The worst foods you can eat (may contain upsetting news)
We all know we should eat more veg and less pizza - but it's okay to indulge in the good stuff every once in a while, right? Right… as long as you're not indulging in these nutrition-busting culprits. Here are the top bad-for-you foods that you should ditch for good.
Rex FeaturesJelly sweets
You may think these delicious gummy treats are better than a chocolate bar, but registered nutritional therapist Nicola Ragon-Paxton of ilovegreens.co.uk says they’re deceptively dangerous. “They’re basically pure sugar,” she says. “Watch out for the blood sugar high, followed by a massive crash!”
Rex FeaturesOrange juice
People are often surprised at just how much sugar is packed into orange juice. If you’re looking for the vitamins (and yummy taste) of fruit, you’re better off eating the whole fruit than just drinking its juice. “We really should not be drinking such a sugary substance if we value our weight or our health,” says obesity researcher Zoe Harcombe.
iStockDiet soda
It’s often a favourite of calorie counters, but is diet soda really a smart choice? Not according to Lovisa Nilsson, in-house nutritionist for Lifesum. “Even though it doesn’t contain calories or sugar, the artificial sweetener aspartame been linked to weight gain and obesity due to its ability to increase hunger and food cravings,” she says. Opt for sparkling water instead.
iStockChinese takeaway
You can’t beat the convenience (and deliciousness!) of a Chinese takeaway - but if your chow mein contains flavour enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), which most do, you might get more than you paid for. “MSG has been associated with a variety of symptoms such as headaches, heart palpitations, sweating and flushing - however researchers have not found a definitive link,” explains Ragon-Paxton. “It's very similar to a naturally occurring substance found in natural foods such as parmesan and mushrooms, for example. But I think the issue here is how much is added to food, so it's best off avoided in my opinion.”
iStockMargarine
One fool-proof rule to follow? Avoid the fake stuff. Ragon-Paxton says you’re not doing yourself any favours by eating margarine instead of butter. “It's full of additives and colourings - and until recently it contained hydrogenated fat, which was linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Food manufacturers have now removed these kinds of fats but they have been replaced with another processed oil product that we know little about. It’s much better to stick with butter: it’s natural, rich in nutrients and something we have been eating for hundreds of years!”
iStockKetchup
Sure it tastes fantastic on chips, but ketchup isn’t as innocent as it looks. “Although tomatoes contain plenty of health properties, shop bought tomato products such as sauces and dips come packed with sugar,” says Nilsson. “Sugar is added to better the flavour and hide the acidic taste. It also contains salt and is packed with preservatives.” Lovisa says ketchup is generally fine in moderation - but when you start putting it on everything, you might have a problem.
iStockDoner kebab
When you’ve had a few pints after work, it can be all too tempting to stop by your local kebab shop on your way home. But you might want to take another route. “The doner kebab makes the list because of the ‘meat’ they use,” says Ragon-Paxton. “It’s chopped and combined with water, sugar, preservatives, flavourings and other additives before being shaped.”
iStockWhite bread
Carbs have gotten a bad rap over the past several years - but you don’t have to go full-on Atkins to stay healthy. Just make sure you choose the right colour. “Refined grains increase the risk of type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, as well as obesity,” explains Nilsson. “If you enjoy rice, bread and pasta, opt for the whole-grain (brown) alternatives, which reduce the risks to your health.”
iStockFlavoured yoghurts
Harcombe argues that natural is also better when it comes to yoghurt. “With flavoured kinds, the fat comes out (the healthy bit) and the sugar and colouring go in (the unhealthy bit). What is wrong with just yoghurt? Real food should taste rich and creamy and natural. Flavoured yoghurts will taste sweet and artificial and cheap. (But they’re not necessarily cheap – you pay for the advertising!)”
Rex FeaturesConfectionery chocolate
If you’ve got a weakness for chocolate (and who doesn’t?), you’d be wise to think about the type of chocolate you’re eating. “Any ‘chocolate’ with lower than 70 per cent cocoa is confectionery and high in sugar,” Harcombe says. “It’s a binge food for women especially and many dieters are not able to eat confectionery chocolate in moderation – so they are far better off not eating it at all. Get to like the taste for dark chocolate and you will never go back to the sickly sweet addictive stuff.”
iStockMicrowave popcorn
Popcorn is always a smart snack choice, right? Wrong. “The bagged kind is full of all sorts of additives,” says Ragon-Paxton. “It's really simple to make it yourself with minimal ingredients - so there’s really no excuse.”
iStockReady meals
The lazy chef’s dream, ready meals are tempting when you’re both exhausted and famished after work. “Ready meals are often made up of trans fatty acids,” says Nilsson. “These manufactured (unnatural) fatty acids are considered to be the worst type of fat. Unlike natural fats, they raise your cholesterol and are harmful as they increase the risk of clogged arteries, which can lead to heart disease, heart attacks and stroke.”
AlamyLow-fat mayonnaise
If you think you’re making a healthy choice with low-fat mayo, think again. “I wouldn’t touch this with a barge pole,” says Harcombe. “Low-fat anything invariably means that natural fats have been removed and unnatural ingredients have been put in their place. Titanium dioxide? Xanthan gum? Every human should live by a golden rule – if you don’t know what something is, don’t put it in your body. Natural mayonnaise can be made with egg yolk, olive oil and vinegar and it’s absolutely delicious.”
