By Jaclyn Johnson
eDiets.com Staff Writer
There will always be those fattening foods that are easy to
make, easy to get, and easy to crave. You think "OK, I know
this is bad but it can't be that bad!" Think again. Here are
the top seven foods you should never ever feed your family or
yourself!
1.Doughnuts
(Embedded image moved to file: pic30191.jpg)user posted image
It's hard to resist the smell of a Krispy Kreme doughnut, which
is why I never step foot in the store. Doughnuts are fried
chock-full of sugar and white flour and loads of trans fat.
According to the Krispy Kreme website, an average 3.5 ounce
sugar doughnut weighs in with about 400 calories and contains
few other nutrients besides fat. These sugary treats may
satisfy your craving but it won't satisfy your hunger as most
of the calories come from fat.
"Eating a lot of refined sugar contributes to blood sugar
'swings' or extreme fluctuations," eDiets Chief Nutritionist
Susan Burke said.
2. Cheeseburger with fries
(Embedded image moved to file: pic18007.jpg)user posted image
The age-old classic may be delicious but think twice before
sinking your teeth into that Big Mac. The saturated fat found
in cheese burgers has been linked to heart attacks, strokes and
some types of cancer.
"In fact, fast-food portions are gargantuan, almost double the
calories per meal compared to 20 years ago," Susan says.
"Twenty years ago the average fast-food cheeseburger had about
300 calories. Today's BK Whopper with cheese has 720. To burn
the excess 420 calories, you'd have to run for 40 minutes. For
example, in 1985 a medium French fry had 240 calories, 2.4
ounces. Today's 'medium' is 6.9 ounces and 610 calories.
"This fast-food meal of cheeseburger and fries has way too many
calories and fat grams, not to mention grams of saturated fat,
trans fat and cholesterol and sodium."
Let's break down this meal. First, take the white-flour bun
(refined carbohydrates), then add some processed cheese
(saturated fat and trans fat, plus lots of additives and
preservatives) and then top off with fried red meat
(cholesterol and saturated fats). And let's not forget about
the condiments such as the always fattening mayonnaise.
Not sounding so appetizing anymore, huh? Oh, and let's not
forget about the infamous side dish. You cheeseburger will most
likely come with a side of French fries, which is sadly the
most popular vegetable dish in the U.S. Don't kid yourself,
French fries are not vegetables, they are extremely high in fat
and contain a tiny amount of nutrients.
3. Fried Chicken and Chicken Nuggets
(Embedded image moved to file: pic11337.jpg)user posted image
With the recent class-action lawsuit between The Center for
Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and KFC, the health risks
posed by fried foods are becoming more public. The CSPI is
suing the food chain for their use of cooking oil containing
unhealthy trans fats. The lawsuit seeks to order KFC to use
other types of cooking oils and to inform customers how much
trans fats KFC's food contains.
Foods cooked in highly heated oils (most notably partially
hydrogenated oil) have been known to cause cancer, weight gain
and other serious health risks if ingested regularly. A
10-piece chicken McNugget from McDonald's has 420 calories, 24
grams of fat and 1120 milligrams of sodium. One Extra Crispy
Chicken Breast from KFC has around 420 calories and eight grams
of saturated fat. So unless you want to super size yourself,
it's best to make a clean break with fried foods.
4. Oscar Mayer's Lunchables
(Embedded image moved to file: pic15457.jpg)user posted image
Sure they are convenient and easy, but boy are they unhealthy!
These kid-marketed lunches are loaded with saturated fat and
sodium. They usually contain highly processed meats and
cheeses, white flour crackers and sugary treats. Lunchables get
two-thirds of their calories from fat and sugar. And they
provide lopsided nutrition since they contain no fruits or
vegetables.
"They insidiously promote obesity by making kids think that
lunch normally comes in a cellophane-wrapped box," Susan says.
"Parents are promoting their children's obesity by buying these
items. They're expensive, too. Pack a sandwich and save dollars
and health."
5. Sugary Cereal
(Embedded image moved to file: pic12287.jpg)user posted image
Not all cereals are created equally. And while your kids might
beg for the latest cookie or marshmallow chocolate surprise
cereals, it is a safe bet they are about as healthy as a
dessert. Keywords to look out for are puffed, dyed and
sweetened.
Most kids' cereals are so highly processed they no longer look
like the grains they were originally made from. A healthy
alternative is oatmeal. Although, if you are buying
pre-packaged oatmeal make sure to check the label and see how
much sugar it contains, you might be surprised. m
"A little sugar isn't a problem but when the first ingredient
on the box is sugar, then watch out," she said. "There is no
fruit in Froot Loops. But the unsweetened original Cheerios or
Rice Krispies are fine, and you can sweeten them naturally with
blueberries and strawberries."
6. Processed Meats.
(Embedded image moved to file: pic27753.jpg)user posted image
What falls under the category of processed meats? Hot dogs,
sausage, jerky, bacon, certain lunch meats and meats used in
canned soup products. Almost all processed meats have sodium
nitrite added as a preservative.
A recent study conducted at the University of Hawaii found that
sodium nitrite can act as "a precursor to highly carcinogenic
nitrosamines -- potent cancer-causing chemicals that accelerate
the formation and growth of cancer cells throughout the body."
So eliminate these meats from your diet before they eliminate
you!
7. Canned soup.
(Embedded image moved to file: pic10383.jpg)user posted image
Sometimes regarded as a healthy food, soups can be very
deceiving. You must stay on your guard because many canned
soups have high levels of trans fats, sodium and artificial
preservatives such as MSG. Just one serving (which is roughly
one cup) can have almost 1,000 milligrams of salt. Also, steer
clear of soups that are cream-based, they can be high in
calories and fat.
Susan says it is important to "read labels from back to front.
Ignore the health claims, and instead focus on the ingredients
and serving size. Watch out for hydrogenated fat (trans fat)
and sodium. If you're buying bread to go with you soup, the
first ingredient should be whole grain -- either whole wheat,
rye or other grain. If it just says 'wheat bread,' that doesn't
mean whole wheat."
We all want our family to be healthy and happy, so steer clear
of these foods. Think it's difficult to maintain a healthy
lifestyle? Think again! eDiets make it simple to find healthy
foods with the correct nutritional balance for you and your
family. Our customized diet plans will help you lose weight and
feel great!
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar