesity increases your risk for respiratory problems, including asthma and shortness of breath. The extra pounds can put pressure on your heart and lungs and symptoms may show up even with little exert, Eating junk food on a regular basis can lead to an increased risk of obesity and chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and some cancers.
We know Australian’s eat too much junk food. 35% of adults daily energy intake (kilojoules) comes from junk food.
8. Wheat:
Wheat is highly controversial because it contains a protein called gluten, which can trigger a harmful immune response in predisposed individuals. However, for people who tolerate it, whole-grain wheat can be a rich source of various antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Consuming too much wheat can cause the intestines to work harder resulting in sluggish digestion causing digestive problems, such as water retention, bloating, and gas. Wheat is not bad for most people. Wheat is a good source of fiber, essential vitamins, and minerals.
It also contains higher calories and does not provide the same satiety that two chapatis can give. Having said that, it is easier to digest rice because of its starch content, whereas roti takes time to get digested. Rice also contains high amounts of folate, a water-soluble vitamin, which is good for your health.
9. Breakfast Cereals:
Cereals don’t give you sufficient nutrition and energy that your body really needs. Cereals contain an excessive and unnecessary amount of carbohydrates and sugar. Most of this sugar comes from processed foods and breakfast cereals are among the most popular processed foods that are high in added sugars. In fact, most cereals list sugar as the second or third ingredient.
Starting the day with a high-sugar breakfast cereal will spike your blood sugar and insulin levels. If eaten too often, this can contribute to weight gain and health problems, including tooth decay and high blood pressure. But whether it’s puffed, baked or flaked, cereal can still form part of a healthy, balanced diet. It is also important that you eat breakfast regularly.
10. Salt:
Salt is an important part of the diet and its components play essential roles in your body. However, for some people, too much salt may be associated with conditions like an increased risk of stomach cancer and high blood pressure. Too much salt can contribute to high blood pressure, which is linked to conditions like heart failure and heart attack, kidney problems, fluid retention, stroke and osteoporosis. You might think this should mean you need to cut out salt completely, but salt is actually an important nutrient for the human body.