The process of weight loss mainly requires the monitoring of your diet. There are many healthy foods, which also help in weight loss, which should be consumed. But you should stay away from many foods that are unhealthy and loaded with sugar and additives.
Here the 15 foods to avoid while on the weight loss journey. Read on!
1. Sugar-free products
Many people consume sugar-free products when on a low-calorie diet. While these products may seem low in calories, they are very unhealthy for our bodies. Sugar-free products contain unhealthy sugar alternatives, which increase your insulin level.
2. White bread
White bread is very refined and made with a lot of added sugar, and hence is one of the foods to avoid. Moreover, it ranks very high on the glycemic index as it increases blood sugar levels.
There was a study conducted on around 9000 people to study the link between the consumption of white bread and weight gain. The results showed that eating two slices of white bread a day increased the risk of weight gain and obesity by 40%.
3. Ice cream
Despite being extremely tasty, ice cream is quite unhealthy as it contains a lot of sugar and calories. Try to consume smaller portions when experiencing extreme cravings for it.
Moreover, you can also try making your own ice cream at home with less sugar and using healthier ingredients such as fruit and full-fat yoghurt.
4. Potato chips
Potato chips and French fries contain a high number of calories, and studies have shown its consumption being linked to weight gain. Findings on one study even stated that potato chips may contribute to more weight gain per serving than any other food.
5. Fruit juices
Most fruit juices available at supermarkets are highly processed and contain a lot of sugar. They contain almost the same amount of sugar and calories as soda. Fruit juice doesn’t contain any fiber and nor requires chewing, which makes it less filling compared to whole fruit.
Hence, it is easy to consume a lot of fruit juice in a short time. It’s always recommended to eat whole fruit and stop consuming fruit juice.
6. Pizza
Pizza is one of the most popular fast foods, but it is quite unhealthy. It is high in calories and contains unhealthy ingredients such as processed meat and flour that has been highly refined. You can try making your own pizza at home using healthier ingredients.
7. Candy bars
One of the foods to avoid is candy bars. They contain no nutritional value for our bodies and are just loaded with sugar and calories. They are manufactured with a lot of added sugar and oils, preservatives and refined flour.
It is a good option to keep a healthy snack, such as nuts or an apple, with you to avoid munching on candy bars.
8. Fried chicken
Fried chicken which is available at most fast-food chains contains large quantities of trans fat. You may already know that fats can be classified as healthy or unhealthy. Trans fats are the latter. Consuming fried chicken can cause increased weight gain and especially the accumulation of belly fat.
Moreover, it also increases the risk of diseases such as stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. So, fried chicken is definitely one of the foods to avoid. You can try to consume other protein sources such as beans, lentils, and whole eggs.
9. Sugary drinks
It can be seen that many of us consume sugary drinks, such as soda, with meals and in place of water. These drinks contain high amounts of sugar and calories, but even then, do not give any feeling of fullness to our bodies. Hence, you want to consume more calories to feel full.
Studies have shown the consumption of soda and other sugary beverages to be linked with weight gain and diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Avoid such drinks and instead consume more water, which has been shown to reduce the daily intake of calories.
10. Baked goods
Another of the foods to avoid when trying to lose weight are baked goods, such as cookies, pastries, and pies. It can be quite tempting to consume them as they serve as quick and tasty snacks. But they contain added sugar, refined flour, artificial trans fat and other unhealthy ingredients added to increase shelf life.
Consuming them when hungry can give you a temporary feeling of fullness, as the ingredients in baked goods instantly raise your blood sugar level. But within an hour, your blood sugar level drops and you feel hungry again.
11. Alcohol, especially beer
One of the foods to avoid is beer, as it can lead to increased weight especially in the belly area, and hence the term, ‘beer belly’. All forms of alcohol lead to weight gain, but beer tends to be consumed more, especially on hot days and at sporting events. While wine and whiskey tend to be served and consumed in lesser quantities, such as at formal dinners.
12. Soybean oil
Soybean oil contains a high content of omega-6 fatty acid, which can increase appetite and slow down the fat-burning process in your bodies. So, meals prepared using soybean oil are definitely one of the foods to avoid when trying to lose weight. You can try using other healthier options, such as extra-virgin olive oil and coconut oil.
13. Protein bars
A protein bar can be as harmful as a candy bar. Protein bars contain a high amount of carbohydrates and may also contain artificial trans fat and high-fructose corn syrup, which can lead to inflammation and weight gain.
14. Whole milk
Whole milk contains a lot of fat and cholesterol and so it is healthier to consume skimmed milk instead.
15. Salad dressing
Many people include salads on their diets when trying to lose weight, but the purpose is not served when the salads are topped with high-calorie dressings.
Foods to avoid mainly include processed junk foods. Also, always check labels when buying food to make sure that what you’ll be consuming is healthy. You should also take care of your serving sizes to achieve the best weight loss results.
Source: brightside.com
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