Five foods to steer clear of for weight loss
Lindsay Bridges
| 3 min read
It’s no secret that obesity is an American epidemic. Over 1/3 of American adults are obese. Many think that this excessive weight gain is mostly contributed to unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise. What if some of this weight gain wasn’t contributed to eating unhealthy foods, but actually eating foods that we think are healthy?
Foods may be deemed healthy based on the vitamin, protein and fat content, but there are five specific ‘healthy’ foods that actually cause you to gain more weight.
1. The first so-called health food that you should avoid is chicken noodle soup. Chicken noodle soup, as well as soup in general, contains high amounts of a concentrated salt called MSG. Not only is MSG known to cause weight gain, but it’s also known to cause headaches, irritable bowel syndrome and asthma attacks.
2. The next food ingredient to avoid is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). HFCS travels straight to your liver, which turns that sugar straight to fat. HFCS also causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin, which acts as a signal to tell your brain that you’re full. If that signal is not sent to your brain, you will continue to overeat even when you aren’t hungry. High fructose corn syrup is found in yogurt, low-calorie and fat-free salad dressing, and even some nutrition bars.
3. Granola is next on the list of “healthy foods” that might not be so healthy. Granola is bad for weight loss because it’s high in fat, calories, sugars and carbs. If you are trying to lose or maintain a healthy weight, staying away from granola is a smart choice. Try substituting granola with whole grain oatmeal because it doesn’t contain all of the extra sugars and preservatives, and can be made with warm water instead of milk.
4. Whole, low-fat and 2% milk should also be steered clear of, especially when trying to lose weight. Even though milk is an excellent source of calcium and protein, it also contains a lot of calories and has a high fat content. As an adult you do not need to drink whole milk to obtain the nutrients. Skim, 1 percent, or half-percent milk is better for maintaining a healthy weight.
5. Dieting fads are common for those who want to lose weight. In reality, a fad diet causes the body to go into a state of shock because it isn’t used to the foods that are being consumed. Fad dieting can actually harm your body and increase your chances of gaining weight.
Some foods may seem healthy based on a few factors, but it’s smart to look at the full picture to determine what is truly healthy and what isn’t.
Photo Credit: Filip Bunkens
