7 Foods To Avoid If You Want To Lose Weight
Foods To Avoid If You Want To Lose Weight: Food is essential for human existence, but if you want to lose weight there are foods you should avoid. A recent study shows that an average adult gains one pound every year, and this can be attributed to what we eat. People who are overweight and obese have high risks of getting heart diseases, stroke and diabetes. Hence, they are striving to lose weight and reduce their chances of suffering from these problems.
If you want to lose weight, these are the foods you should avoid:
1. White Bread
White Bread which is made with refined wheat flour contains a lot of sugar which makes it high on the glycemic index, and it can take your sugar blood levels higher than normal, making you vulnerable to diabetes. They are also high in calories but low in protein and fiber.
Reports show that eating two slices of bread every day can result in a 40% greater risk of obesity and weight gain. However, there are other types of bread which you can eat to maintain your weight and diet. They contain more fiber and nutrients which makes them more healthy. They include Ezekiel Bread which is regarded as the healthiest bread available, cornbread, almond flour bread.
2. Ice Cream
Store-made Ice cream is loaded with sugar which makes it very delicious and hard to resist. But the fact remains that the high level of sugar content in it makes it high in calories and very unhealthy. It contains very low protein and no fiber.
Taking Ice Cream once in a while is fine but the fact remains, it is difficult to resist and consume just a small quantity of it. So, consider preparing it by yourself, and try using healthier ingredients like Greek yoghurt, fresh fruits and less sugar. Make sure you serve yourself a small portion and put it away afterwards so that you won’t end up consuming more than required.
3. Sugary Beverages
Beverages which are sugar-sweetened like soda, fruit juices and sports drinks are very low in protein and are regarded as one of the unhealthiest foods on earth. Despite its high quantity of calories, it isn’t doesn’t make you feel full which leads to continued intake of it.
When consumed in excess, they can lead to several health complications like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and weight gain. If you want to lose weight, avoid sugary drinks like soda and other similar drinks completely.
A recent study shows that an average person consumes over 17 teaspoons of sugar in a day and half of this sugar comes from sugar-sweetened drinks. Hence, it is advised that you cut down your calories intake from added sugar to 10 percent of your daily total food consumption.
Reports showed in 2015 that, people who consumed Diet soda gained three times the abdominal fat as compared to those who didn’t for nine years. Instead of Sugary Drinks, you can drink sparkling water, it is carbonated and calorie-free and it can make your stomach feel full and therefore make you consume less food.
4. Pizza
Commercially made pizza is very unhealthy, they are high in calories and also contain unhealthy ingredients like processed meat and refined flour.
Alternative options include making it at home using healthier ingredients, or looking for a pizza shop that makes healthier pizzas.
5. French Fries and Potato Chips
Potatoes are healthy but potatoes and French fries are not.
Fried foods like French fries are high in salt, unhealthy fats and calories. They lack fibre and protein which makes it hard for you to feel full even when you consume them in high quantity.
Potato chips are very high in calories and studies show that contribute to more weight gain in a serving than any other food. Furthermore, baked, fried and roasted potatoes also produce a cancer-causing substance called acrylamide.
A 2017 report showed that consuming fried potatoes at least twice a week puts people from 45 to 79 years at a higher risk of death. So, it is better to eat boiled and plain potatoes because they are very healthy and help fill you up.
6. Baked Foods
Baked foods like pastries, cookies and cakes are made with unhealthy ingredients like refined flour and added sugar including fructose, and they may also contain trans fats that are very harmful and can lead to obesity and a lot of diseases.
They are high-calorie and low-nutrients foods that increase your hunger and desire for food, which is not good for someone who desires to lose weight.
7. Alcohol
Alcohol beverages are high in sugar and are calories dense but contain little or no protein or fiber.
Drinking alcohol occasionally might not be a risk factor, so it is advised that you consume the beverage in moderation. Health Bodies recommend one alcoholic drink per day for females and a maximum of two daily for males.
These foods listed above are the common foods that might hinder you from losing weight. You should avoid them and choose the right foods that would help you maintain a healthy weight.