“You are what you eat,” the saying goes, and you don’t have to have the knowledge of a nutritionist to understand that eating healthy can prolong your life. Even more, it can affect the quality of your life. Yet, many people indulge in unhealthy foods, creating harmful habits.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is within your control, and food is a large part of it. But which foods are the worst for you? Let’s find out.
The Worst Foods to Eat
“The worst foods to eat are those that are high in calories but low in healthy nutrients such as essential vitamins and minerals,” explained to Newsweek Mayo Clinic Orthopedics and Sports Medicine dietitian Luke Corey. Among the foods that are worst for your health are those “high in sodium and added sugar, which can contribute to serious disease and health conditions.”
Essentially, there are only a handful of harmful foods. The rest is about balance and proper intake of what your body needs versus what you crave. Corey added, “I would never say you can’t eat a certain food. Rather, I would say only consume the following items on rare occasions.” So here are the foods you will want to reduce to give yourself a chance for a longer life.
White poison
From refined sugar to flour, the so-called “white poisons” are not easy to digest and do not contain enough protein, vitamins, or minerals to keep your body healthy. Among the foods are pasta, crackers, and white rice, though most nutritionists believe white sugar is the real killer.
Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, health, diet, and nutrition expert, told Healthy, “Sugar promotes oxidative stress and internal inflammation, which is similar to rusting. This internal rusting causes aging, wrinkles, etc., because it damages cells.”
Heavily caffeinated beverages
Highly caffeinated drinks, also known as energy drinks, can cause arrhythmia, irregular heartbeat, anxiety, etc. Combined with added sugar, it can be a toxic combination.
Things are more hectic regarding plain coffee, minus the artificial sweeteners. On the one hand, caffeine has been linked to a lower probability of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver and endometrial cancers, Parkinson’s disease, and depression. But, too much caffeine can lead to irritability, insomnia, and nausea. You have to listen to your body when it comes to caffeine and take it in moderation.
Fast food
Sherry Ross, MD, OB/GYN, told Healthy, “Removing fast food from your diet, which is high in saturated fat and sodium, will help reduce calories and fat.” But that’s not the only issue with fast food.
Numerous studies showed that replacing healthy meal plans with fast food chains can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart-related problems, osteoporosis, depression, and eating disorders.
Alcoholic drinks
Drinking can weaken your immune system, and some of the long-term consumption leads to heart disease, liver damage, depression, pancreatitis, throat, liver, and breast cancer.
Moderate drinking is not hurtful, but according to a statement in The Lancet Public Health, “when it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that does not affect health.” While avoiding alcohol altogether in social circles is still frowned upon, keep in mind that less means more for your overall well-being.
Trans-fats
Trans-fats lower your “good” cholesterol and raise the “bad” one. The more you eat them, the more likely you are at risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke.
Commercial baked goods, French fries, doughnuts, fried chicken, and microwaved popcorn are among the most dangerous foods with high trans fats. Though the FDA effectively banned trans fats in 2021, they can still be found in deep-fried foods.
Diet sodas
Aspartame, a commonly used artificial sweetener, breaks down into the neurotransmitter aspartic acid, which, ” without being bound to other amino acids, is neurotoxic,” says Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, a health, diet, and nutrition expert. Not all diet sodas contain aspartame, though they contain other sweeteners and are not doing your body any favors.
Studies have linked the diet soda habit to an increased risk of stroke, UCLA Health reported, adding that these beverages can cause “weight gain, disruptions to gut health, cardiovascular problems and an increased craving for sweets.”
Processed Meats
Bacon, sausages, and similar processed meats are not good for your heart and put you at risk of developing diabetes. Some studies showed that processed and red meat can cause various cancers, so limiting your intake is the safest way to achieve longevity.
Moderation and eating plenty of healthy foods, like kale, swiss chard, spinach, berries, and chia seeds, will give you fuel for everyday challenges and give you a fair shot at longevity.