Nowadays, a lot of consumers have become health conscious and are very particular about the kind of food they take in.
You have to know that the foods you take in can have a major effect on your weight, your weight can have an effect on your health. Being overweight can lead to cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, musculoskeletal disease and some cancers.
When trying to lose weight, as much as possible, try to avoid processed and refined products, these products make you gain weight.
Here are 10 foods to avoid when you’re trying to lose weight
• Sugary drinks: Sugary beverages like soda, are one of the unhealthiest foods today.
They have strong associations with weight gain and can have disastrous health effects when consumed in excess.
Even though sugary drinks contain calories, the brain doesn’t absorb them like solid foods. Liquid calories would not make you satisfied.
To lose weight effectively, you have to give up sugary intake.
• White bread: White bread is highly refined and contain a lot of sugar. It is high on the glycemic index and can spike your blood sugar levels. A study found out that eating two slices of white bread per day was linked to a 40% greater risk of weight gain and obesity.
However, there are other healthy alternatives to white bread such as Ezekiel bread, cornbread and almond flour bread.
• French fries and potato chips: Whole potatoes are healthy and filling, but French fries and potato chips are the opposite. In observational studies, consuming French fries and potato chips has been linked to weight gain. One study even found out that potato chips consumption contribute to more weight gain per serving. Also, baked, roasted or fried potatoes may contain cancer causing substances called acrylamides.
• Candy bars: Candy bars contain a lot of added sugar, oils and refined flour and are extremely unhealthy. Candy bars are low in nutrients and very high in calories. Research has shown that an average sized chocolate can contain around 200 to 300 calories.
If you are craving a snack, then it is advisable to eat a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts instead.
• Most Fruit juices: Most fruit juices today are mostly not whole fruit, they have been processed and loaded with sugar. Fruit juice usually has no fiber meaning, a glass of orange won’t have the same effect as a full whole orange.
• Pastries, cookies and cakes: Pastries, cookies and cakes do not satisfy easily, and you are likely to become hungry very quickly after eating these high calorie, low nutrient food.
• Some category of alcohol: Alcohol provides more calories than carbohydrates and protein. However, the evidence of alcohol and weight is not clear.
Drinking alcohol in moderation seems to be fine and can actually reduce weight gain. Heavy drinking, on the other hand is associated with increased weight gain. The type of alcohol is also a contributory factor. Beer can cause weight gain, but drinking wine in moderation may actually be beneficial.
• Ice cream: Ice cream is very unhealthy but we all love it. It is high in calories and loaded with sugar. A small portion of ice cream is fine once in a while, but the problem is that it’s very easy to consume massive amounts in one sitting.
Consider making your own ice cream, using less sugar and healthier ingredients like full fat yoghurt and fruit.
• Pizza: Pizza has become popular, however, commercially made pizzas happen to be very unhealthy. They’re extremely high in calories and often contain unhealthy ingredients like highly refined flour and processed meat.
If you want a slice of pizza, try making one at home with healthier ingredients.
• Coffee drinks: Coffee contains several biologically active substances, most importantly caffeine.
These chemicals can boost your metabolism and increase fat burning, at least in the short term.
However, adding unhealthy ingredients like artificial cream and sugar outweigh these positive effects.
if you are a coffee lover, it’s best to stick to plain, black coffee when trying to lose weight
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