Unhealthy Foods You Need to Stop Eating So Much Of
When it comes to our general health and well-being, it’s safe to say that the foods and drinks that we consume play an enormous role in determining just how fit and healthy we actually are. Sadly, recent government statistics have revealed that worldwide obesity levels are now higher than at any other point in previous history. Because of this, life expectancies are going down, medical and healthcare expenses are going up, and as a race, we’re in big trouble. The human race is becoming fatter and unhealthier than ever, and the reasons for this are simply due to a lack of exercise, a lack of healthy food and drink, and over consumption of unhealthy junk. That’s why for today’s topic, we’re going to be looking at 4 unhealthy foods that you need to stop eating so much of.
Pizza
- We know that pizza tastes amazing, trust us, we really know, but sadly it is one of the unhealthiest foods in the world. Pizza is generally made from a refined, white flour dough that is heavily processed and packed full of salt, sugar, and oil. Then there’s the tomato sauce, which is again high in sugar, salt, and oil. Finally, you have the cheese, which is loaded full of saturated fats and calories. Then there’s additional toppings which often include processed meats which are full of artificial ingredients, salts, fats, and other chemicals that do us no good at all. Too much pizza is therefore very bad for you, so save it purely as a treat.
French fries
- White potatoes actually have a fairly-low glycaemic index and are rich in minerals, slow-release carbs, and low in calories. If prepared correctly, they are actually very healthy. If prepared in an unhealthy manner however, they are very bad for you. French fries are about as unhealthy as you can get. To begin with the fries are cut very small, which increases their surface area. This means that when they’re deep fried, they absorb more oil because of the surface area, so they are packed full of unhealthy fats. They are then often coated in far too much salt, which can increase your blood pressure. Some fast food chains even dust them in dextrose, which is a simple sugar, so they are high in salt, fat, and sugar.
Hydrogenated oils
- Some cooking oils such as olive oil or coconut oil, are very healthy. Hydrogenated oils, however, are not. These oils are rich in LDL cholesterol which causes fatty blockages and build ups in the arteries, which could therefore result in heart disease, stroke, hypertension, heart attack, and more. What’s more, hydrogenated oils also promote inflammatory responses in the body, which in turn lead to oxidative stress, which could be a precursor for some forms of cancer, and other similarly dangerous conditions.
Processed meats
- If you eat processed meats such as bologna, salami, pastrami, hot dog sausages, and so on, we’ve some bad news for you. Processed meats often contain high amounts of unhealthy trans fats, as well as salts, nitrites, nitrates, and other artificial chemicals added to enhance the flavour, appearance, and shelf life of the meat. Many of the ingredients found in processed meats have been linked with elevated risks of inflammation, which could result in oxidative stress and damage to the cells in your body. On top of that, processed meats are often made from off-cuts and low-quality cuts of meat that most people wouldn’t even feed to their animals. Yuck!