We all know that some foods are better for us than others, but are there any bad enough to avoid completely? Research and recently completed long-term studies have brought to light some alarming results.
In addition to causing many problems like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes… certain foods have even been linked to cancer. So let’s take a look at some of the “worst offenders” and see what we really shouldn’t be putting in our bodies.
1.Soft Drinks
Sodas are a sugar-loaded, empty source of calories that can be very detrimental to your health.
In addition to being linked with weight gain, inflammation, and insulin resistance, this sweet caffeinated beverage can lead to gastro-esophageal reflux disease.
This condition causes the stomach acid to leak back into the esophagus resulting in pain and burning (ouch!).
The American Journal of Nutrition also found in a recent study that soda drinkers actually have a higher risk of stroke than non-soda consumers.
In addition to this, soda pop contains a whole host of artificial colorings and chemicals (which are too numerous to list here). So it’s no surprise that drinking soda can lead to a higher risk of cancer.
2. Potato Chips
Potato chips are calorie-dense and high in fat content, both of which contribute to unintended weight gain. Not to mention many popular brands are high in trans fats and sodium which can result in high blood pressure.
Don’t forget that most potato chips at the grocery store contain artificial preservatives and dyes that are fried at a high temperature. This process creates what is called acrylamide. mesothelioma cancer lawyer
Acrylamide is a known carcinogen that is found in cigarettes.
Although they are delicious, potato chips can cause some very undesirable effects as a part of your daily diet.
3. Processed Meats
These meats contain chemicals and excessive amounts of salt that are used in the manufacturing process. A recent study by researchers was published in the journal of BMC Medicine.
In this study, people who ate more than 160 grams of processed meat increased their risk of death by as much as 44 percent over the course of 12 years. The study itself was conducted over 13 years and across 10 countries.
The chemicals and preservatives (including sodium nitrates) in processed meats are used to improve their appearance on store shelves. However, these same chemicals are commonly known as carcinogens.
4. Canned Tomatoes
The FDA is extremely concerned by BPA as it has been shown to alter brain chemistry in research done on rats. As a result, there have been efforts by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce and eventually eliminate BPA from canned food products, not just tomatoes.
The reason canned tomatoes are so so dangerous in particular is that tomatoes are very acidic. Acidic foods can cause more rapid leaching of BPA from the can lining into the food.
The BPA content from canned tomatoes can be so high that some brands warn parents not to feed them to their children.
5. Microwave Popcorn
Typically, microwave popcorn bags are lined with a chemical referred to as perfluorooctanoic acid (or PFOA). Quite a mouthful, right? This toxin is more commonly known to exist in Teflon.
A shocking study from the University of California found that this toxin can be linked to infertility in women.
In addition to this, PFOA has been found to significantly increase the risk of liver, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancer in humans in several other studies.
In some bags of popcorn, even the popcorn itself has been tainted with fat-loaded soybean oil as well as a chemical called diacetyl. This chemical was so harmful that some companies have banned it from their factories due to workers developing lung diseases after working with it.
6. Hydrogenated Oils
Vegetable oil, one of the most commonly used kinds of hydrogenated oil, is so dangerous because many varieties are high in deadly trans fats. Trans fats are not a healthy kind of fat.
Even the US FDA has stated that trans fats should generally not be regarded as safe for consumption, contrary to their former opinion.
A great way to substitute hydrogenated oils in your diet is to use olive, coconut, or grapeseed oil.
For cooking, grapeseed oil is a fantastic option since it has a higher “smoke point” (the point at which the heated oil begins to produce carcinogens) in comparison to other oils.
7. French Fries
However, by and large, most cheap french fries are made with hydrogenated vegetable oil and topped with a mountain of sodium.
Trans fats and salt (as discussed previously) can increase your risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and other numerous diseases.
In addition to this, french fries commonly contain a chemical known as acrylamide. Any food that’s fried at high temperatures has a chance of containing this.
Acrylamide is also found in cigarette smoke and even building insulation.
It gets even worse: this compound has been linked to an increased risk of cancer.
8. Farm-Raised Fish
Fish, typically a very healthy meal that’s high in protein, good fats, and fatty acids, can also have a dark side.
Farmed fish (salmon, cod, tilapia) have been found to be chock full of antibiotics, pesticides, flame retardants (crazy!), and pesticides in a recent study at the University of Albany.
If that’s not convincing, I don’t know what is.
Each of those ingredients alone has been linked to cancer and combined they make a particularly lethal cocktail.
9. Alcohol
Of the 200,000 postmenopausal women participating, those who consumed at least one alcoholic beverage a day showed almost a 30% increase in breast cancer rates in comparison to those who did not drink.
Not convinced? Behind tobacco use, Alcohol is the second leading cause of cancer.
In addition to this alcohol use can be associated with the following: heart failure, stroke, and sudden death.
However, there is a bit of a silver lining. Moderate consumption can actually be healthy and reduces the risk of heart disease.
10. Artificial Sweetener
They aren’t just wrong, they’re dead wrong.
In addition to causing more weight gain than ordinary sugar, artificial sweeteners such as aspartame make it extremely difficult to control blood sugar levels.
This poses a huge problem for diabetics trying to manage insulin levels.
Although the research hasn’t been completed yet, there is evidence that many artificial sweeteners end up breaking down in your body into a substance called DKP.
DKP is a deadly toxin that can produce chemicals that have been linked to brain tumors.