Fat-free foods, bran muffins, salads – some might believe these meals are good for you.
But, this isn’t always the case. There are a variety of foods that might appear healthy at first, but are rather unhealthy and should be kept to a minimum in a well-balanced diet plan.
Here are six unhealthy foods to avoid:
1 – Wheat Bread
Wheat-related terms like 7-grain and multi-grain might sound a healthful choice, but in fact, they don’t include the whole grains that can benefit the heart. Bread might be marketed as wheat or multi-grain, but include refined grains, which means it isn’t possible to get the full benefit nutritionally speaking of whole grain.
Read the ingredients list on the package. If flour is marked as unbleached enriched wheat flour, bleached, or similar, this isn’t a whole-grain bread.
2 – Salads (Prepared)
Not all salads are created equally. Store-bought and prepared salads like shrimp salad, chicken salad, or tuna salad are certain to include added mayonnaise, fats, and higher calories.
A large size tuna sandwich with extras and dressings has the potential to reach 42 grams of fat and 650 calories. A more favorable salad uses low-fat dressings to control the calories while a more sensible portion size is preferable.
3 – Store-Bought Peanut Butter
Peanut butter marketed as reduced-fat doesn’t actually confirm it is better for the health than a standard jar of peanut butter. Both of these products include a similar calorie count, but it is the reduced-fat product that includes more added sugar.
It isn’t necessary to lower the fat content in peanut butter because it contains monounsaturated fats, which are the natural and good types of fats. A preferred jar of peanut butter has no added oils. Alternatively, a homemade variety is certain to make the healthiest choice.
4 – Energy Bars
Energy bars aren’t the healthiest pre-workout snack. This type of light snack can be high in saturated fats, which clog the arteries, added sugar, and fructose corn syrup. Plus, these energy bars can be quite high in calories with some brands having 325 calories or more.
A preferred fuel to get ready for an extended hike or workout is protein and high-quality carbs. Whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese or a ¼ cup of trail mix is certain to make a practical choice.
5 – Bran Muffins
Even though a bran muffin can be made with ingredients that are generally healthy, the portion size is large. A single muffin from a restaurant or coffee chain can have a calorie count in the region of 350 (excluding jam or butter). Plus, the sodium count is high with some bran muffins reaching 550 mg of sodium. An occasional bran muffin is fine, but over-consuming this will soon pile on the calories.
6 – Smoothies
Smoothies made with fresh (or frozen) fruit and low-fat dairy are healthy refreshments — at a regular size serving. But, large servings with added sherbet, ice cream, and sugar can soon up the calories, thus a smoothie can have 500 or more calories. Alternatively, self-prepare the smoothies at home with only healthy, fresh ingredients to stay within an acceptable range.
Conclusion
While some of these foods may seem healthy, they are actually packed with unhealthy ingredients that can harm your body. Be sure to avoid these foods and opt for healthier alternatives instead.
FAQs | Foods to Avoid
What is the most unhealthy thing to eat?
There are many unhealthy things to eat, but one of the unhealthiest is processed food. Processed food is loaded with sugar, unhealthy fats, and chemicals, and it can wreak havoc on your health. It’s best to avoid processed food as much as possible and stick to whole, unprocessed foods instead.
What is the #1 unhealthiest food in the world?
There is no one unhealthiest food in the world. What might be unhealthy for one person might not be for another. It all depends on your individual dietary needs and restrictions.
What food can you survive on forever?
The food that you can survive on forever is the food that you need to live. These would be things like water, air, and food that provide the nutrients your body needs to function. You could live off of other things for a period of time, but you would eventually die if you didn’t have the things listed above.
What are the 7 foods to avoid?
The seven foods to avoid are processed foods, fast foods, artificial sweeteners, GMOs, gluten, dairy, and sugar. Processed foods are high in sodium and unhealthy fats, fast foods are loaded with sugar and unhealthy fats, artificial sweeteners are linked to health problems such as obesity and diabetes, GMOs can lead to health problems such as cancer, gluten can cause digestive problems, dairy can cause allergies and congestion, and sugar is linked to obesity and diabetes.
