Not the worst food for health, but in the top ten.

I have been watching TedTalks and other YouTube videos on various aspects of business, marketing, health, and wellness. I came across a “Not To Do” list a couple of times over the past week. It got me to thinking about those things we should Not Do to maintain and improve our health. Our food choices determine our health!

In no specific order, the following are things that can harm your health if you consume a lot of them on a regular basis. Moderation is OK, but most of these should be under the category of ‘Maybe Once a Month.’ Avoid all the time if you can.

Added sugar in drinks and foods. Insulin resistance issues, potential non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, heart disease, type II diabetes, and obesity could be on the horizon.

Pizza!! The refined wheat is low in fiber and essential nutrients. Some may argue that some restaurants and homemade can be acceptable. However, it is not a healthy option.

Packaged fruit juices – too much sugar added to be healthy. Some may argue that pomegranate juice or berry juice might be healthy because of the polyphenols and other natural nutrients. It is better to juice your own fruit than to buy it in any type of package.

Sweetened cereals made from wheat, oats, rice, and corn are not your healthy friends.

Foods that are fried, grilled, and broiled contain acrylamides, heterocyclic amine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). High heat gives a great look and taste, but there is an increased risk of cancer and heart disease. I have read that black pepper extract (piperine) can moderate fried foods.

Pastries, cookies, and cakes contain a lot of refined sugar and refined wheat flour. Some processes use trans fats. Most use preservatives. Tastes great, but can be a serious health issue over time.

French fries and potato chips are high in calories, but not many nutrients. See the fried foods for health danger. If you are looking for a good source of carcinogenic options, these have them.

Just about anything labeled ‘gluten-free junk foods.’ Any gluten-free option usually has more calories, high in sugar, and refined grains. Over 30% of Americans regularly opt to avoid gluten.

Agave nectar is a super sweetener with loads of fructose. Anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup should be avoided. Agave nectar is not as healthy as you might think.

Low-fat yogurt is not a healthy option. Fat is what makes yogurt taste good. To compensate for removing the natural fats, extra sugar is added. Pasteurization kills the probiotic bacteria that many thinks are in their yogurt.

Low-carb junk foods found their way into our lifestyles because of the low-carb diets. Too many additives in these processed foods to be healthy on a regular basis.

Ice cream is loaded with sugar and undesirable additives. I always avoid any ice cream that has carrageenan. It is not that difficult to make at home and you avoid all the extras that are in most commercial ice cream. It is still not a thing to eat more than once a week or two weeks. As a dessert, it adds calories to the total calories already eaten with your meal.

Candy bars are probably in the top three of the absolute things to avoid in trying to achieve and maintain your health. Sugar, additives, refined wheat flours, processed fats, and more can disrupt your life.

Processed meats increase your risk of colon cancer, type II diabetes, heart disease, and other serious health issues.

Processed cheese products contain a lot of fillers that are not healthy for you. There have been some amazing food engineering to get a non-cheese to look and taste like cheese.

If you do not read labels on the food products (and personal care products), you will miss a lot of warnings of bad health. Some labels are more difficult to read than others because of the options that sugar or wheat can be labeled as.

Your good friend Dr. Google can provide information quickly and easily. I do not buy foods with carrageenan. Check it out and you will see why I choose to avoid this additive.

Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – https://RedOLaughlin.com

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