The answer to this question may vary depending on who you ask, but there are certain food items that tend to be universally accepted as being unhealthy. Here are three foods that you should stop eating if you want to improve your health:
1. Processed meat – This includes items like hot dogs, bacon, and sausage. Processed meat is high in saturated fat and sodium, which can increase your risk for heart disease and other chronic health conditions.
2. Refined grains – White bread, pasta, and rice are all examples of refined grains. These foods have been stripped of their nutrients during the processing stage, making them less healthy than their whole grain counterparts. refined grains can also cause spikes in blood sugar levels, which can be detrimental for people with diabetes or prediabetes.
3. Sweets – Cookies, cake, ice cream… the list goes on. While a little bit of sweetness can be enjoyed in moderation, consuming too many sweets can lead to weight gain and cavities. Plus, sugary drinks like soda are a major contributor to the obesity epidemic sweeping the nation. So next time you’re tempted by that dessert menu or vending machine snack selection, remember that your health is worth more than a momentary sugar fix.
Processed Meats. Foods such as bacon, sausages and some deli meats are not only high in calories and sodium, but also in saturated fat as well as some nitrates and nitrites
Processed meats are those that have been treated to preserve or enhance their flavor or texture. This includes meats that have been smoked, cured, salted or dried. Some processed meats also contain chemicals such as nitrates, nitrites and phosphates.
While processed meats may be convenient and taste good, they are not necessarily healthy. In fact, eating too much processed meat can increase your risk for several serious health problems, including heart disease and cancer.
Heart Disease
Processed meats are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, both of which can clog your arteries and lead to heart disease. In addition, many processed meats contain sodium nitrates or sodium nitrites, which can also contribute to heart disease by increasing blood pressure.
Cancer
Eating a lot of processed meat has also been linked with an increased risk for certain types of cancer, including stomach cancer and colorectal cancer. This may be due in part to the presence of carcinogenic chemicals such as nitrates and nitrites in some processed meats. Additionally, the high fat content of many processed meats may promote the growth of tumors.
Sugary Coffee Drinks
Sugary coffee drinks can cause spikes in blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels spike, it can lead to a host of problems including fatigue, irritability, and even cravings for more sugary foods.
Spikes in blood sugar can also put you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to a host of other health problems including heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
If you’re trying to cut back on sugary coffee drinks, there are plenty of healthier alternatives available. You can try unsweetened coffee or tea, or make your own homemade coffee drinks with healthy ingredients like almond milk and honey.
Sugary Cereals
What’s more, sugary cereals often don’t contain much in the way of nutrients. If you’re looking for a healthy cereal option, opt for one that is high in fiber and protein and low in sugar.