Eating the right foods is important for living a long and active life.
There are so many toxins in the air we breathe the food we consume, and the beverages that we drink. This fact makes living a healthy lifestyle seem like an uphill battle. Eating the right foods is important for living a long and active life. To prepare a healthy diet, the first thing you want to do is educate yourself on what foods are harming your body. Here is a list of foods that are dangerous to your health.
Processed Meats – Processed meats have been found to have almost 400% more sodium than unprocessed meats. Many also contain nitrites and nitrates and other chemical additives that can cause cancer.
Soda – There are up to 10 teaspoons of sugar in every can of regular soda. Considering that the American Heart Association recommends no more than 9 teaspoons for men and 6 teaspoons for women a day, one can of soda already surpasses that amount.
Originally made to be a healthier substitute for butter
Margarine – Originally made to be a healthier substitute for butter, research has shown that high trans-fat and high salt content found in margarine can even be more dangerous. Melissa Rifkin, a dietitian at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, said, “Trans-fat, like saturated fat, increases blood cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease.”
Microwave Popcorn – Although natural popcorn can be a healthy treat and only contains around 30 calories per cup, in contrast, microwave popcorn usually contains a number of chemicals like perfluorochemicals and diacetyl, which have been linked to cancer and lung disease.
Sugar-free Candies – Most candies that are advertised to be “sugar-free” actually contain artificial sweeteners that are hard for your digestive system to break down.
Conventionally Raised Chicken – Most consider skinless chicken breast a healthy choice. Unfortunately, chicken grown in non-organic farms have been found to contain banned antibiotics, Benadryl, arsenic, and Tylenol.
Fruit juices are healthier than soda
Fruit Juices – Most people assume that fruit juices are healthier than soda because they contain real fruit. The truth is they have just as much, if not more, sugar than regular soda.
Vegetable Oil – Refined oils such as soybean oil, canola oil, and corn oil have a high content of omega-6 fatty acids. Large consumption of these oils gives rise to several health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Farmed Salmon – Wild Salmon, like most fish, can be a very healthy source of protein. However, farm-raised salmon has been found to contain dioxin levels 11 times higher than fish found in nature. These pollutants can cause immune system dysfunction, organ damage, and even cancer. Farm raised salmon has also been found to contain far less omega-3 than wild salmon.
This chemical can be carcinogenic to humans and has been banned in many parts of the world.
Bread with Potassium Bromate – Most bread and crackers that are sold in stores use potassium bromate in the dough to help it rise while cooking. This chemical can be carcinogenic to humans and has been banned in many parts of the world. However, it is still used in the US. When buying bread, always try to get one freshly baked from a bakery or read the label to make sure that it doesn’t contain potassium bromate.