In Western society, there are literally hundreds – if not thousands – of foods that are bad for your wellbeing, but what are the main offenders? Diet wellness expert Maria Trimarchi shares the absolute worst foods you could eat.
1. Fizzy Drinks: ‘Drinking soda is like drinking liquid candy,’ says Trimarchi. ‘Seriously. Sodas are sugary calorie bombs that have contributed to the obesity epidemic in our country – and our soda habit has also been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, premature ageing and hormone disruption. Most sodas contain high fructose corn syrup (which is where all the calories come from), food dyes, preservatives and other sketchy ingredients. And your soda habit isn’t just making you fat; it’s also linked to cavities and tooth decay. Some sodas also contain an ingredient called brominated vegetable oil (BVO); BVO is supposed to keep the artificial flavors and the rest of your soda from separating – and it also keeps plastics flame retardant and is linked to memory loss, nerve disorders and skin conditions. Diet soda drinkers also need to worry about the impact of artificial sweeteners on their health.’
2. Artificial Sweeteners: According to Trimarchi, ‘There are five artificial sweeteners, also called non-nutritive sweeteners, that the FDA considers safe for humans to eat: acesulfame potassium (acesulfame K), aspartame, neotame, saccharin and sucralose [source: USDA]. Some sugar substitutes may leave you with a bad taste in your mouth, literally, but that’s not the only thing bad about them. While we love our artificial sweeteners because they’re zero or low-calorie, we really don’t know how bad they are for us. There have been some confusing claims over the last few decades, but at the end of the day, these sugar-free sweeteners may be significantly increasing your risk of health problems such as weight gain as well as metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.’
3. Swordfish: ‘Most fish and shellfish can be part of a healthy diet,’ Trimarchi admits. ‘They’re packed full of protein and are good sources of fats (they’re low in saturated fat and full of omega-3 fatty acids). Most also contain mercury, at least some amount, and some fish contain more than others. Swordfish, for example, is one of those mercury-dense varieties (also included on this fishy list are king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, and tilefish). Albacore tuna, too, contains more mercury than canned light tuna, so choose wisely. High levels of mercury in the fish we eat may harm the developing brain and nervous system of a foetus or young child because mercury is a neurotoxin, and because of this the FDA and EPA recommend against eating these fish, especially if you’re pregnant, may become pregnant or are a nursing mother – and kids need to avoid it, too.’
4. Processed Meats: Trimarchi warns, ‘Processed meat – that includes bacon, ham, hot dogs, sausages, salami and whatever meat bits are used in ready-to-eat deli meats – has been found to increase your risk for cardiovascular diseases as well as certain cancers. In fact, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that people who regularly eat 50 grams (about two ounces) of processed meat – that equals one hot dog or one to two slices of luncheon meats on a sandwich – have a 42% greater risk of heart disease as well as a nearly 20% risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than people who don’t eat them. Additionally, researchers at the University of Zurich concluded that more than 3% of deaths could be prevented if we all limit our processed meat consumption to less than 20 grams per day (just about three-quarters of an ounce), which is about the size of a matchbook.’
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